Blogotional

Well, we've made it to the "I's" which means we've made it to my home town - Indianapolis, Indiana. What can one say for the place where the grew up? Well, not entirely -- we moved there the summer before I started 7th grade, but jr. hi., high school, college, and my first 2 jobs were all there -- that's major growing up.

Natural beauty is not really an Indianapolis hallmark. The surrounding countryside is pretty well plowed under -- you have to get a good bit to the south to see pretty country.

Indy does have some urban beauty though. It is often referred to as the "city of monuments." Home to , among other things, the American Legion, the downtown has many plazas, many statues, most relating to veterans and military. This is the Soldiers and Sailors Monument -- its circle defining the exact center of the city. The city was planned from its inception and everything is gridded from this point -- making it one of the easiest cities to navigate I have ever been in.

"The Circle" was supposed to be the precise geographical center of the state, but between calculational and surveying weaknesses in the 19th century, they missed by about 25 miles to the south. Pretty though, isn't it?

So, what's the first thing that comes to mind when one says "Indianapolis" -- one says "The 500" - The Greatest Spectacle in Racing - The largest single day sporting event in the world. Some say the heyday of American open wheel racing, and the IMS in particular are over -- I think we will see a resurgence and it will be bigger and better than ever. With the addition of NASCAR and F1 events at the Speedway, there is no place to go but up.

This is a banner year for pro football in Indianapolis. The Colts are currently undefeated - the only such team in the NFL at 9-0. They have been on the cusp for several years now and they seem to have turned the corner into genuine greatness. The Pacers were here a few years ago and blew it in the finals. Here's hoping the Colts don't pull up lame before the Super Bowl.

I am expecting a loss before the playoffs, undefeated is just too hard in this day and age, but still, 9-0 is pretty darn good. If you are not a Colts fan, it's a good year to start.

But of all sport - basketball reigns supreme in Indiana and in Indianapolis. So what do you see here -- the finest "little" team in college basketball, the Butler Bulldogs, the university that graduated the smartest man I have ever met -- yes, that's right -- ME! Butler made it to the Sweet Sixteen a few years ago, one of the greatest sports performances of my life.

Used to be the sun rose and set over Indiana University Basketball, but a few years ago, insanity took hold of pretty much the whole state, they ran out of patience with the greatest coach in college basketball history, an admitted jerk, but great coach, and replaced him with a drooling idiot. IU has one of the storied programs in history, they'll be back, but not until they get rid of this brain-dead excuse for a coach.

The Pacers are good, but in this old-school-Hoosier's book, the pro game will never be as good as the college and high school version.

Indianapolis -- it's home and it's wonderful.