The Worthington Times

It’s been a blue Monday evening in Indiana.  This column is for Worthington news but the Colts have taken over everyone’s news today.  And I’ve heard from an old Worthingtonian who is far away that they’ve enjoyed this since they don’t get quite the same Colts scoop in other places.

Many of us spent the evening once again in front of the TV watching the Colts celebration.  From 4 p.m. the Indy news channels pre-empted everything, even their own evening news shows, to carry every minute of this homecoming, for about 5 hours.  They had reporters on corners and their helicopters in the air.  The coverage was better than anything Presidential.

The news choppers caught the planes touching down then followed the buses along the roads.  When the Colts got out of the bus, we saw the players taking pictures of the news choppers.  People were lining the streets and filling the Dome despite near zero temperatures.  They waited for hours.  At first, news people said the Colts would be bused down this parade route because of the cold, but the Colts fooled everyone.  They changed into warm gear, gloves, hats etc, put their Jerseys on as the top layer so people would recognize them, and surprised everyone by jumping onto old Indy 500 floats and pickup truck beds and convertibles with the top down and they rode the route in the cold. 

Fans wore blue, lights in windows along the route were blue, and Monument Circle was bathed in blue light. (And in all of auto ads in today’s Indy Star, all of the cars were blue.)  It took them much longer to make it to the Dome because they had to go so slow.  Fans did not stay on the sidelines - they moved out into the street right next to the vehicles and floats and high-fived and shook hands and reached out to the Colts players.  The Colts leaned out too and stretched out their hands to touch the fans.  The fans were taking pictures of the Colts, and the Colts players were taking pictures of the fans!

In this day and age, with all the talk about security, watching police barricades for motorcades and all the rest of the things we see on TV, seeing the Colts and their fans crushing together, without any ugly incidents… it was most heartening to watch such a joyful time.  And just plain cute to watch the excited Colts players taking pictures, not acting like celebrities, but just having the time of their life with their fans.

Celebrate by listening to Blue Sunday , posted on YouTube about a week ago.  Then watch the best of the parade by going to the WTHR website to find the videos called “Colts Parade (Part Two)” and “Fans Rock the Dome.”

The Indianapolis Colts have won the Super Bowl.  It’s a happy day for Hoosiers.  The Colts will return to Indy this afternoon around 4:00 and even Oprah is being pre-empted in Indiana so that Hoosiers can watch the celebrations on the local channels.  There will be a parade in downtown Indy and lots of people are on the roads now in order to be there despite bitter cold temperatures.  We’re in a horrific cold snap and many schools are conveniently closed today.  Most official words are that the schools are closed because of the dangerous temperatures….  most unofficial words from the kids are that the schools are closed because the Colts have won the Super Bowl.  It’s all worked out quite nicely.  Today, Indiana is “bleeding blue.”    

It’s Sunday morning but not just any ol’ Sunday morning.  It’s Super Bowl Sunday, but not just any ol’ Super Bowl Sunday.  Today, our Indianapolis Colts are playing for the world championship.  It’s almost unbelievable - the Colts are at the Super Bowl!

For those of you who are reading this from somewhere in the rest of the world, I’m writing to let you know that this is a BIG DAY back home in Indiana.  People are so excited, even those of us who normally are not big football fans.  Offices and factories, schools and businesses have declared “Blue Days” where everyone dresses in their very best bright Colts blue.  Parties are planned, families are getting together for the day and Hoosiers are anxiously awaiting the kick-off.  Oh, how we want them to win so bad!  Go Colts!

The other thing I want to tell you who are afar is this - there’s no doubt about the outcome around here.  They’re going to win it - Colts fans are absolutely certain.  It’s our year.  So watch the game and drink it in - it’s going to be a great day for Hoosiers.