The Indiana Fever championship team were the guests of President Obama and the First Lady at the White House last week. The President acknowledged not only their skills as professional basketball players, but their service to the community as well. He called them great role models for young American women including his own daughters. It’s really good to see our Indiana Fever team get the national recognition it deserves. Unfortunately, the team is 1-5 and in the Eastern Conference cellar, 4.5 games behind Atlanta. Hopefully, as they get their social obligations behind them, they can concentrate on defending their championship banner.
And speaking of honors, Colts Head Coach Chuck Pagano was voted by the Professional Football Writers Association of America as the 2013 recipient of George C. Halas Award for over coming adversity. While battling leukemia and undergoing chemotherapy Pagano was leading his Colts to one of the greatest turnarounds in NFL history. Even though he was bedridden, he and his wife watched game film on his laptop and kept in touch with assistant coaches and players by phone and e-mail. He along with offensive coordinator and interim head coach Bruce Arains brought the Horseshoe back from a 2-14 2011 season to an 11-5 2012 season and a trip to the playoffs. Coach Arains was named the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals for the 2013 season.
The Colts training camp opens at Anderson College on July 29th. After a successful mini-camp at both Lucas Oil and the training complex on West 56th Street, they have a little over a month to get ready for the heat of August. For the Colts fans there promises to be a lot of fun for the entire family. The Indy Star is sponsoring Colts City so there will be some fun activities, autographs, and giveaways. There are concessions, but you can bring a picnic and cooler and do some tailgating. There is no charge to enter the Colts City or the training field, but there is a $10 fee to park your car. You might want to plan a day with the gang up in Anderson to see the Colts practice.
There has been a great deal of roster movement for the Colts in the off season and you may know about a lot of it. Two of the more recent additions are wideout Darrius Heyward-Bey, formerly of the Oakland Raiders, and Ahmad Bradshaw, who had been a New York Giant until recently. Hayward-Bey was a first round pick, number 7 actually by the Raiders in 2009. He is possessed of great speed but his production as a Raider wideout didn’t match his salary so the Raiders didn’t resign him. The Colts hope that with a better quarterback throwing to him and a more stable team to be a part of, Heyward-Bey can finally become the productive receiver it was thought he could be when he came into the league in 2009. He takes the place of Donny Avery who signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in the off season.
Running back Ahmad Bradshaw was picked on the seventh round of the 2007 draft by the Giants. He is currently listed as being 5’10” tall and 214 pounds and was a key part of both the 2008 and 2012 Super Bowl winning Giant teams. He has two 1,000 yard rushing seasons to his credit, including last season, and has a career rushing average of 4.6 per attempt. He has scored 35 career touchdowns both rushing and receiving. If he is healthy he could be a helpful addition to the backfield, but therein lies the rub. Bradshaw has had to undergo several surgeries to both his feet. Also he has had two procedures on his legs. These injury issues are thought to be the reasons why he wasn’t resigned by the Giants. There are some prognosticators who already have him penciled in as the starting running back in the Colts backfield, which has the Vic Ballard people all up in arms. I think it is way too early to make any kind of call on the situation. If he can remain healthy he will be a nice addition to the squad. Lets hope that’s the case.
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