Once again this wasn’t the way the Colts season was suppose to end. Former Colts player Mark Thomas and I were at the station watching the game and were shocked the Colts lost in the first round, again. But as a glass-half-full kind of gal, I wanna look on the bright side. At least the Colts MADE it to the playoffs; they could have had the Lions’ record (0-16). Or worse yet, they could have had the Patriots’ season -– losing their star quarterback (who knows if he’ll be back healthy next season) the first game of the season and missing the playoffs.

And then, let’s not forget the Colts did finish the season with another 12 wins. And when Dungy does walk away from the game, he will have a Super Bowl ring. Some may argue that he should have more than one, but that’s more than a lot of coaches and players have. Here’s hoping for next season. Be positive, it could be worse.

Congratulations to Peyton Manning on winning his 3rd MVP award. When I asked Peyton how rewarding was it to win this award after going through two knee surgeries, no action in the preseason, and a horrible start to the season, Peyton responded with a couple of key words… it’s a team award.

This may be his third MVP award, but he knows he is fortunate to have great personnel around him. That’s why he was so quick to give thanks to Mr. Irsay, Tony Dungy, and Bill Polian after receiving this award on Friday. I was asked by my colleague Scott Sander where I would have ranked this year’s MVP award compared to Peyton’s other two?

I told him… I think this might have to rank at the top… knowing what Peyton went through this season, and to have the Colts on a 9 game winning streak is simply amazing. However I told Scott… if you asked Peyton if he would rather have the MVP award or another Super Bowl ring? There’s no doubt it would be the latter.

Ok… I must admit I was so surprised to see that this week’s Colts playoff game against San Diego is on Saturday night opposed to Sunday afternoon. I thought since San Diego played last Sunday night against Denver. I was confident the NFL would do the right thing: Give Indy a full week to prepare since they have to travel cross country for the game… and San Diego was the last game on Sunday. Instead, it’s another short week for the Colts, but this week is a little different, everything is on the line.

The Colts will arrive in San Diego on Friday afternoon… and ready to play football 24 hours later. I did hear from some folks from the Colts organization prior to Sunday’s game against the Titans that there was a good chance the Colts would play on Saturday… and that would be the case. I know it’s a primetime game and big for the NFL, but to have to travel cross country and you don’t even get a full week to prepare is pretty sad.

But you know Tony Dungy, and the team won’t make any excuses… hey… “it is what it is”… and GREAT teams work through adversity. No doubt going to California on a short week can be a pain…but based on this year’s schedule… it’s one I think they are use too.

In our weekly Wednesday interview session with the Colts, Tony Dungy was asked if he thought this Sunday could possibly be the last game for him on the Colts sideline for a home game. He reacted as if the question were unusual, saying that no, there’s still a playoff game. But then he realized it was personal. He said no, it hasn’t entered his mind and won’t because he’ll — once again — revisit things with his family once the season ends as he has for the past three years.

He did tell us he thought about it at Super Bowl XLI, and tried to take it all in, knowing that could possibly have been the end. Most of us media-types feel that this indeed is it for him. His great success as a coach has given him an opportunity to help young men, something he feels is so important, especially to those who have no fathers growing up.

Dungy is a great man, a great leader, and whatever he decides to do, deserves everyone’s support.

If there are any doubts about Brad Stevens being a one-hit wonder with Todd Lickliter’s players from last year’s NCAA Tournament team, please think AGAIN! Stevens has taken a Butler team that many thought wouldn’t do much and has them 10-1 on the season, 2-0 in Horizon League play. Not to mention a huge win Tuesday night at Xavier!

The Dogs beat 14th ranked Xavier on their home court. Prior to the game, the X-Men had won 15-straight home games. Stevens has a great offense and his team plays outstanding defense. But the best part about his ball club is that they play great TEAM BALL!

Case in point: Four players scored in double figures and all but one player that played on Tuesday night scored at least a point. Butler fans should feel good, Stevens has this team playing some great basketball and there’s no doubt his players love playing for him!

RCA Dome….what great memories that building gave me over the years. When I was an high school student from Evansville. I would come up for Circle City Classic games….and now working for WISH-TV…Boy I have witness some great moments at the dome.

The one thing that I loved most about the Dome was the size of it. It had such an “Indiana” feel to it. Not too big and not to small….just right.

I could go down a list of some of my favorite moments at the RCA Dome…but I think ONE will do. It happened in 2006!

When the Colts made the biggest comeback in AFC Playoff history and beat New England to advance to the Superbowl! Thanks dome for all the great moments!

Just when you think you’ve seen it all, Peyton pulls off another magical performance. His umpteenth come-from-behind win gave the Colts a seventh consecutive playoff berth, and in my mind, cemented him as the NFL’s most valuable player.

Coming from a 3-4 start, a patched up offensive line and nearly no running game, Manning has willed his team to this eight-game winning streak. Some of the passes of completed in Jacksonville were among the best I’ve seen, dropping them into tiny windows that only his receivers could get. And completing 23 straight passes over two games was one off the NFL record set by Donovan McNabb.

It’s been interesting to see this team deal with adversity and rally to gain a playoff berth, unlike all those other years when they ran away from the competition. Winning in trying times on the road time and again will only prepare this team for the post-season tournament. Players told me after the game that this playoff run has been extra special because of what they’ve been through.

It has been such a pleasure watching Pacers forward Danny Granger grow over the years. He is NOW the face of the Pacers organization and he is delivering.

Granger is averaging over 24 points a game, which ranks him in the top 10 in scoring in the NBA. But he is a total team player on the court as well. He’s not afraid to give the ball up if a teammate is in position to score.

Wednesday night he scored 41 points and had 11 rebounds against Golden State. But the place where he maybe scoring the most points is off the court. Granger continues to give back to the community and has been a class act for the organization while getting the job done on the court.

Granger: Congrats, you’re making yourself and your boss, Larry Bird, look very good.