This Week in Sports History: 41-38

November 16, 1997. I will never forget it. 

Until the Colts won the Super Bowl in 2007, I considered the Colts' 41-38 over the defending champion Packers on Nov. 16, 1997 to be my greatest moment as a Colts fan. For a regular season win, it does not come much better than that. 

Green Bay came in to the RCA Dome with an 8-2 record, the Lombardi trophy, the best QB in the league in Brett Favre and the favorites to win a second consecutive Super Bowl. They had a showdown with Dallas the next week at Lambeau Field and just needed to beat the lowly Colts to up their mark to 9-2. 

The Colts came in winless. The only team in the NFL to lose their first 10 games in 1997. Indy had just been beaten badly by the unimpressive Bengals and had ugly losses to San Diego, Buffalo and Tampa Bay. There was NO way they could even give the Packers a game. 

Early on, it looked to be a blowout. Green Bay took a 14-3 lead in the first, but Al Fontenot and the Colts defense made a few big plays and the Colts only trailed by a point at halftime (28-27). 

Even with FOX analysts saying that Green Bay would eventually pull away after the half, the Colts kept up the pace and lead by seven with just three minutes to play. 

Favre took the Packers down the field in three plays, and tied the game. 

But the Colts played the final two minutes perfectly. Backup QB Paul Justin led Indy down the field and a key third down pass to Ken Dilger set the Colts up with a First and Goal on the Packer one with about 40 seconds to play. Head Coach Lindy Infante then made the best decision of the year to knee the ball three times and with three seconds to play, call a timeout and have kicker Cary Blanchard drill the game winner with no time left. 

It was the first victory of the season, and it came against the best team in the league. The highlight of the year seemed to overcome the disappointment of having a terrible season.

The Colts finished 3-13 that year, the worst mark in the NFL.

At the time, I was really mad that the Colts had the worst record in the league. But looking back, I would say a lot of teams wish they were the worst in the NFL in 1997. 

Having the worst record gives you the first pick in the next year's NFL draft. In this case, that meant Peyton Manning was coming to Indianapolis. 

So the benefits of being so bad in 1997 have paid off. In a big way. 

It was essential that the Colts were bad in 1997. And since they had three games to win, it was so nice that one was against the Packers. 

Stadium Tour: Oriole Park at Camden Yards

BALTIMORE - One of the few stadiums on the east coast I have never been to prior to 2010 was Oriole Park at Camden Yards, the home of the Baltimore Orioles. And although their team is a constant struggling story, the Orioles should be commended for their ballpark.

The main feature that makes Camden Yards so unique is that it was built right by a former train station and has a warehouse for a backdrop. On the inside side of the warehouse is a good area for eating and drinking. All parts of the park were easy to get to and it seemed that you would have a good view at any vantage point.

The fans were very friendly, and basically ignored the fact that I was wearing an Indianapolis Colts jersey, a garment that is not too popular around the town the Colts abandoned in 1984. But the fans seemed laid back and the ushers were very helpful, one even offered to take a photo of my father and I with the stadium as the background.

As it is with most stuggling baseball franchises, the Orioles did not have many people out for the game, even though it was a Friday night. Most of the concessions on the top level were closed, much like how it was when I went to a Florida Marlins home game.

The Orioles were bad in the game, but I was glad to see one of the best performances by Texas Rangers hurler C.J. Wilson, who threw a two-hitter in a 2-0 Rangers victory. Buck Showalter provided one way for the crowd to get excited, getting thrown out of the contest after coming on the field to argue on two different occassions.

I liked the experience, and part of that was the comfort provided with a small crowd. The ushers clearly did not care where you sat regardless of where your tickets were. They were happy people showed up.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Colts can't comeback

Sunday was a rarity for the Indianapolis Colts. They lost a football game. They lost a football game in November. They lost to an NFC team. Peyton Manning could not pull off a last minute comeback.

Despite being outplayed much of the way, the Colts had a lot of things go their way, but still couldn't steal a victory. Philly had the game clinched on a fumble recovery in the games final minutes, but a roughing the passer penalty gave the Colts new life. Javarris James (Edgerrin's cousin) scored a touchdown and the Colts were within two. 

The defense came up with a big stop, but it was the offense that seemed to not be in the game. WIth 47 seconds to go with no timeouts and at your own 26, you would think Peyton Manning could trot the team down the field into field goal range and Adam Vinatieri could finish it off. But after an initial Reggie Wayne reception, the Colts could not connect on deep routes to Pierre Garcon. 

Philly ended the game the way the Colts often do, with a game sealing interception. 

The Colts have had bad luck this year, with nearly all of there players suffering injuries. Austin Collie may be out for the year after taking a cheap shot against the Eagles. But the team as a whole doesn't seem as focused as they were last season. And in a tough AFC, they may need to win the division to even have a chance at defending their AFC crown come playoff time. 

Dollar General helping to support Veterans Day

BRIDGMAN, Mich. - For 25 years, Bridgman resident and American Legion Auxiliary member Ellen Brown has been part of efforts to help veterans. But for the last two years, she has been able to get the community involved through the Bridgman Dollar General store. 
"This is better because we would like the community involved and know what we are doing for veterans," Brown said. 
The store is supporting donation boxes that will be sent to the Veterans Hospital in Battle Creek at the end of November. Members of the community are encouraged to purchase items from the store that will be set aside for Brown and her husband, Tom, to bring to the hospital at that time. 
Last year, residents from Bridgman and the surrounding communities donated over $500 worth of store items to the hospital.
"I had over three boxes full of items," Brown said. "I am very proud of the hard work and support that our community has done especially in hard times. That's important because the guys up there (at the hospital) don't get a lot."
The public has already filled nearly one box full of books, pens, household and clothing items. Brown hopes to take another three boxes up to the hospital at the end of the month. Store customers are encouraged to purchase from either a table at the entrance of suggested items or anything in the store. 
Dollar General has supported Brown's idea for the last two years. 
"I try to help out as much as I can and when she came up with the idea, I was fine with it," Dollar General store manager Lisa Snerling said. "I have a son in the Navy so when he is old enough to be a veteran, I hope someone will help him out also."
The American Legion contributes money to the hospital on a monthly basis and continues to support an entire ward. 
"Most of the veterans that get up to the hospital do not see anybody after that," Legion member Tate McLaughlin said. 
The Legion had a ceremony to honor veterans at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 11 at Bridgman High School. From there, they had a separate ceremony at the Legion building an hour later. They also had a ceremony last Thursday at the Woodland Terrace nursing home. 

Photo: Bridgman resident and American Legion member Ellen Brown stands between Dollar General store manager Lisa Snerling (left) and American Legion member Tate McLaughlin. The DG is supporting an effort to send as many items as possible to the V.A. Hospital in Battle Creek. 

Colts back in first

If it's a big game on a Monday night with half the team on the injured list, the Indianapolis Colts are going to find a way to win. And if their opponent is the Houston Texans and they are playing in Indianapolis, there is no way they are going to lose.

Such was the case Monday night as the Colts built a 17-3 halftime lead en route to a 30-17 victory over the visiting Texans, taking over first place in the AFC South for the first time all year.

Peyton Manning was again solid, and Kelvin Hayden jump started the defense with an INT returned for a touchdown that gave Indy a 14-0 lead. With Freeney and Mathis still healthy on the ends, Houston didn't stand much of a chance at a comeback.

The Colts will be tested throughout the remainder of the season, having to play without tight end Dallas Clark and possibly receiver Austin Collie for the rest of the slate.

But if Manning is behind center, the Colts will find a way to stay good, and new weapons will emerge because of that.

Drive off in Michiana Shores?

Before yesterday, I had never witnessed someone pump gas and drive off. I know it happens a lot, but I just never witnessed one first hand until yesterday afternoon. And the place I saw it was the last I'd ever think of, the small Lake Michigan community of Michiana Shores.

I was in line at the Marathon-Next Door Store waiting to pay for the hot dog I had just made. That's when a teenager who looked like someone that would try to rob you, came into the store, with a lit cigarette, complaining to the cashier that pump 7 was turned off while he was pumping gas.

The cashier told the punk that he has to pay the balance before the pump can be turned on again.

"I just wanted to fill it up and I don't know how much that would be. I just got this car," the kid told the store worker.

The casher replied, "You also aren't allowed to smoke at the pump, that's why I had to turn it off.

So the kid went back outside, with the cigarette, while I paid for my hot dog.

As I was outside, I saw his beat up old car drive off, while the cashier yelled on the speaker system"PUMP 7 YOU DIDN'T PAY!"

The car drove off on some back road and got away with the 18 dollars and 37 cents. As I was leaving I looked inside the store and the cashier was on the phone.

Why did she allow him to leave the store at all without paying the $18.37? And furthermore, why does Indiana allow you to pump gas before you pay? I thought that was a thing of the past (even though in Central Illinois, you aren't even allowed to prepay at certain Casey's General Stores).

After all the time I've spent in some of the bad neighborhoods of Chicago and around the country, I never thought the first drive-off I'd see would occur in Michiana Shores. Mind boggling for sure.