As you all know, Indianapolis is hosting the Superbowl this year. (Today!) It has been a years-long venture, and apparently the efforts have come to fruition. There are many glowing reports about how Superbowl Week has gone in Indy. One sports writer--from Baltimore, no less--wrote that the Indianapolis Superbowl experience has been the best one out of the last 18 that he has been to. That's pretty special!
Of course, it didn't hurt that the week has been sunny and unseasonably warm. Only yesterday turned off cool and rainy. Today, the sun is shining brightly and the temperature is still quite a bit above normal. All of the media has been here. Many celebrities. Downtown--the "Superbowl Village"-- has been flooded with mostly locals who have taken advantage of the party. One media station labeled it as "human gridlock" downtown. Still, people have been happy, uncomplaining, and well-behaved. (So far.)
There was one column written by a sports writer that cast doubts that Indianapolis could be a good place to host such an event, but he goes on to report that all is well. (So far.) What many people don't consider is that Indy knows about crowds and celebrity. Every year in the month of May, then again in August, 500,000 people converge on 16th Street and Georgetown Road for the Indianapolis 500 and the Brickyard 400. It's gone on for 90-some years. IMPD and ISP are the most patient law enforcers when it comes to legal crowds and drunks. They know the drill: keep traffic moving, smile and nod a lot, and only get in the face of people who are outright unruly or deliberately breaking the law. It works. (I have three former students who are State Troopers here.)
The Indianapolis Colts aren't in the Superbowl this year. (sigh) But who is? The New England Patriots--largely disliked by Colts fans because of a couple of years that the Pats knocked the Colts out of the playoffs at the last minute--and the New York Giants, with the Colts' favorite player's little brother Eli Manning. Everyone here is rooting for the Giants, swearing that the Patriots should not be allowed to win at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Personally, I have always been somewhat disinterested in professional football. People talk about this great play or that great tackle, and I mumble that those guys get paid handsomely to be good. (Sour grapes for a retired teacher who worked her buns off for 40 years and now can just barely support herself in retirement.) My daughter, however, is an avid Colts fan and truly understands the game. (Hey...I was a football coach's daughter and I STILL don't totally understand football!) It was always fun to be around her when the games were on. (She's in Chicago Bears country now but is still a Colts fan...at least until Peyton Manning retires or gets cut.) If the game took place earlier in the day or the weekend, I would have insisted that Megan and Denis be here. As it is, they wouldn't be able to get back to the Chicago area in a timely manner after the game. Also, I've witnessed a lot of Superbowls that were blow-outs, with one team being so far ahead for the whole game that it almost didn't seem like a fair fight.
Still, the Superbowl in Indianapolis is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, never to be repeated in my lifetime. I wish I had the ability to be downtown with the crowds and join in the festivities. I just can't. Would that the Colts were in the game, but they aren't! Double bummer! I have enjoyed watching the hooplah on television and can say, with no prejudice, "May the best team win".
I can also say, "Go, Giants! Go, Eli!" :)
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