Welcome to Indiana – where sport is king

In the movie “Hoosiers,” actor Gene Hackman summed up the importance of basketball in the state of Indiana with one of the most memorable lines in sports cinema.

Hackman, playing the role of Hickory High School coach Norman Dale, muttered the words “Welcome to Indiana basketball” to himself prior to entering the raucous, filled-to-capacity gym raging in the background.

The line from the movie reflects a lore and craze for the sporting industry that has always been present throughout the state.

Whether it’s your die-hard, ever-optimistic Notre Dame football fan or the lifelong Hoosier hardwood supporter, sports have always had a unique home in Indiana.

Just up State Road 37 lies what is often referred to as the “Amateur Sports Capital of the World.”

Indianapolis is home to the NCAA Headquarters, the Colts' Lucas Oil Stadium – a $700-million super stadium – and arguably the world’s most recognized racing facility, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The statewide reputation extends to high school basketball.

NBA legend Oscar Robertson and his Crispus Attucks High School teammates went 179-20 in seven seasons and recorded the first Indiana state title for an all-black school, bringing Indianapolis its first championship.

When it comes to hoops in particular, Indiana is in a world of its own.

The movie “Hoosiers” was based on the small-town Milan High School 1954 basketball team, which defeated then-Goliath Muncie Central in the state championship.

The film was recently voted the No. 1 sports movie of all time by ESPN.

The “Milan Miracle” and others have contributed to the slogan “In 49 states it’s just basketball ... but this is Indiana,” which is streamed across the scoreboard at Conseco Fieldhouse prior to each Pacers home game.

Indiana has a sports moment for everyone.

Maybe it’s French Lick native and NBA Hall of Famer Larry Bird’s Indiana State Sycamores reaching the 1979 national title game against Magic Johnson and mighty Michigan State.

It may be former Hoosier Keith Smart’s legendary shot with five seconds remaining in the 1987 national title game. Smart’s shot secured a 74-73 win against Syracuse and former NBA star Derrick Coleman.

The win brought Bob Knight his third and final national title at IU and the program’s fifth overall.

For many in my generation it’s the Indianapolis Colts’ two-minute drill that lifted them past the decade-long foe New England Patriots in the 2006 AFC Championship. The win propelled the Colts to Super Bowl XLI, where Indianapolis won its first world championship against the Chicago Bears.

Winning is done the right way in Indiana. With the exception of former IU men’s basketball coach Kelvin Sampson’s 2007 impermissible phone calls, college squads around the state have always been known for their squeaky-clean programs and high graduation rates.

The Colts also are synonymous with scouting for character just as much as talent.
 
Indiana is a sports fan’s dreamland – even without the buzzer-beating shots, goal line stands and championships won.

Sports’ relevance to society in the state is also shown through things like the Indiana Sports Corporation. The nonprofit’s work has made Indy the host city for this year’s Final Four, the 2008 through 2012 Big Ten Basketball Tournaments and this other game called the Super Bowl in 2012.

With all of these events around the corner, it is clear that the end of the academic off season also is here.

Welcome to B-town. And welcome to Indiana, where sport is king.