Blue-tinted glasses

It’s hard to believe that a week has passed since the Colts won the superbowl. That day, it was hard to focus on anything else. Reading things on the internet and listing to media experts talk about the game, you wouls have thought it was the psychic network hotline. Everyone had an opinion, it was different than everyone else’s and the arguments were compelling. My dad and I have been season ticket holders since the mid-80s and it is amazing just how much you can get into something.

One of my coworkers had a small gathering which was much fun than watching the game alone. Only problem is that you have to control yourself a bit. After the Bears ran back the initial kickoff for a TD, I thought I would explode. Between that and the rain, I was concerned. The pacing began. I hovered around the food, grazing on a shrimp dip and triskets. I’d sit for a bit but the next break in the action, I was up again. I am certain that everyone thought it was funny. My PDA phone was convenient as I read postings on the Colts email list which I created more that 15 years ago. It was like a virtual family sharing the highs and lows. In the end, the Colts prevailed and the shirt I had worn for every home game and the playoffs remained Undefeated.

To say that this city needed something like this would be an understatement. It really was special. Probably better that as a city, we celebrated the way you should. There were no fires, no destruction. Just a lot of hugging, shouting, and dancing. That is how you should do it. Monday was the parade with temps in the single digits and a wind-chill that was frigid. A few thousand braved it to watch the parade. The players actually stood out in the cold for the entire thing. So where was everyone else? Sitting next to me in a filled RCA Dome. Me and several others skipped class to head over. While we waited for the team to arrive, a replay of the SB played on the Jumbotrons. You knew when each big play was coming and as you would expect, the crowd exploded as if it was happening for the first time. There was a buzz in the dome that was similar to what was there barely two weeks prior when the Patriots came in for the AFC Title game. Once the players arrived, it was awesome. There really wasn’t much planned. The MC was the radio voice of the Colts who I knew from high school. One of his daughters was a classmate of mine and lived one street away. He announced the owner and GM, both who spoke briefly. Next was the coach Tony Dungy who was one of the people who really deserved to win. He is generally a great person. he too spoke briefly praising the entire team not just as players but as role models to be proud of. Last one for the planned part was the game MVP, Peyton Manning. I seemed very overwhelmed my the outpour of emotion as was everyone else. That was all they had planned. The crowd responded with "Defense, Defense!!!" and in responce, they much maligned defensive players took the stand. From there, the rest of the team came up in units… Offensive line, receivers, running backs, and special teams. Our punter, Hunter Smith, talked for the last group with one of the funniest comments. He thanked Peyton and the Offense for making him the least used player at his posiiton in the history of the game. While not true, it was a nice tribute.

And that was how it ended. It was only later in the week that it really started sinking in that we won. I even got some Championship stuff for my birthday. What a great start to 2007.