For the first time in 37 years, it's an All-Midwest Super Bowl. Chicago and Indianapolis. I like that. Especially since it's on the heels of an All-Midwest World Series between St. Louis and Detroit.
Although, anyone who's been to Detroit knows it's no more Midwestern than Philadelphia or Phoenix. Or Bangkok.
Chicago: City of broad shoulders, hog butcher to the world, that toddlin' town. Home of Oprah.
Indianapolis: Uhhh ... that place where they have that big race?
On the other hand, Indy has Peyton Manning and Chicago has Rex Grossman. So while Chicago may have a lot more to offer as a tourist destination, you have to like Indianapolis' chances to be holding a championship parade in a couple of weeks.
Tight end Dallas Clark of Iowa was major for the Colts in their 38-34 AFC title win over New England. Clark fits that Iowa stereotype that gives a lot of us a lot of pride. He came from a tiny Iowa town called Livermore, walked on to the Hawkeyes' program, learned a new position, and became an absolutely superb player.
Another ex-Hawkeye, safety Bob Sanders, had every chance in the world to brag on himself last week when he was the featured player on an AFC title-game teleconference that was piped to sportswriters and broadcasters across the country. He fielded question after question, but without a single ain't-I-great moment, though he was more entitled than most players given the way he made his presence felt in Indy's playoff wins over Kansas City and Baltimore.
Clark and Sanders were great fun to watch at Iowa when they helped the Hawkeyes do a lot of winning, and are still great fun to watch now that they've moved two states to the east. Now they get to start in the most-watched football game of the year, and the most-watched television program of the year. Good for them.