The Replay: Chuck Pagano, IU football, and the Indiana Fever

Every Friday, we post up The Replay, our weekly look at sports. It’s mostly fouls and airballs.

Excessive Celebration?

You’ve got to give it up for Colts coach Chuck Pagano. Man knows how to deliver a post-game speech. After his team’s first win of the season, a 35-33 come-from-behind victory over Tennessee, Pagano gave an emotional address to the players. “That’s as big a win I’ve ever been a part of in my life,” he said. “I’ll cherish that one for the rest of my life.”

Some are calling the speech Lombardi-esque, while others (Patriots fans) are deriding it as over-the-top schmaltz. Either way, after 11 quarters of really bad football, it’s nice that in the 12^th, where the offense put up 21 points, the Colts finally dumped the “Suck For Chuck” strategy. The 1-2 Colts might not win a Super Bowl, but Pagano should get an Oscar.

Worst. Hawkeye. Ever.

As part of a community-outreach program, the Pacers dressed as superheros at their media day. Paul George was Batman, rookie Joe Young was a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, and coach Frank Vogel apparently couldn’t decide between Morpheus from The Matrix and Burt Reynolds from Deliverance:

Here’s hoping Vogel has a better handle on the Pacers’ new small-ball philosophy than he does costumes.

Fever and Delirium

Everyone’s talking about the Fever!

Wrong Fever. The WNBA Finals tip on Sunday at 3 when the Minnesota Lynx host rookie coach Stephanie White, all-time great Tamika Catchings, and the rest of the Indiana Fever.

Not a Typo

Big Ten unbeatens Ohio State and Indiana meet on Saturday in Bloomington. The Hoosiers—now just two wins away from bowl eligibility—are 4-0 for the first time since The Simpsons debuted in 1990. But, Buckeyes.

Now Read This

Ron Rapoport dips into “The Last Years of Ernie Banks” for Chicago magazine.