Young stars, rivalries, may hype the resurgence of Indiana sports

“I think they have just done a tremendous job building that organization and that team up to be a playoff contender,” Colts GM Chris Ballard said three weeks ago to begin his press conference.

Indiana sports are humming like the Indy car engines set to echo throughout Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Sonsio Grand Prix.

It’s been nine years since the Indianapolis Colts last won an AFC South title and a playoff game inside Lucas Oil Stadium. In front of 63,385 fans, the Colts never trailed during a 26-10 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2018 AFC Wild Card.

Indianapolis’ front office has embraced running back much of the same roster with faith in second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson to propel the franchise to halcyon days as perennial AFC contenders. Richardson is back ripping the football through thin air and will ramp up his throwing program during organized team activities (OTA’s), scheduled May 21-23 and May 29-31. The Colts are in the midst of phase two of the offseason program, which runs through early June.

Football isn’t the only sport geared to takeoff in Indianapolis. Two weeks ago, the Indiana Pacers won its first home playoff game in six years. Remember when Victor Oladipo dropped a 28-point triple-double as Indiana dominated Cleveland wire-to-wire inside Bankers Life Fieldhouse to force a Game 7 in the first round of the 2018 Eastern Conference Playoffs. Pacers’ center Myles Turner is the lone player who remains from that roster, now starting alongside the All-Star duo of point guard Tyrese Haliburton and power forward Pascal Siakam. Over 17,000 will gather in downtown Indianapolis as the Pacers are set to host the rival New York Knicks on Friday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

“I think they have just done a tremendous job building that organization and that team up to be a playoff contender,” Colts GM Chris Ballard said three weeks ago to begin his press conference.

As a new batch of rookies assembled to begin Colts rookie minicamp on Friday, young stars have ignited a new era of Indy sports. Before the Pittsburgh Pirates called up Paul Skenes to make his MLB debut this Saturday, the 21-year-old flamethrower was the hottest ticket in the city while pitching for the AAA-affiliate Indianapolis Indians. The Colts fielded the NFL’s third-youngest team last season and their franchise QB will celebrate his golden birthday on May 22. The Fever’s first overall draft pick Caitlin Clark enters the WNBA at 22-years-old and just drew over 13,000 fans to Gainbridge Fieldhouse for a WNBA preseason game on Thursday. The Pacers All-Star point guard is 24-years-old, or only five in leap years.

Tens of thousands have assembled downtown for sporting events in each month this year and will climax at the 108th running of the Indy 500 in two weeks. The Colts season finale against the Houston Texans, NBA All-Star weekend, NCAA Division I basketball tournament, along with a few prominent rookies have electrified the circle city. Indianapolis features marquee athletes in every professional sport for jovial fans to respite from the rebuilding years that seem to be left in the past.