Lucas Oil Stadium ranked #1

The stadium that Peyton built, erected a year after the Colts won the Superbowl, sits alone at the top of the rankings - much like its neighbor down the street, Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Not only does Indianapolis provide a safe, affordable, compact downtown with plenty of hotspots, the city also offers the best basketball and football venues in the country. To top that off, the city also boasts impressive products on the field as well. How impressive? Well, both the Pacers and Colts are ranked #1 this year (or have been), while featuring the best young-pro-athlete-duo around: Paul George and Andrew Luck.
Anyway, back to Lucas Oil... Retractable roof? Check. Food variety? Check. Scenic view of the city? Check. Wide-open hallways allowing for easy access and decreased traffic? Check. With over 350 concession stands, lines rarely take more than a minute or two.  The stadium and the city also masterfully hosted a Superbowl last year.

Lets take a look at the other factors making Indy #1:

• professionals
• Airport
• dating
• jobs
• sex
• affordable homes
• spectator events
• sports

Ryan Newman wins Brickyard

Just weeks after announcing this would be his final year under Tony Stewart's ownership, Hoosier Ryan Newman won the 2013 Brickyard 400 at the IMS today.

The South Bend native followed through with today's victory after a record-setting pace that won him the pole earlier this week, at 187.531 MPH. Now closer to 40 y/o than 30, this win cements his legacy - his trophy case includes 2002 Rookie of the Year, 2003 Driver of the Year, 2008 Daytona and 2003 All-Star race winner.

Indy bachelors spend the most on first date

Another national study [this time a dating site called WhatsYourPrice] has Indianapolis listed as the top-ranked city; $226 - the average amount men were willing to spend for a chance at love. Miami and Philly placed 2nd and third, respectively. What does that say when single men are willing to drop an amount equal to a car note or pair of Jordans, on a first date. Wise investment strategy, if you ask me. Generous men make better lovers. We already know Indy is #1 in that.

IU baseball now on the map

Omaha to be specific.
After winning the both the regular season title and the tournament championship, the Indiana Hoosiers blasted their way past regional foes including Florida and Florida State to advance to the College World Series for the first time in program history. This marks the first time a B1G team has made it to the final stage since 1984. On Thursday, three Hoosiers were drafted (Ryan Halstead, Dustin DeMuth and Aaron Slegers) all by the Minnesota Twins, and they're all roommates! I smell a Reality TV show in the making. Or movie. All depends how far IU goes in the CWS. They face I-65 rival Louisville on Saturday in a best-of-3 format. IU won 2 of 3 vs the Cardinals earlier this season.

And contributing to the bounty of championships won in the past year, Track & Field stud Derek Drouin won his 5th national title (NCAA record) this weekend, clearing 7'10" in the high jump.

Indy #1 City for Young Professionals

Factoring in college-grad unemployment rate (1.9%), cost of living (#1) and wages (73% higher than non-college-grads), SurveyDonkey has named Indianapolis the top place to live for college graduates. This is the gazillionth* time Central Indiana has taken home top honors in a similar category. National publications have taken notice, have you?

* rough estimate

Indy features nations best young pro studs

1. Indy: Paul George and Andrew Luck
2. Washington: Bryce Harper and RG3
3. San Fran: Buster Posey and Colin Kaepernick
4.  L.A.: Mike Trout and Blake Griffin
5. Houston: JJ Watt and James Harden
6. Chicago: Derrick Rose and Jonathan Toews
7. Pittsburgh: Sidney Crosby and Andrew McCutchen
8. Tampa: Steven Stamkos and Doug Martin
9. ATL: Julio Jones and Justin Upton
10. Dallas: Dez Bryant and Yu Darvish

Hicks v Knicks

The rivalry was unofficially born in '93, climaxed in '95, and renewed at the turn of the century. Six playoff meetings in 8 years ending in 2000. If you look at today's Pacers roster, all of them were just kids when this happened, even David West. Larry Bird built this team, following Donnie Walsh's footsteps, then Walsh built this current Knickerbocker squad. That's why this match-up is a basketball lovers dream: each team's playing style reflecting their home market's identity. NYC run&gun/street ball versus Indiana's defense/rebounding.
Hoosiers vs Hoopers, or Hoovers, or Hooders... I'm still working on an improved title, but until then its "Hicks vs Knicks"

Dial 317 for March Madness

Click Here for a look at 14 NBA hoopers from the Indy area. List includes JJ, Zbo, Zeller and Plumlee in addition to these TOP10.  *Jared Jeffries, not JuJuan Johnson. He'd be JJJ

Here's Indy's Sweet 16(+1):

• RJ Hunter (Pike HS) is following his dad's footsteps (former IUPUI coach Ron Hunter) by attending Georgia State, where he already leads his team in points (17 per game), 2nd in rebounds, and adds a couple steals & assists per game. He's also set the conference record with 10 treys in a game vs ODU
• Another former Red Devil, ISU freshman Khristian Smith sees 20+ mpg, 5 ppg, and 3 rpg
• Mr Basketball Gary Harris (Fishers) is the 2nd leading scorer for MSU and leads all B1G freshman
• AJ Hammonds (Carmel) is dominating the paint for the Boilermakers - 11 ppg/7 rpg/2 bpg - had his breakout game vs IU, scoring 30 points
• Brothers Ronnie and Terone Johnson (NCHS) also carry a sub -.500 Purdue squad - 3rd & 1st in points, respectively. Ronnie's 3.7 apg is 8th best in B1G.
• Another former Panther overshadowed by his big brother, ASU's Evan Gordon, had a breakout game vs USC last month, scoring 28 points
• D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera (also NCHS) had his breakout game vs DePaul this week, scoring 33 for Georgetown
• Jack Isenbarger (ZHS) is helping Elon Phoenix chase a Southern Conference title by leading in minutes, while placing 2nd in both points & assists
• Andrew Smith (CC HS) is 2nd best for ranked Butler in both points and rebounds
• Another Butler standout, sharpshooter Kellen Dunham (Pendleton Heights), contributes over 10 ppg.
• Another freshman, Yogi Ferell (Park Tudor) is one of the top3 PGs in the B1G (Burke, Craft) while leading the #1 Indiana Hoosiers
• Another Hoosier from Indy, freshman Jeremy Hollowell (LCHS) has contributed off the bench in almost every game and shows tons of potential
• Another Lawrence Township product, freshman Eron Harris (LN) is 3rd on WVU in scoring
• Another former Wildcat, Justin Martin, averages 8 & 5 for Xavier
• Another former Wildcat and current Musketeer, senior Jeff Robinson gets 7 & 5 per game
• And oldest of them all, another former Wildcat, Stephan Van Treese sees action off the bench for #1 Louisville Cardinals, had a solid outing vs Duke (8 & 8)

ESPN Gameday visits 3rd Indiana school in 3+ weeks

Can they get another Halfcourt shot winner?

and here's the shot at Hinkle Jan 19th

3 College Gamedays in Indiana in a span of less than a month.

Although the IU/UM game was built up as the "game of the year" based on rankings, Butler had that distinction - until Saturday night when Notre Dame managed to tie a game in which people had actually left the building thinking it was over; but Jerian Grant (Victor Oladipo's HS teammate) scored 12 points in just 47 seconds, forcing overtime vs Louisville. And then another OT, and another, and another, and another. In 49 states, its just a game

1NDy

2012-2013

• IHSAA football champs (LC Bears)
• NAIA football champs (Marian Knights)
• NCAA Athletic and Academic All-American (Cody Zeller)
• NCAA All-American (Victor Oladipo)
• NCAA Academic All-American (Jordan Hulls)
• WNBA champs and Finals MVP (Fever/Tamika Catchings) 
• B1G Sixth Man of the Year (Will Sheehey)
• #1 Ranking and B1G champs (Hoosiers)
• Brad Stevens and Frank Vogel (b/c why not)
• #1 seed and nation's best guard (Skylar Diggins)
• 7 top awards plus Athletic and Academic All-American (Manti Te'o)
• NCAA D1 football Coach of the Year (Brian Kelly)
• #1 Pick leading team to 11 wins/playoffs (Luck/Irsay)
• NBA All-Star and emerging superstar (Paul George)
• Leukemia Survivor and CoY  (Chuck Pagano)
• NFL Coach of the Year and Coord of the Year (Bruce Arians)
• NFL GM of the Year (Ryan Grigson)
• NCAA men's soccer champs (IU)
• NL Central champs (Reds)
• B1G baseball champs (IU)

Fishers 3rd Friendliest in USA

 Not only does Hamilton County have a college grad rate above 50%, which happens to be highest in the Midwest and 5th best in the nation, it's also been named as the best place to raise a family, and also named most affordable in the nation, and safe, quiet, fast, blah, blah, blah... We have a new publication with another top (3) award. Nextdoor.com re-affirms we're still the brightest place in the Midwest, but this time its not just our brains but our manners.

Forbes.com slideshow "America's Friendliest Towns" #3 Fishers, IN