Colts, Pacers enthusiastic for each other
Players on the city's NFL and NBA teams have begun a mutual admiration society.
The "Amateur Sports Capital of the World" has become as good as it gets in pro sports, too.
No city with both NFL and NBA franchises has a superior combined record than Indianapolis' current mark of 24-6. The Colts are 9-3. The Pacers are 15-3. The closest city of the 18 others with teams in both leagues is Dallas, 51/2 games back at 19-10 with the Cowboys and Mavericks.
"The city is hot," said Colts tight end Marcus Pollard. "It's giving the fans in this city something to cheer about, the way the Pacers are playing and the way we're playing."
The players are also cheering for each other. Several Colts are Pacers season ticket holders and regulars at Conseco Fieldhouse. Several Pacers, including Reggie Miller, are outspoken Colts fans.
"I know Al (Harrington) and Jermaine (O'Neal)," Colts receiver Reggie Wayne said of the Pacers stars. "We see each other all the time on the street. I'm a big fan of those guys. I have all their jerseys.
"We always cheer them on. We just want the city to do well. When you see them win, it kind of encourages you to go out and win to keep the city up and going."
The athletes, from their travels, know there's a perception that Indianapolis, the 25th largest market according to Nielsen Media Research with 1.03 million households, isn't a big-time pro sports city like New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.
"People can say what they want about Indianapolis, but the bottom line is we've got two great teams," Harrington said. "The big thing right now is what we do in the postseason. We've got to represent the city well."
Harrington admits he hasn't seen a Colts game this year, but keeps up on their season.
"You have to pay attention to the Colts because (Miller) is a big Colts fan. You have to be able to get into the conversation when he starts talking about his Colts," he said.
"It's all love between both teams. We see Edge (Edgerrin James) and Reggie (Wayne) a lot, but I don't know about the rest of the guys. But when we see them out somewhere, it's all love."
State Sen. Jim Merritt, R-Indianapolis, a Pacers and Colts season ticket holder, says that positive vibe is more prevalent Downtown, particularly on Mondays.
"It means everything in the world to be a winner town," said Merritt, who has been in office 13 years. "It sure puts a spring in one's gait when teams are winning. Sports is a tonic for life."
The city has yet to celebrate an NBA or NFL title. The Pacers lost in their only NBA Finals appearance in 2000. The Colts, enjoying their ninth winning season in two decades, have yet to reach the Super Bowl since moving to Indianapolis.
"We've gone through some really tough years with the Pacers and the Colts, so now we're going to the other extreme," Merritt said. "It's great to be a winner. And the more you win, the more identity and renown it gives our city."
Pacers newcomer Kenny Anderson resides in Atlanta, but has quickly become a Colts fan.
"You can't help but keep up with them," the guard said. "They're all over the news here. I like what they do. I love Marvin (Harrison) and Edge. Those are my guys."
Racing fans would argue the Indianapolis 500 makes the city the world's motor sports capital. But what about the rest of the year, when the Brickyard is relatively silent from October until May?
"If we had a Major League Baseball team, it would be even better," Wayne said. "But with the things we have, like the Indy 500, we're trying to put Indianapolis on the map."
Colts coach Tony Dungy, in just his second season, has become a fan of all sports associated with Indiana. He was "fired up" about IUPUI, Indiana, Purdue, Butler and Notre Dame in the NCAA tournament last year. Last May, he waved the green flag on practice for the Indy 500.
The ultimate, he knows from experience, would be for Indy to celebrate two championships. When he was in Pittsburgh in 1979, the Steelers won the Super Bowl and the Pirates won the World Series.
"Winning is fun, no matter what sport it is," Dungy said. "It makes you feel good about your city. We're hoping we can keep going and the Pacers can build on it also.
"Maybe we can get an NBA championship and a Super Bowl."
Then Dungy concedes, "We've got to be first."
Fans at Sunday's Colts-New England game were excited just thinking about the possibility.
"We're fast becoming the sports capital of the world," said Southside tailgater Phil Schulge, 23.
Added fellow Southsider Jackie Pasteur, 22, "It's too early in the season to know about the Pacers. The big game in Tennessee will tell about (the Colts)."
The Colts are at Tennessee on Sunday in a showdown of 9-3 teams atop the AFC South.
Once the NFL season is complete, perhaps the Pacers can call on a Colt for assistance. Pollard, who played college basketball at Bradley, wouldn't mind suiting up.
"I've been trying to get in touch with (Pacers president) Larry Bird and tell him, 'Let me get a tryout. Let me sit on the bench, warm up with the team,' or something," Pollard joked.
If nothing else, he can dunk.
"I can still get up and do that," he said. "My jump shot has probably faded a little bit, but I can work on that and get it going again."
http://www.indystar.com
Players on the city's NFL and NBA teams have begun a mutual admiration society.
The "Amateur Sports Capital of the World" has become as good as it gets in pro sports, too.
No city with both NFL and NBA franchises has a superior combined record than Indianapolis' current mark of 24-6. The Colts are 9-3. The Pacers are 15-3. The closest city of the 18 others with teams in both leagues is Dallas, 51/2 games back at 19-10 with the Cowboys and Mavericks.
"The city is hot," said Colts tight end Marcus Pollard. "It's giving the fans in this city something to cheer about, the way the Pacers are playing and the way we're playing."
The players are also cheering for each other. Several Colts are Pacers season ticket holders and regulars at Conseco Fieldhouse. Several Pacers, including Reggie Miller, are outspoken Colts fans.
"I know Al (Harrington) and Jermaine (O'Neal)," Colts receiver Reggie Wayne said of the Pacers stars. "We see each other all the time on the street. I'm a big fan of those guys. I have all their jerseys.
"We always cheer them on. We just want the city to do well. When you see them win, it kind of encourages you to go out and win to keep the city up and going."
The athletes, from their travels, know there's a perception that Indianapolis, the 25th largest market according to Nielsen Media Research with 1.03 million households, isn't a big-time pro sports city like New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.
"People can say what they want about Indianapolis, but the bottom line is we've got two great teams," Harrington said. "The big thing right now is what we do in the postseason. We've got to represent the city well."
Harrington admits he hasn't seen a Colts game this year, but keeps up on their season.
"You have to pay attention to the Colts because (Miller) is a big Colts fan. You have to be able to get into the conversation when he starts talking about his Colts," he said.
"It's all love between both teams. We see Edge (Edgerrin James) and Reggie (Wayne) a lot, but I don't know about the rest of the guys. But when we see them out somewhere, it's all love."
State Sen. Jim Merritt, R-Indianapolis, a Pacers and Colts season ticket holder, says that positive vibe is more prevalent Downtown, particularly on Mondays.
"It means everything in the world to be a winner town," said Merritt, who has been in office 13 years. "It sure puts a spring in one's gait when teams are winning. Sports is a tonic for life."
The city has yet to celebrate an NBA or NFL title. The Pacers lost in their only NBA Finals appearance in 2000. The Colts, enjoying their ninth winning season in two decades, have yet to reach the Super Bowl since moving to Indianapolis.
"We've gone through some really tough years with the Pacers and the Colts, so now we're going to the other extreme," Merritt said. "It's great to be a winner. And the more you win, the more identity and renown it gives our city."
Pacers newcomer Kenny Anderson resides in Atlanta, but has quickly become a Colts fan.
"You can't help but keep up with them," the guard said. "They're all over the news here. I like what they do. I love Marvin (Harrison) and Edge. Those are my guys."
Racing fans would argue the Indianapolis 500 makes the city the world's motor sports capital. But what about the rest of the year, when the Brickyard is relatively silent from October until May?
"If we had a Major League Baseball team, it would be even better," Wayne said. "But with the things we have, like the Indy 500, we're trying to put Indianapolis on the map."
Colts coach Tony Dungy, in just his second season, has become a fan of all sports associated with Indiana. He was "fired up" about IUPUI, Indiana, Purdue, Butler and Notre Dame in the NCAA tournament last year. Last May, he waved the green flag on practice for the Indy 500.
The ultimate, he knows from experience, would be for Indy to celebrate two championships. When he was in Pittsburgh in 1979, the Steelers won the Super Bowl and the Pirates won the World Series.
"Winning is fun, no matter what sport it is," Dungy said. "It makes you feel good about your city. We're hoping we can keep going and the Pacers can build on it also.
"Maybe we can get an NBA championship and a Super Bowl."
Then Dungy concedes, "We've got to be first."
Fans at Sunday's Colts-New England game were excited just thinking about the possibility.
"We're fast becoming the sports capital of the world," said Southside tailgater Phil Schulge, 23.
Added fellow Southsider Jackie Pasteur, 22, "It's too early in the season to know about the Pacers. The big game in Tennessee will tell about (the Colts)."
The Colts are at Tennessee on Sunday in a showdown of 9-3 teams atop the AFC South.
Once the NFL season is complete, perhaps the Pacers can call on a Colt for assistance. Pollard, who played college basketball at Bradley, wouldn't mind suiting up.
"I've been trying to get in touch with (Pacers president) Larry Bird and tell him, 'Let me get a tryout. Let me sit on the bench, warm up with the team,' or something," Pollard joked.
If nothing else, he can dunk.
"I can still get up and do that," he said. "My jump shot has probably faded a little bit, but I can work on that and get it going again."
http://www.indystar.com
