Category: Sports

Indianapolis Colts: A new beginning

Michael Shepard

Reporter, 5 Rights News

The Indianapolis Colts hosted their second day of mini camp at Lucas Oil Stadium Wednesday and introduced fans to the revamped team including new quarterback Andrew Luck.

While seeing Luck for the first time was the big draw, the midday event also gave fans a chance to experience what it’s like to throw, kick and tackle like their favorite player.

About 7,500 optimistic fans, young and old, filled the stadium hopeful that this new Colts team would be better than last year’s 2-14 team. Still lingering, though, were the memories of former Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, now a Denver Bronco.

” (Andrew Luck) is really good but I really will miss Peyton Manning,” said Jessica Holton, who attended the public workout with her husband Tommy. But both said they were confident that Luck could be the quarterback the Colts need.

Following the two hours that fans had to buy tickets and explore the field, the real fun started with the  Colts taking the field.

The fans got a chance to see Luck up close and the defensive line entertained the crowd when they ran onto  the field yelling and hyping up the practice.

Veteran kicker Adam Vinatieri aimed kicks from the 40-yard line with pinpoint accuracy and 12-year veteran receiver Reggie Wayne ran routes and snagged passes from Luck, each to the delight of the crowd.

The concern was evident on the faces of some fans  when Luck threw several incomplete passes and missed some routes. However, he finished the day with 26-of-37 pass completions and a touchdown. The crowd went crazy.

The showcase practice ended with an autograph session. Among the most popular – Luck and Wayne.

Second year offensive lineman Ben Ijalana offered his perspective on Luck.  “He learned the playbooks really fast and has a grasp for the offense already.” He said that he is optimistic about his team’s future. “You can only get better after last season.”

NBA Lockout

By David Shiele

5 Rights | staff writer

June was a productive month for the NBA. The Dallas Mavericks won their first NBA championship against the much-hyped Miami Heat and most recently the NBA Draft with Kyrie Irving going 1^st overall to the Cleveland Cavaliers. But July looks like it will be the complete opposite.

This downward spiral will began on the first of the month as the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) expires. The NBA players association and the team owners will try to negotiate a new deal. But that will not be an easy feat.

Currently the players are receiving 57% of the league’s income and the owners are hoping to reduce that to 50%. The owners are also pushing towards a reduction to the cap years on an NBA contract to four years. Needless to say, players are not happy about this at all.

Jeff Smulyan, the chairman of the board at Emmis Communications and an NBA insider. Smulyan owned an all sports radio network in New York and now owns an all sports network an Indianapolis. He is knowledgeable of the economics in the NBA.  “The owners want too much money back”, said Smulyan about the suggested income split. Connor Wilder, a member of the Roy Hibbert’s, center for the Indiana Pacers, Area 55 has been a Pacers fan for most of his life. “I’ve been a fan since Reggie Miller was on the Pacers and I was fortunate to be a fan and watch him in the playoffs for years.” Says Wilder. He agreed with Smulyan about the income split by saying “I think it’s fine as it is.”

The talks to renew the agreement are expected to be heated. On this Smulyan added, “On a scale of 1-10, it’s a 10.”

Without a new agreement, the NBA will install a lockout similar to the NFL. How would this effect free agency and the newly drafted rookies? Smulyan said, “Everything will be frozen.” If the lockout prevents the NBA from having a season, Wilder said, “I will still be a huge fan of the Pacers.”

The owners’ lust for money may keep basketball out for a long time. The owners will eventually get what they want but they should not expect to have any big standout players unless they are willing won’t pay big money.