The anticipation is palpable.
Occassional peeks out through tiny slivers of curtain can be seen in homes across the state. Hushed conversations are going on in nearly every corner of the state, be it at businesses, restaraunt dining tables, the local watering hole or around the family living room. Farmers have put away their implements, opting instead to nervously draining another cup of coffee. The ticking of each agonizing second of this, a very mild Monday in May, can be heard as if it eminates from a gigantic kettle drum, perhaps 50 times larger than Purdue’s Worlds Largest Drum. Larry Bird’s presser on plans for the upcoming NBA draft go ignored. Larry-freakin-Bird ignored? In Indiana? Drivers at the Indy 500 noticed an unusual, even disturbing distraction from the usual fervor during qualifications this past weekend. What is going on they wonder?
Simply put, the citizens of the great state of Indiana are anxious. They’re nervous. They’re also cautiously excited. Giddy almost. Yet wary. Once they were so close, yet fate handed them a dagger. This year the nerves are still there, but the lid is on the outward show of emotion as the clock continues to tick towards Tuesday.
All eyes and ears are straining to hear the first reports from Atlanta on that day.
Okay, perhaps I am over-stating it a bit. Maybe there aren’t any folks peeking out from behind closed curtains.And maybe it wasn’t quite as hushed downtown as I thought it was yesterday. And yeah, farmers always drink coffee after putting away the tractor, so that might have been a bit over-the-top. And okay, that ticking sound is actually from my wristwatch. Seems my head was laying on my wrist after falling asleep at my computer, thinking about what to write. But it IS mild here in Indiana today! 59 degrees a high for May?
But I digress.
Tuesday in Atlanta. It is the site of the annual NFL owners meeting and it IS definitely on the minds of many here in Indiana.You see, Indianapolis - and the citizens of Indiana - want to host the 2012 Super Bowl. Bad. Real bad. Almost as bad as getting another Super Bowl win. But tell ya what, why not “kill two birds with one stone”, ya know? If Indy can host the 2012 Super Bowl AND the Colts win it right here in our own backyard that very year (against the Cowboys !! ) everything from last year is forgiven. Deal?
By a vote of 17-15 last year, Indianapolis became the first NFL city in over 20 years that was building a brand new stadium, yet lost out in the bidding to host a Super Bowl. Seems Jerry Jones and an extra $23 million incentive gave Dallas a slight edge in last year’s bid. Thus, the city of Indianapolis is back at it again this year.
The city doesn’t have beaches, palm trees or enchanted mountain peeks in the distance. But not every NFL city can be so fortunate. And if the folks in the Motor City can play host to the biggest sporting event in the world, there is no doubt Indianapolis can do just as good a job, if not better. And that is no slap at Motown either, who did a fantastic job the last time they hosted the Super Bowl. But in Indy, we host big events every year for hundreds of thousands when the Indy 500 starts up every May, and again in August when NASCAR comes to town for the Brickyard 400. And there are all those Final Fours and other top athletic events year ’round.
But this is a different animal altogether. We know.
Houston and Glendale are the other cities up for the bid nomination, and both have hosted a Super Bowl already. Glendale finished up their first one last year and did a wonderful job. Which leaves, in reality, Houston and Indy. Houston held their first a few years back. And after having come so close last year, one would think it’d a done deal really. Which is why the anxiety is sky-high. Restrained. Hair trigger ready for release. One columnist in the state commented that Indy is in the “pole position” for getting the bid. We’ll see. I hope so.
The city of Indianapolis and the citizens of the state deserve it. Think of all those years of residents forced to support the Cubs, the White Sox or the Reds in MLB. Or in the NFL rooting for the Bears, Packers or (gasp!) the Bengals when a professional team didn’t exist in Indy save the ABA Pacers.
Talk about coming a long way, baby ! (Apologies for ending this column with an obscure 1970’s cigarette ad reference) But then again, it’s rather aprapo for just where this city has come from, don’t you think? From obscurity to a world stage. How fitting it would be.
Have a great day all !
Rick McGlothlin
Drafttek Correspondent
