NFL in Naptown

Can you feel it? Can you feel the cool breeze smacking you in the face as you enter through the revolving doors, the warm feeling when your body hits the seats and the chills from the roaring crowd?\nIf you are lucky enough, like I am, to be able to go to today’s NFL Colts-Saints season opener at the RCA Dome, you will feel those things.\nBut this game is more than a football game. It’s an event that goes well beyond the realm of throwing a lopsided ball. It’s a civic event. \nPrior to the 8:30 p.m. kickoff, there will be free performances by Faith Hill, Kelly Clarkson and John “Cougar” Mellencamp at Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis.\nWait. Hold the phone. \nReal stars are coming to Indianapolis? In my short 20-year life, I have gone to hundreds of professional sporting events, and I have never seen a halftime show or a national anthem performed by someone famous. \nOK, I lied. One time I got to see Vanilla Ice perform at an intermission during an Indianapolis Ice game, but it was way past his prime and it was more sad than entertaining.\nBut to have real stars performing in Naptown? It’s a dream come true.\nI can drive downtown, watch Faith Hill perform with earplugs (because I hate country, but she’s hot), sing my little heart out while Kelly performs, sit in the corner writing “101 Reasons to Live” as I keep myself from committing suicide during Mellencamp’s performance of “This is Our Country,”Drew Brees battle commercial king Peyton Manning and former Heisman trophy winner Reggie Bush battle the “let me cross my fingers and pray to a higher being” Colts’ run defense. \nThe game will be well worth the hype. The NFL marketers did a good job picking a great match-up with well-known stars to kick off another wonderful season.\nFootball is America’s game. The world might have caught up in basketball, but they still can’t touch football. \nToday, the world is watching Indianapolis. The unthinkable idea has become reality, and it’s happening in a large light. The greats in music and sports will perform in one central location all for the greater good of an entire nation.\nBecause “this is ooooooooour country.”