Holy convention, Batman!

Craig Young/NABJ Convention Online A Batman
statue by Upper Deck Marvel/DC was included in
one of 250 exhibitor displays during a four-day
gaming convention in Indianapolis.

Gamers out, NABJ in.: More than 25,000 video game fans attended the 39th Gen Con gaming convention last week at the Indiana Convention Center, just before NABJ arrived in town. Remants from their gathering were spotted throughout the convention center, including a super-sized Batman.

The consumer science-fiction, fantasy and adventure game convention offered 5,500 gaming events from Thursday, Aug. 10 to Sunday, Aug. 13.

The annual convention, which has been held in Indianapolis for the last four years, featured interactive games, films, robot exhibits, costumes, and contests.

The conference also included celebrity appearances by Richard Hatch who played Capt. Apollo in “Battlestar Galactica” and Kevin Sorbo of “Hercules: The Legendary Journeys.” Gen Con will host another convention in Anaheim, Calif. in November.

Two-minute drill: A Colts tribute

Since we’re literally sitting under the RCA Dome here in the newsroom, we decided to take a walk around the downtown Indianapolis for 30 minutes to get a feel for how people in the city are feeling about Peyton Manning and their Indianapolis Colts.

Armed with a digital camera, we talked to tourists, construction workers and day campers, and put together a little photo diary to help you understand the pride that is Colts Nation.

Enjoy. First of all, some of us — *cough* Michelle Johnson *cough* — would have you know that the Colts were a Baltimore franchise before they were “stolen” by Indianapolis.

But that’s just bringing up the past to Ricky Williams of Indianapolis. He is one of the construction workers working on Lucas Oil Stadium, the new home of the Colts, due to be completed for the 2008-2009 season.

Williams, who belongs to Local 120 of Indianapolis, said that although the Colts got rid of his favorite player Edgerrin James, he’s hoping the Colts win the Super Bowl — in their first season in the new stadium, that is.

Sorry, Ricky, but I’m sure these guys…

…would be just fine winning it this season playing in here.

Ironically, the team on the left, well, they have won it three times in the past five years, beating the Colts in the playoffs three times.

Hoping that the Colts can finally pull it off this year? Spend more time in prayer at this church across the street from the RCA Dome.

Six-year-old Ashani’s favorite player on the Colts? “The cheerleaders!” Good for you, Ashani.

Finally, we talked to Colts fan Mike Cook who lives in Oxford, Miss. He spent time Tuesday afternoon in the Colts Pro Shop scooping up Colts paraphernalia for friends and family back home. But wait, how does a Mississippi native become a Colts fan?

“I turned on a little black-and-white TV and that’s what was on,” Cook said in a Mississippi-flavored twang, referring to a December 1968 game that he still remembers. Cook, 47, a former student and now an accountant at Ole Miss, says he remembers sitting above Peyton and Eli Manning at Ole Miss games when they were just little kids. Their father Archie was a legendary quarterback at Ole Miss, and Eli played there also. The Mannings, needless to say, are demigods in Mississippi.

“Eli gave us a year of his life,” Cook explained, referring to Eli’s decision to delay his entry into the NFL draft and return to Ole Miss for his senior season. “He didn’t have to do that. He gave us something magical for the first time in 33 years. And look now, he’s got the whole New York City on his shoulders,” Cook said.

So how thrilled was Cook when Peyton was drafted by his beloved Colts?

Cook paused.

“Didn’t mean much,” he said. “Until he picked Archie’s number. That was an incredible moment.”