September 22nd, 2008 at 9:17 am by Chris Widlic under Sports
What’s happened to the Colts incredible home-field advantage? At last count, (if you include two pre-season games) the Colts have dropped six straight in front of their fans, and as one co-worker told me, it seems they’ve lost their swagger. Marvin looks slow, he and Reggie Wayne are dropping balls, the fearless defense that led the league in points against one year ago can’t get off the field. Injuries, missed assignments, mistakes, this is not the Tony Dungy-led Colts.
It was good to see Peyton Manning put together perfect drives to begin and end the game with Jacksonville, but he still isn’t the same. We’ll see if the bye will help and if they can come out strong..if not, the team’s worst start in a decade will only get worse.
August 3rd, 2008 at 3:48 pm by Chris Widlic under Sports
My first visit to the Pro Football Hall of Fame found me surrounded by Redskin nation. We arrived on induction Saturday where two of the new enshrinees wore maroon and gold, Art Monk and Darrell Green, and thousands of ’skin fans came out to support their heroes.
Ironically, among the 247 Hall of Famers, only 11 have Colts ties and just one, running back Eric Dickerson actually played in Indianapolis. That will change over the next decade. Marvin Harrison, Peyton Manning, Adam Vinatieri should all have their day, and then we’ll see Canton over run by blue and white horseshoe lovers.
It was encouraging to see the NFL mandate all rookies tour the shrine to get a feel and grasp of the history of the game and get a feel for the men who laid the groundwork for their good living.
The game itself tonight will find the Colts without their best…Manning, Harrison, Freeney and Sanders, so check out the youngsters. Mike Hart, Pierre Garcon, Mike Pollak getting their first taste in an historic place.
July 21st, 2008 at 10:12 pm by Jeane Coakley under Sports
I had the opportunity to travel to Erie, Pennsylvania to do a story with Bob Sanders. It was definitely a neat experience. I’ve covered Bob the past two years and really only knew him as “Bob Sanders, the Colts Safety” but seeing him out of uniform and interacting with people in his hometown, I got to meet the real Bob Sanders.
He is a genuine guy who loves his family and wants to make them proud. He put on a two-day FREE football camp for 300 high school players from the area. And he was very much part of the camp. In fact, he would get in and play with the guys.
A lot professional athletes get a bad rap (I’ll admit, sometimes I’m not the biggest pro athlete fan – the money and fame get to them – I’ve seen it firsthand) but Bob Sanders hasn’t let that get to him. He’s proud of where he’s come from. He’s not only a great athlete but a humble, generous person.
July 16th, 2008 at 5:27 pm by Chris Widlic under Sports
So much for the dog days of summer!!
Lets see, just this week, racing bad boy Paul Tracy makes a comeback with Tony George’s team of all people, the man who Tracy said took his Indy 500 title away in a controversial finish with Helio in 2002. Also, IRL driver Sarah Fisher finds a major sponsor to keep her team alive for races in Kentucky and Chicago
The Pacers introduce six of seven of their new players, completely changing the face and direction of the franchise, while the Fever prepare for the WNBA’s first-ever outdoor basketball game at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.
Two-time NFL MVP Peyton Manning has Colts fans talking after undergoing surgery for an infected bursa sac in his left knee, and the NASCAR boys are ready to roll into the Brickyard for their annual event.
Finally, James Blake and the tennis championships are also in town.
Whew, gotta catch my breath…THIS is why our wonderful city is the sports capital of the country. Can’t imagine a better sports town ANYWHERE.
