All My Teams

The Colts are in Miami. Yesterday there were a couple of big send offs in town. Unfortunately I was unable to attend, but that's okay. It was cold anyway! It did make me think though. Here we are, fans of a team that is 60 minutes from a World Championship. 3600 measly seconds from the biggest thrill a fan of a team can have. I sometimes look back and see that the Indiana Pacers of the ABA were the only professional winners this city has ever had, but still, I have been lucky as a sports fan.

Those of you who know me, know also that I was a Bengal and a Raider fan prior to 1984 and the Colts arrival in Indianapolis. Being a long time fan of the game I knew about Johnny Unitas, Lenny Moore, The Greatest Game Ever Played, Ray Berry, John Mackey, Artie Donovan etc. I was never a Colt fan, but those were household football names. As a Raider fan however, I was ecstatic when they won it all in 1976 against the favored Vikings, again in 1981 as the first Wild Card team to win the Super Bowl and again in 1984 when, again as underdogs, beat the piss out of the Redskins. Hell by the time I was 24 my favorite football team had won three championships.

However, as time moved on and I became more and more involved with being a Colt fan, my love of the Raiders waned (despite what Neil might say!!) Sure I rooted for them a few years back against the Tampa Bay Bucs, but they were so outmanned it was ridiculous!

I also have been a Cincinnati Red and New York Yankee fan. The Reds took the title in 1976 and 77 and again, miraculously destroyed what everyone said was a superior Oakland team in 1990. The Yankee's always seem to be in contention and won three in a row at the end of the century.

These were all great as a fan, but they still left me wanting. Now of course there are the Indiana Hoosiers. National Champions in 1976, 81 and 87. Led by a series of All-American players and a hall of fame coach, the Hoosiers were a joy to watch and root for and few were bigger fans than me or my friends. We all knew when the team played and usually worked schedules around it. Of course we were all younger and had relatively few responsibilities, but by God, if the Hoosiers were playing we were together and watching.

Times changed for me over the years though. I still like the Hoosiers (although I really have not warmed up to the new coach) but it is nothing like the passion I had back in the 80's and 90's. Maybe it is because I feel like Bob Knight let us down beginning in 1994, maybe it was the lackluster teams. I don't really know, but in 2002 when the guys got to the title game I watched, but it was just different. Some of you may have been at DK's house when they won 1987 and know what that was like. Going to the final game in 2002 was nothing like that for me.

But all-in-all I have to admit I have had some good teams to root for. Hell, even Roncalli HS has given me some very proud moments over the years. The Pacers, well they had a couple of close calls, but still led us on some wonderful journeys over the years. But the Colts, well, pretty much until Peyton Manning arrived the team has sucked. Sure we had the 95 team that was so close to the Super Bowl. An unlikely bunch out of nowhere that was a dropped pass from playing the Cowboys.

But this time we are there and if the team can bring home the win I imagine it will eclipse all of the Raider, Hoosier, Reds, Yankee and Rebel wins combined. Like I said, I count myself lucky enough to have been fans of those teams when they won. Maybe it is just me being selfish. I do know what all this means, and I want it!

AFC Title Game Day

The Indianapolis Colts are going to the Super Bowl!! In what can only be described as an unbelievable game, the Colts exorcised their demons and beat the Patriots 38-34. You all know the story of the game, here are just a few thoughts from Sunday.

Got up early and went to church. Me and the Mrs. have been pretty remiss about that since we got married and it felt god to go. Naturally I prayed for the Colts, but I have no illusion that God cares who wins a football game. Nor should he. I just prayed that the guys played to the best of their abilities. For 25 minutes of that game, I was pretty sure my prayers were not to be answered.

Went to lunch at Bahama Breeze for Brooke's birthday and to their house for cake. By this time my stomach feels like it has bats instead of butterflies! I'm confident, but very anxious at the same time. After we leave we go by the house and I grab some brews, my hat and coat and a trash bag and we head to Tom's.

I get to Tom's first followed by Paw and Tim and finally Neil. We have Bombs to get the day started although I could go for a cat nap to get lunch past me. I have a Red Bull and feel fine. Another round of Bombs and a beer and we are ready to go. We pile in the Caddy and head for Mo's.
The atmosphere downtown is charged. There do seem to be a lot of Pat fans around the area and my anxiety level increases. I am not sure if I can handle a stadium full of those idiots. Still, there is a lot of blue as well. We make our way to Pullmans for what has become our traditional pregame stop. We have one, go to the can and I make a call to the wife and tell her we are heading in. I am assuming voice conversations once inside the dome are not going to be possible.

Once we get in the Pat fans are few and far between, but of course that doesn't mean there are 5 sitting right in front of us. Craig warns me to behave, later Eric does as well, but these guys look pretty harmless. I assure Craig all will be well. I really wanted to hit them a little later, but I kept my cool and just yelled louder and "accidentally" spilled a little beer on their jacket.

Most of the usual's were there. Butch and his crew, Dan-o and Mark, the Legend, the Girls, my buddy who always speaks (who unfortunately may have broken his ankle in the first quarter) was there, the BILF, the throwback helmet guy and the myriad of other usual fans were all in attendance!

Then the unthinkable happened. PM threw a pick that was run back for a TD. Patriots 21, Colts 3. Tom headed out to smoke and I don't think he came back until the half, Paw was giving up his tickets next season, Timmy was moved to seat 110 and I had pretty much thrown in the towel. The Pat fans were chest bumping and high-fiving. They were calling and texting their friends back in Boston or wherever Pat fans come from. Without the FG at the end of the half for the Colts the dome may have begun emptying out by the half.

The good news is that the fans didn't leave. We all stayed and we just yelled louder. I made sure the guys in front of me knew this fan was going to stay in the game. It was worth it! As the Colts stormed back from 15 down it was apparent PM was going to pick his game up. Even the 80 yard KO return after the Colts tied it up didn't bring us down.

Eventually, as you know, we pulled it out! Marlin Jackson, in place of the injured Nick Harper, picked off Tom Brady's pass with 16 seconds left to go and the game was over. The Pat fans in front of me were gone before I was done with my first hug. But only the Pat fan left. As you can see from this picture, Colt fan stayed late! We hugged and high-fived. We laughed and teared up. We felt the weight of not only the last few years of heartbreak, but of 23 years of trying to get over this hump. None of us had much of a voice left but who cared.

When we finally filed out of the dome, with smiles splashed across our faces the cheering continued. Number one fingers all around, more high-fives, chest bumps and general fun! We headed over to the Ugly Monkey and got drinks and went out n the patio and high-fived hundreds of passing fans and tossed snow balls at passing cars. All in good fun. We finally headed up Illinois Street in the Caddy and with the other idiots, honked our horn and joined in the fun! Even saw some Bear fan who promptly got the finger.

It was a great day. We can only hope that in two weeks we beat the Chicago Bears. While I have a problem when people say "we" meaning the fans deserve this, it is a great feeling and one I want to take into the offseason! Let's Go Colts!!

Stupid Pacer Tricks

Yesterday the Indiana Pacers made one of the stupidest trades in team history. Not since bringing back Bob Netolicky has the team veered so far of course. Yes, we are now rid of the thug Stephen Jackson, but love him or hate him, he could play ball. But as if that weren't bad enough, we also allowed Al Harrington, Sarunus and Josh Powell to the Warriors for four backups. Fuck Larry Legend, how much did you have to drink before pulling the trigger on this one?

Granted there are a lot of fans out there who are thrilled to see Jack gone, but we got the short end of the stick on what seems like a desperation move by the organization. this team spent the past two lamenting the loss of Harrington who they drafted out of high school 8 years ago. He spent two years in the ATL and seemed happy to be back in Indy. We were all told by Carlisle in the preseason how this team was going to play up tempo and be exciting. Unfortunately Carlisle's demand of control on the team would never allow him let the team play. As it is, the team is dull and hard to watch. Al has indicated he is happy to leave because of this.

So instead of making the change where it needs to be, at head coach, we gut the team to save the feelings of the coach. Bird is so far in over his head as an NBA team president it isn't funny. Donnie Walsh can't retire because Larry sucks. He scouted Sarunus for months in Europe proclaiming him a great point guard. He never really caught on and like Harrington, found himself at odds with the coach and gameplan.

Now we get that faggy Mike Dunleavy, slow and steady Troy Murphy, Ike Diogu, who may be he only bright spot when all is said and done and Keith McLeod who is now going to his 4th team in 5 years.

As a longtime Pacer fan I feel sick by these moves. Back in the day the team didn't win, but they were lovable and had some nice players. Larry Brown took us far and caretaker coach Bird got us to the finals. Since then it has been downhill except a couple years with the Pistons. This season wasn't going great, but we were 4 games over .500 and in playoff position. I wouldn't look for that to last. Maybe Larry is a genius and is setting us up for the Oden lottery before it's too late!

Go Colts!

Well Colt fan, here we are facing the biggest game in team history. Our first ever AFC Championship game in the Dome. For us loyal Colt fans, this is what we have been waiting for, especially with this team. I know it isn’t the Super Bowl and just getting there is by no means enough. Not by a damn sight. But the only way the Colts win it is to win Sunday. Twenty three seasons we have waited for an opportunity like this. Sure we were in this game in 1995 and 2003. Unfortunately we were on the road. Honestly we should have beaten the Steelers in 95, but we played poorly in Foxboro a few years ago.

Since then we have posted great season records including last years stellar 14-2. But as any fan can tell you, those games are pretty much meaningless unless the team backs them up in the playoffs. Ask anyone on the team, they’ll tell you!

This year has been different. This year the team had another great regular season, but was lousy on defense and struggled down the stretch. Looking back a month one wonders if they weren’t just ready to get to January and the playoffs.

So we go into Sunday, against the team I consider the Colts biggest rival. Pat fan might not call it a rivalry, but they are lying to themselves. Once they owned us. Hell for the first 21 years the Colts have been in Indianapolis they owned us. But on prime time TV both this year and last, the Colts have extracted a measure of revenge by beating them in their stadium, soundly. It may have been only the regular season, but if anyone believes the games meant any less than a playoff game to either team they aren’t paying attention.

As the week goes on expect the city to reach a fever pitch. The Pat fans say they are coming, but I bet their numbers in the dome are negligible. Look for more blue being worn. Posters in windows. Debate on talk radio. Discussion on TV. Expect the experts, especially the noted Colt haters Mark Schlereth and Sean Salisbury to call the Colts soft and incapable of winning this game. Expect to hear about how Pat coach Bill Belichick has Peyton Manning’s number and how Tom “Man purse” Brady is the best QB ever. Expect talk about how 18 has played in the playoffs, but don’t expect much about the D. Some of what you read and hear is true, some, pure folly. All of it, however, means they are talking about our Indianapolis Colts who stand just two victories from history.

And look out. If the Colts are to win, which I truly believe they will, watch for the media to jump all over the Bear or Saint bandwagon next week. Especially the Saints. God forbid they lose and ruin the “America’s new team” mantra some seem to have bestowed upon them.

Well America, you may not have been Colt fans before and you may not be now, but the bandwagon is gearing up again and there is plenty of room. Jump on board! Don’t let the uppity fans not let you. Let’s make this our week! As we know, these opportunities don’t come along very often!