The Super Bowl is normally a time that I get together with friends to watch the Super Bowl* (especially the new commercials) and eat some chili and wings.  But with our very own Indianapolis Colts finally making it to the Big Game it has such a different feeling to it this year.  When the Pacers went to the Finals in 2000, the town didn’t seem so pumped up about it (maybe we’re not as big into basketball as most people think…at least not on the professional level).  But this past few weeks the town has just been amped.

Everywhere you go there are flags, banners, Colts gear, etc. and everyone you see says “Go Colts!” to you in passing as if it were your usual Christmas greeting.  And Christmas is probably the best way to describe the feeling around town.  There’s just something in the air that you can’t quite explain, and beyond the occasional football Scrooge everyone seems to be into even if they’re not normally into football.

So this is a quite exciting time for those of us in the Circle City and hopefully our offense and defense will show up tonight and shine like we have all seen during the regular season.  My only worry is that almost everyone I’ve heard from in the national media gives the game to the Colts by a touchdown or two.  While my gut has to agree with their assessment, the up front “no contest” expectations aren’t always a good thing.  But I’m sure that our Colts are up for the challenge.

Now I must get ready for the evening festivities.  Go Colts and Go Horse!!!

* And yes, for the No Fun League knuckleheads, on a larger than 55″ screen and with more than one television.  And yes, I will be discussing the game afterwards as well…what in the world is the “for private use of our audience” warning all about?  And hopefully no Bengals or Chargers will be arrested before, during or after the game.

File this under “duh!”…

[Via the AP] — Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Jackson violated his probation in Michigan when Indiana prosecutors charged him with firing a gun outside a strip club, a judge ruled Friday.

Police said Jackson fired a gun in the air at least five times during an Oct. 6 fight outside Club Rio. Jackson originally told police that he fired the gun in self-defense, but Marion County (Ind.) Prosecutor Carl Brizzi said Jackson retrieved his gun from his car and fired it before he was struck and injured by another car.

…and boy am I glad he’s not a member of the Indiana Pacers anymore.

I’ve been pondering what to say regarding the recent eight player trade between the Indiana Pacers and Golden State Warriors. Then Indianapolis native Jason Whitlock was in town to cover the Colts game and was a guest on WISH-TV Channel 8 (Indianapolis) last night and stated it pretty well. Paraphrasing …

“I’m all for anything that gets rid of Stephen Jackson. I only wish they could have sent him to Europe so that we could get him out of this country. Next on my list is Larry Bird. He doesn’t know what the hell he’s doing.”

Now that was funny! And I can’t disagree. A management and coaching overhaul would probably do the team some good.

On paper the Pacers didn’t get the better end of the deal, but being able to unload Jackson does sweeten the deal a bit. It was sad to see Al Harrington play the role of the sacrificial lamb, but that’s how it goes in the sports business. My main complaint is that I wish they would have unloaded the rest of the baggage (Jamal Tinsley & Jermaine O’Neal…and I’m sure that I missed someone) while they were at it. But hey, the season isn’t over yet and there must be someone out on the West Coast that will trade the Pacers for these guys.