How To Back Big Winners In US Sports - What's The Key To Making Money?

Winning big on US sports... it's all about patience.

No matter what the sport you care to mention, it's amazing how often a new season starts with one particular team blazing a trail at the head of the standings.

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New signings, a new coach, a run of good form.

They quickly become 'the team' to beat.

Bookmakers similarly latch on. Reducing any liability, they react by slashing the odds. They over-react, you could say.

But, then again, so do punters.

How many times have you seen traders falling over themselves to get a piece of the action... when the market has barely formed. When the season has such a long time to run.

A case of 'bet now, think later'.

Often the best thing is to do... nothing!

That's right. Strange as it may seem, the best policy can be to watch... and wait.

This is certainly the case when it comes to the US Sports... be it American Football (NFL), baseball, basketball, ice hockey and even major league soccer (MLS).

And the main reason for this is the format used by these various sports in the US.

What could best be called a 'regular season, post-season' model.

This characteristic isn't unique to the States but it tends to be the exception rather than the norm when it comes to the majority of global sporting competitions. They tend to be one, or the other... not a mixture of both.

In simple terms, there's an initial phase (regular league format) followed by a concluding phase (knock-out competition).

And as we know. In league situations, it's usually a case of the best team which ends up the winners. The cream rises to the top as everybody competes on a level playing field.

However, in cup competitions, anything can happen. It's all on the day. It's not always the best team which wins... more the luckiest!

How does this explain your betting strategy?

Well, it's quite simple really.

What you have is a situation where during the first part of the campaign, whether it's in baseball's MLB standings, basketball's NBA tables or the NFL rankings, a team starts really well.

They record win after win, generate a good win/loss record and head the rankings...and are put straight in by the bookmakers as favourites for the Super Bowl, World Series or Stanley Cup.

And that's to be expected. If the best regular season team isn't deserving of outright favouritism... then who is?

All perfectly logical it has to be said. But only logical if there was a proven record of these early season trailblazers going on to win the outright competition.

Because if the stats show that they don't... why make them the favourites?

And I can tell you... they don't. Not nearly enough to be backing early season pacesetters at ludicrously short prices.

Just recently we've seen the Green Bay Packers start the regular NFL Season by winning their first 13 matches. Prices were slashed for 'the Pack' to follow up their Super Bowl win of 2011 with another success in 2012.

Made favourites to win the Super Bowl XLVI the Packers were the No.1 ranked team from the NFC... but lost their first play-off game at home to the New York Giants (who then went on to beat the No.1 ranked team in the AFC, New England, in the Super Bowl).

So 2012 was another blank year for the top rated teams in the NFL.

Too many teams fail to 'see out the trip'

And of even more interest to this study is that fact that the best record in the regular season doesn't just mean you're 'the best' team but it also means you get the best route through the play-offs. Taking on the weakest opponents, with that all-important homefield advantage.

So if teams still aren't sealing the deal with all this in their favour, just why do we continue to fall for these market leaders.

Why rush in early and take falsely short prices about a team who could easily slip up in the play-offs?

Looking at the available data... since 2000, across the five major sports in the USA (that's the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, MLS) there have been 59 annual championships - as strike action scuppered the 2005 ice hockey season.

Of those 59 titles only 20 were won by No.1 seeded teams. That's a rather measly 34%. The best team in the tournament barely winning 1 in 3 times.

You've got teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers (2006) winning the Super Bowl as No.6 seeds and No.4 ranked New Jersey Devils winning the Stanley Cup (2000).

The St. Louis Cardinals were No.4 in the National League standings prior to baseball's World Series in 2011 and Real Salt Lake were the No.4 team in the MLS before they won the play-offs in 2009.

Time and again we see so-called favourites losing in the post-season.

Great.. I get it now. But how can I win money?

Depending upon your knowledge there are a couple of ways in which this type of situation can be addressed.

The most obvious one is to lay the top seeds (and, we presume market leader) on an exchange like Betfair.

The price is a crucial consideration... but the example of the Packers shows just how over-bet these teams have become.

On the stats, they were a solid lay.

However, a more appealing option is to go hunting for teams at bigger prices.

Those with (i) good late season form and a bit of momentum going into the play-offs (ii) not too many injuries/suspensions (iii) past play-off experience always helps a team (iv) managerial expertise is similarly a plus when the competition intensifies (v)... a good price.

These factors all come into play once the post-season kicks in and can make the difference between winners and losers.

Yes, you might need your team to win 'on the road'. For sure, they might need a bit of luck along the way.

But when you're opposing a short-priced team with one, or possibly two others (hedge your bets with one team in each conference / side of the draw), then you can easily locate bets at double-figure prices.

So the over-riding advice...

Bet smart. Don't follow the crowd in trying to lump on a team which has impressive early season form.

The format of US Sports makes it a real lottery once the play-offs begin... and it's asking a lot for a team to hold their form right through the 'league programme' and match-by-match in the 'knock-out phase'.

The strategy, whilst keeping an eye on the odds, must be to oppose these short-priced market leaders in the US.

How To Back Big Winners In US Sports - What's The Key To Making Money?

Matthew Walton. Author, journalist and broadcaster, Matthew has worked in the betting industry for the past 20 years. His articles can be read online at http://www.goldcall.com and you can follow his daily updates on Twitter by following @MattWalton_uk.

Wembley Stadium Events

The new Wembley Stadium opened in 2007, and is an all seater stadium, with Wembley seating a massive 90,000 people, making it the second largest stadium in Europe, but the largest roof-covered stadium in the world, and at a cost of £798 million, the most expensive stadium ever built.

It's the home of England's national football team, plus it also caters to a variety of other football events, such as the FA Cup Final, FA Community Shield and the promotional play offs. Not only does it cater to football, but other Wembley stadium events include Rugby League games, NFL games (the first such venue outside North America), and concerts, with previous artists such as George Michael, Metallica, Oasis, U2, Muse, Foo Fighters, Coldplay, AC/DC, Madonna, and Take That performing, and the Concert for Diana and Live Earth being hosted.

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The stadium has a busy schedule ahead with 95.8 Capital FM's Summertime Ball taking place on 6th June 2010, to be headlined by Rhianna, Michael Jackson's tribute concert airing live world wide from the stadium on 8th June 2010, which will include superstars such as Stevie Wonder and Beyonce, Green Day continuing their world tour and playing on 19th June 2010, and Muse 10th & 11th September 2010. The stadium is due to host the 2011 Champions League Final, and it'll be a significant part of the plans for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, as it'll be the site of several games in both the men's and women's football tournaments, with the finals planned to be held there.

Wembley Stadium Events

D Trotman is an Internet Marketer, and you can visit his latest site on Wembley Stadium Events, which has a variety of info on all things Wembley Stadium including Wembley Stadium Seating.

Top 5 Social Media Trend Predictions For 2012

In 2011 we witnessed a number of fascinating advances in the world of social media (SM) networking. However, with 2011 come and gone we're now left to wonder just what new trends we'll be able to expect from 2012. A few of the highlights of 2011 came as we realized the full impact of Facebook on the growth of social media, saw the strategic play made by many companies to market their brands across the social media landscape, as well as seeing Google make its own attempt at SM networking with the advent of Google+. By analyzing these past innovations, we can begin to get a glimpse of what may be in store for the future of social media. Here are the top five predictions for where social media trends are headed over the next year.

The Growth of Social Gaming

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Given the broad viral spread and addictive nature social media gaming has developed over the past few years, it isn't hard to see how this trend will steadily grow in the near future. One logical development would be in the introduction of live gaming events hosted by big name developers, such as Zynga, whose substantial fan base could help push this trend to ever greater lengths should companies choose to pursue the idea.

The Spread of the Social Search Engine

One foreseeable trend is the growth of the social search. While Google+ has already taken advantage of social search technology, given the implications of such an advance on not only the social networking world but on business as well, it seems safe to assume that others sites will soon be following Google's lead. The ability to conduct a specialized search focused around the personal preferences given in a user's profile information seems to offer limitless potential to web retailers looking for new ways to draw in consumers.

Content Branding in Social Media

Even people who don't care for football often tune in to the Super Bowl just to watch the commercials, where companies have spent millions and millions of dollars for a few seconds of ad space. Nowadays, however, that same kind of viral advertising can be achieved for next to nothing through the use of social networks. As companies are beginning to realize this fact, more and more are starting to use content branding as a means of self-promotion through social media sites, where content can be rated and circulated freely. This is a trend that will only continue to progress.

Social Media Marketing

Since SM networking has now been shown to offer companies a tremendous return on their investments, companies of all sizes have started jumping on the bandwagon and investing in SM marketing campaigns. With the growth of this trend, the next logical step will be for companies to begin branching out into business-to-business marketing, allowing these companies to gain an even better foothold in the social media world.

Customer Relationship Management Through Social Media

With so many other aspects of the business world spreading into social media, it seems the next practical step would be for companies to begin using these social networking and media outlets as an online extension of their help desk services. This would allow companies to communicate with their customers more freely, as well as giving these companies the ability to identify important trends in their customer base via their customers' social profiles.

Top 5 Social Media Trend Predictions For 2012

J.T. Moore is the founder and Producer of Killer Productions, established in 2001. Killer Productions is a full-service Internet video production company.
We specialize in creating effective web videos and web commercials for any industry, product, or service. In addition, the Killer Productions team are experts in developing and implementing profitable web video marketing strategies and video SEO tactics. It is our goal to bring visibility, thereby increasing Internet sales or leads through the proper use of videos and video SEO marketing strategies. Learn more about us by visiting http://www.killerproductions.net or follow us on Twitter: @killer_video

Superbowl XLVI Quarterback Overview

Why are you here? There can only be one reason... SUPERBOWL XLVI with Tom Brady and Eli Manning at the helm. After recent games, the New England Patriots and the New York Giants are facing off once again for the ultimate prize. Tom Brady will square up against Eli Manning in pursuit of the greatest honor in professional football. There's a lot at stake here, so let's first take a look at Tom Brady's stats then we'll look at Eli Manning. Brady is 6'4 at 225 lbs and graduated from Michigan. He definitely has the experience to beat Eli in Superbowl XLVI and boast many impressive statistics:

Tom Brady Stats

• 611 attempted passes / 401 completions = 65.6% completion percentage
• 8.6 yards per attempt
• 12 interceptions
• 105.6 QB rating

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Manning is also 6'4 at 218 pounds and graduated from Mississippi. He also boasts tons of experience so let's take a look at his stats compared to Brady's.

Eli Manning Stats

• 589 attempted passes / 359 completions = 61.0% completion percentage
• 8.4 yards per attempt
• 16 interceptions
• 92.9 QB rating

As you can see, Eli Manning is seemingly the underdog in this offense scenario against Tom Brady. There's much more to a football team than a QB, so next time I will go over the offensive sectors vs the defensive sectors. Without an effective defensive strategy, the Giants could be left with their pants down. On the other side of the equation though, without an all-out offensive rush there's no way to win a Superbowl. It's going to be tough for the teams to do, but they need to strike a balance of offense and defense to win this game. Whichever quarterback gets this balance right will win the Superbowl for sure. Some quarterbacks can find this middle ground very easily right from the start while others struggle to find it until it's too late. For these quarterbacks, it's critical that they "find their groove" right away or it could spell absolute disaster for the team and the fans. Personally, I think that Tom Brady will be able to manage his team and discover this balance more effectively because he seems to have a cooler head and takes it all in stride. All in all, seeing Eli Manning vs Tom Brady will be undoubtedly one of the biggest spectacles in NFL history and will remain in the minds of the viewers for years to come.

Superbowl XLVI Quarterback Overview

Lucas Oil Stadium - New Home of the Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts are enjoying their stay at their new home - the Lucas Oil Stadium. The stadium is a retractable roof stadium located in Indianapolis, Indiana which opened in the second half of 2008. The new stadium replaces the RCA Dome which was the long time home of the Colts. This stadium is constructed in preparation for the Super Bowl XLVI to be held in 2012. Aside from the stadium, a new high-rise JW Marriot Indianapolis is being constructed as part of the preparation for the Super Bowl.

The architectural firm behind the design of the new stadium is HKS, Inc. with Walter P. Moore as the structural engineer. Similar to other stadium, the Lucas Oil Stadium has a retractable roof and window wall which allows the Colts to play outdoors. The concept of kinetic architecture was utilized in the design of the stadium for it to be a multi-functional facility with the ease of conversion for an increased return of investment.

Nfl 2012

The rights to name the stadium was purchased by Lucas Oil for approximately 0 million for 20 years, thus it is fondly nicknamed as The Luke by some commentators. Despite the state-of-the-art facilities of the new home of the Indianapolis Colts, a retro look is inculcated in the design as a result of Indianapolis's liking of a field house appearance of sports venues which were popular a few decades ago. The construction of the stadium costs 0 million which was raised through a cooperative effort from the government of Indiana and the Colts.

The seating capacity of the new stadium for football games is 5,000 more than the old one. Now, 63,000 fans can watch from the sidelines during the game. In the event that Indiana will host the Super Bowl, this seating capacity can be increased to 70,000. For basketball games, the seating capacity of the facility can go beyond 70,000. Features of the new stadium includes two huge Daktronics HD scoreboards each measuring 97 feet wide and 53 feet tall and located in the northwest and southeast corners of the stadium.

The retractable roof of the Lucas Oil Stadium was designed by Uni-Systems. The roof divides lengthwise into two retractable panels, each sliding down the slope of the roof of the stadium when it is open. Each panel weighs 2.7 million pounds each. It takes nine minutes for the roofs to open, twelve minutes for it to close and is fully automated at that. What is unique about these retractable roofs is that it is the first ever roof that divides lengthwise. However, the entire stadium is not waterproof so the roofs remain close for most of the year.

A peculiar addition to the stadium's design is the large moveable window wall that allow additional light while closed and gives a more open environment when open. This is another first for that stadium since it is the largest movable glass wall in the world. The first NBC Sunday Night Football of the 2008 NFL Season was played in the Lucas Oil Stadium. Unfortunately, the home team wasn't able to grab the win.

Lucas Oil Stadium - New Home of the Indianapolis Colts

Rick Grantham is an avid NFL fan. Most of Rick's articles focus on Indianapolis Colts Merchandise [http://www.booyahvillage.com/nfl-indianapolis-colts.html]. Many articles are related to NFL blankets [http://www.booyahvillage.com/nfl-blankets-and-throws.html] and other sports related topics. Rick is a contributing author to BooYah Village

Indianapolis Bragging Rights

You may have lived in the Circle City all your life or be relatively new to town. But have you ever really listened to what others say about Indianapolis? Two decades ago, it may have been, "Why do I have to spend my weekends here?" Indianapolis has been recognized as the amateur sports capitol of the world over the years; it has blossomed into much more.

Not only is Indianapolis the 13th largest city in the United States, but it's a terrific place to live, work, play, eat, shop... and the list goes on and on. Most people who reside in Indianapolis are proud of their city, but may not know ALL the fun facts that can be shared with friends, relatives and visitors.

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Consider this your Indianapolis "Brag Session."

Brag about the culture

• Indianapolis Cultural Trail, A Legacy of Gene & Marilyn Glick is a world-class urban bike and pedestrian path that connects neighborhoods, Cultural Districts and entertainment amenities, and serves as the Downtown hub for the entire central Indiana greenway system. The eight-mile path allows users to pass by and through many destinations that make Indianapolis a recognized leader in the arts community. The trail will be completed by 2012.

• Indianapolis boasts The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, not only the largest museum of its kind in the world, but also rated "the best museum" by Child magazine. Among the interactive, hands-on attractions are the Dinosphere; featuring life-size, roaring dinosaur skeletons and simulated fossil digs. In 2006, the 43-foot Fireworks of Glass was installed, the largest permanent sculpture of blown glass ever created by renowned artist Dale Chihuly. Since then, the museum has expanded even more, adding a fabulous new lobby, new exhibits and more.

• Indianapolis is home to the Madame Walker Theatre Center, which stands as a memorial to America's first female self-made millionaire, Madam C. J. Walker.

• The Indianapolis Museum of Art was ranked by USA Today as one of the top 10 locations for marriage proposals -- in front of the famous LOVE sculpture. Adjacent to the Museum and located on 100 acres that includes woodlands, wetlands, meadows and a 35-acre lake is the 100 Acres: The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park. The park opened in June 2010 and is one of the largest museum art parks in the country, and the only one to feature the ongoing commission of site-specific artworks.

• The Indianapolis Zoo is the nation's only accredited combined zoo, aquarium and botanical garden. The zoo's Oceans exhibit features the world's largest shark touch tank; while the Dolphin Adventure offers the world's first totally submerged dolphin viewing experience. During summer 2010, the Indianapolis Zoo opened its newest exhibit - Cheetah: The Race for Survival.

• The Old National Centre (originally named the Murat Temple when it opened in 1910) is the largest Shrine temple in North America.

• The Indiana State Museum features art, science and culture. The museum not only has exhibits inside, but is an exhibit itself with its 92-county walk, Indiana material-made exterior and more. It will feature Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition Sept. 25 - Jan. 16, 2011.

• Indianapolis houses the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, one of only two museums east of the Mississippi with both Native American and Western art. A NEW exhibit featuring replicas of national treasures, Jingle Rails, will be unveiled in November 2010. Every canyon, mesa, lodge, Mt. Rushmore and even the replica of Indianapolis' own Soldiers and Sailors Monument-are made with natural materials by renowned-artist Paul Busse.

• Indianapolis is second only to Washington, D.C. in its number of monuments and memorials commemorating veterans.

• The 35th Running of the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon takes place Saturday, May 7, 2011. The Mini has sold-out for the past nine years with 35,000 registrants, and an additional 4,000 participants in the Finish Line 500 Festival 5K. The Mini-Marathon is the largest half-marathon in the U.S., and overall, the sixth largest running event in America.

Anyone would agree there's A LOT to do in Downtown Indianapolis. People of all ages can be entertained at numerous museums and historic sites, performing arts and theatres, memorials and parks, major sports venues and various unique attractions.

If you want to see what's only in Indianapolis, discover Indianapolis' Cultural Districts.

Indianapolis is bursting with pride over its six unique Cultural Districts: Broad Ripple Village, The Canal and White River State Park, Fountain Square, Indiana Avenue, Mass Ave and Wholesale District. Four of the six districts have homes directly in Downtown Indianapolis, while Fountain Square is just a mile southeast and Broad Ripple Village nine miles northeast. The districts showcase distinct pockets of cultural opportunity thriving in the city. You'll find delightful public art, unique galleries, inspiring museums, quaint shops and engaging recreation. Satisfy your appetite at exquisite restaurants, ethnic eateries and cafes. Laugh out loud or dance the night away at one of dozens of night clubs and theaters. The districts also have your ticket to professional sports and performances.

Downtown is home to baby elephants, Duckpin Bowling, a working indoor carousel, a world-class symphony orchestra, a 55-foot "Indiana" sculpture, the Soldiers and Sailors Monument and so much more to explore.

In recent years, Indianapolis has continued its reputation for Amazingly Always New attractions such as Rhythm! Discovery Center in 2009, Cheetahs: Race for Survival at the Indianapolis Zoo in 2010 and plenty of new Downtown residences to be close to the action!

Brag about Downtown dining and shopping

• Circle Centre, Downtown's world-renowned shopping and entertainment complex, is celebrating its 15-year anniversary in 2010.

• Indianapolis is home to the 1886 City Market, which has remained a 'market' ever since and is undergoing a makeover through spring 2011 to further enhance the market.

• Indianapolis' Mass Ave, one of the few remaining diagonal streets on the original 1821 plat, is Downtown's premier arts and entertainment district where people live, work and play in the same eight-block area.

• Downtown Indianapolis has nearly 300 eating and drinking establishments to enjoy.

The dining options are endless ranging from national eateries like Capital Grille, Fogo De Chao, Weber Grill, Palomino and Ruth's Chris to the unique local hot spots such as Saffron Cafe, R bistro, Harry & Izzy's and Bazbeaux pizza.

• St. Elmo Steak House's infamous shrimp cocktail was named "World's Spiciest Food" by Food critic and Travel Channel blogger Alison Stein Wellner in May 2009.

• The Slippery Noodle Inn is Indiana's oldest, continually-operated bar (since 1850). It won the Keeping the Blues Alive - Blues Club of the Year from the Blues Foundation.

With more than 210 shops Downtown, residents and visitors can enjoy everything from the trendy, one-of-a-kind shops such as Windsor Jewelry Company or At Home in the City/Silver in the City, to the popular national chains like Nordstrom, Carson Pirie Scott, T.J. Maxx and Border's.

The JW Marriot hotel will open its doors in 2011. This will be the largest JW Marriot in the world with 1,005 rooms and 145,000 square feet of meeting and event space. It will join more than 30 quality hotels and bed & breakfasts Downtown.

• TripAdvisor named Conrad Indianapolis a Top 25 U.S. Hotel from its 2010 Traveler's Choice awards.

Brag about the sports

• Indianapolis is the only city to boast four professional sports teams, playing within a four-block radius, all in the heart of Downtown. (NBA Pacers, WNBA Fever, NFL Colts and Triple-A Indians)

• In 2012, Indianapolis will host Super Bowl XLVI at Lucas Oil Stadium. The spectacular new venue opened in 2008.

• Lucas Oil Stadium was named the Sports Facility of the Year in May 2009 by Street and Smith's SportsBusiness Journal.

• Conseco Fieldhouse was ranked the best NBA arena by The Orange County Register.

• Indianapolis is home to a football team of world champion caliber. In 2010 the Indianapolis Colts returned to Super Bowl XLIV. In 2006, the Indianapolis Colts dominated the Chicago Bears for a Super Bowl XLI victory.

• Indianapolis is the only city to have hosted the NCAA Men's Final Four three times in a decade: 1991, 1997 and 2000. Downtown hosted again in 2006 and 2010 and is set for 2015 too. In 2005, the city hosted the NCAA Women's Final Four for the first time and will again in 2011. (The Sporting News named Indianapolis as the "Best Final Four Host" stating "there's no better basketball town than Indy.")

• Indianapolis IS basketball in March. The city hosts the Big Ten Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments from 2008 - 2012. The Women's Tourney also visited in 2007. Indianapolis hosted the World Basketball Championship, which is held every four years, in 2002. This was the first time in the event's 52-year history that it had ever taken place in the United States.

• The Indianapolis 500 race is the largest, single-day sporting event in the world. Coincidentally, the second largest is the Brickyard 400.

• A national spotlight shone on Indianapolis as we hosted the 2005 VISA U.S.A Gymnastics National Championships at Conseco Fieldhouse. Circle of Stars Gymnastics Invitational will be in Indy January 2011.

• Indianapolis played host to the USA Swimming Nationals and ConocoPhillips Swimming Championships and World Championship Trials in July 2009. Indianapolis also welcomed the USA Diving Olympic Team Trials in 2008.

• The city hosted the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in 2006 and 2007 at the Indiana University Michael A. Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium.

• Indianapolis ranked as the second best sports host city in the U.S. in May 2009 in The 100 Sporting Events You Must See Live by Robert Tuchman

Of course, Indianapolis earned its bragging rights early as the amateur sports capital of the world. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway has long been noted as the city's icon. The addition of Victory Field, "the Best Minor League Ballpark in America" according to Sports Illustrated, as well as the state-of-the-art Conseco Fieldhouse and Lucas Oil Stadium, have furthered the city's sporting image. In addition, the USHL Indiana Ice is a Tier I junior hockey team that entertains the Indianapolis community.

During any given season, sports fans are sure to find an Indianapolis team to rally or event to attend. From the annual Circle City Classic or Indiana High School Athletics Association championships to the Big Ten Women's and Men's Basketball Tournaments, the action is non-stop.

What's more, various national governing bodies either originated in or have moved their headquarters to Indianapolis including the Black Coaches Association, National Collegiate Athletic Association, USA Gymnastics Federation, USA Track & Field, USA Diving, Inc., U.S. Synchronized Swimming and others.

Brag about the international competitions and awards

• The American Pianists Association has been supporting aspiring young artists for more than 25 years. Unique Fellowships, both classical and jazz, offer significant opportunities for American pianists, ages 18-30, to advance their careers. Each Fellowship is valued at more than ,000 including cash awards, fees, publicity and recording opportunities.

• The Eiteljorg Fellowship for Native American Fine Art program has awarded more than .5 million in unrestricted grants and art purchases and added more than 125 pieces of art by 35 Native American fine artists to its permanent collection over the last 10 years. This biennial program is one-of-a-kind in the world for Native Americans and first nations and has led to the distinction of having "the finest collection of Native contemporary art in the world."

• The Indianapolis Prize, presented by the Indianapolis Zoo, is the largest individual monetary award (0,000) for animal species conservation in the world and is given as an unrestricted gift to the chosen honoree. The Prize is given every other year to an individual who has made extraordinary contributions to conservation efforts involving a single animal species or multiple species.

• The International Violin Competition of Indianapolis takes place every four years. Music lovers from all parts of the globe focus their attention on "The Indianapolis" - now regarded as one of the most respected music competitions in the world. The 17-day festival, Sept. 10 - 26 in 2010, features talented violinists from around the world.

Brag about the future

You may think that Downtown is complete. Not true. Development momentum remains steady with MORE THAN .3 billion of new construction to be completed by 2015. Since 1990, .9 billion have been invested in Downtown.

So, next time someone asks you about your town, you can quote Indianapolis native David Letterman. "I'm very, very proud of the fact that I was born and spent most of my life in that wonderful community of Indianapolis. It's a great city."

Thanks, Dave. We think Indianapolis is pretty wonderful too.

Indianapolis Bragging Rights

Find this story online: http://www.indydt.com/IndianapolisBraggingRights.cfm

Mural Art in Indianapolis

Indianapolis

Murals - Outside Public Art

Super Bowl 2012

Some say that street art is the most exciting of all graphic art. It has taken several years of wandering the streets of Indianapolis and, when least expecting it, turning a corner and encountering a beautiful piece of art, to appreciate the number and variety of murals in our city. Sharing this experience is the main reason for this article on outside public art which is also in many respects outsider art.

Almost all street art is short-lived, either painted over, destroyed when the building is removed, or simply succumbing to the elements and to deterioration. So documentation becomes another purpose of photographing and writing about mural art.

Since mural art had some of its beginnings in advertising, the first section of the book is about old signs that are still around and ghost signs that are fading but still visible. Some recent signs that are unusual or illustrate an artistic treatment of an advertising theme are also discussed.

The sign at 16th and College advertises a popular soft drink, and a mural at 707 Massachusetts Avenue advertises cereal. Although these murals are very old, these products are still around, and it's interesting to see how their marketing has evolved.

The second very contemporary mural is in Broad Ripple on the Monon Trail, just south of Broad Ripple Avenue. It was painted by Artists Joshua Wells and Dan Thompson of PaintSubsurface in 2006 and advertises a restaurant on the trail using a wave. It is reminiscent of Katsushika Hokusai's famous painting, but this one contains cups, saucers, and sodas. Very cool! Mural styles and influences from other artists and art traditions, is a subject I found most interesting. Muralists apparently build on the work of their predecessors, and their work tends to reflect current artistic trends.

Another example of an old advertising, mural which has recently been beautifully redone, is on Pendleton Pike near Franklin Road and adorns a German restaurant that has been family owned for more than thirty-five years. The restaurant offers a unique cultural dining experience as well as scrumptious baked goods from its bakery, and imported food and gift items that can't be found anywhere else in the city. The newly painted mural is a work of art more than advertising, showing scenes from the German countryside.

A final example of the beginnings of mural art in advertising can be found on Indiana Ave., now Martin Luther King Boulevard near 26th street. Piggy speaks for himself on this restaurant saying, "Best in the World since 1962". This mural is near the Indiana Avenue Cultural District which was the home of jazz in Indianapolis for many decades and still boasts the Madame Walker Theater.

The community mural movement, which started in the late 1960's, produced hundreds upon hundreds of large scale wall paintings in less than a decade. They were concentrated in major cities, but almost every city had a few, including Indianapolis. These were sparked by the civil rights movement, labor movements, the Chicano movement, and community development programs. Hispanic muralists such as Diego Rivera, Clemente Orozco, David Sequeiros, and Arnold Belkin influenced the style and content of these murals. They were also influenced by graffiti and by advertising art.

Murals with a message describes some ambitious community murals such as, "The Street of Dreams". It is located in the Watkins Park Family Center and includes portraits of many of the well known jazz artists in the city such as David Baker, Cheryl Hayes, and Jimmy Coe. The equally talented muralists who painted this and many other murals relating to the community mural movement are Barbara Stahl, Carol Tharp-Perrin, Larry Ginhardt and Lawrence Clark IIII. In Indianapolis, many of these murals are gone, but a few can still be seen in city parks. A mural in Douglass Park on the near east side celebrates one of the foremost leaders of the abolitionist movement, which fought to end slavery in the United States before the Civil War.

An interesting and unique example of mural art is still visible near 38th and College. Clayton Hamilton's Message Wall has posted community related messages and political commentary for years. He changes the wall frequently. Some examples include, "Vote out Greed, Lies, and Secrecy" and "Our Vote Mattered...Power to the People in '06 and '08!"

A mural commemorating the U.S.S. Indianapolis by Cynthia Walden, painted in 2002, is located under the New York street bridge over the canal in downtown Indianapolis and shows the ship superimposed on an American Flag with the caption "Freedom isn't Free.

The final section of this article deals with murals in churches and schools and in various neighborhoods of the city. It covers outside murals only, as their are numerous inside murals in public schools and in many places of worship.

An unusual and unsolicited work of mural art can be seen at east 10th and Sherman Drive beneath the underpass. It was painted by Tami Lannom and intended to beautify the neighborhood and inspire with its message, "Whatever you do may seem insignificant, but it is most important that you do it." Her message seemed to encourage many other artists in this area, resulting in the painting of other exceptional wall art. With the attention to development being paid to this neighborhood because of the city's hosting of the Superbowl in 2012, many more can be expected. The other neighborhoods in the city can boast similar mural achievements.

There are also numerous murals on the Monon Trail and in the city's newly designated cultural districts including, Broad Ripple, Indiana Avenue and Massachusetts Avenue, Fountain Square, Downtown and Wholesale District, and the Canal District. Street art and graffiti, Eli Lilly & Company's Global Service Day murals, and new murals planned for sprucing up the city for the Super Bowl in 2012 add to the mix. Please comment if you have seen any murals that are newly painted or have any favorite murals that you would like to know more about. Thanks and "keep painting"!.

Mural Art in Indianapolis

Sylvia Andrews is the author of the three volume publication, Indianapolis Murals, Outside Public Art, and several children's books including If You Take a Horse to the Gym, about the serious problem of childhood obesity. She also teaches a gourd art class at the Indianapolis Art Center and has a degree in Art History. http://www.sylvanartspress.com