Published: July 28, 2007 09:58 pm         

TRIBUNE-STAR EDITORAL: Hey, champs — welcome to your summer home!

Another chapter begins in a special relationship

TERRE HAUTE — The pro football world revolves around Terre Haute for the next 22 days. Yes, it’s good to be the king.

When the Indianapolis Colts return today to set up their training camp at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, they’ll undoubtedly draw more fans, media and celebrity onlookers than in any of the previous nine summers they’ve spent here. This one is special. Our community is the summer home of the world champions.

That distinction has become apparent ever since the Colts routed the Chicago Bears 29-17 in Super Bowl XLI last February. Since then, they’ve visited the White House, become the subjects of numerous books, hosted comedy shows, appeared on Letterman and pitched products in commercials.

Those are all thrilling adventures for the Colts. But none compares to spending three weeks in Terre Haute. We’re serious. By the end of these 22 days, we hope every visiting NFL beat writer and broadcaster puts Rose-Hulman and Terre Haute at the top of their list of the league’s best training camp sites. We hope every Colts player, coach and support staffer gets a little misty-eyed when they break camp on Aug. 19.

In the meantime, the Colts’ No. 1 status creates some unique possibilities for some unforgettable memories. Here’s our top 10 list of things we’d like to see happen:

10. Record crowds turning out for the Colts two night practices on Aug. 1 and Aug. 18. (A throng of 6,100 jammed Rose’s Cook Stadium for a night practice at the 2005 camp.)

9. John Madden roaming the sidelines, and then motoring into town in his bus, the “Maddencruiser,” to a downtown eatery.

8. Rest and relaxation for Tarik Glenn, the Colts’ former Pro Bowl offensive tackle who just decided to retire.

7. A breakthrough season for the guy who replaces Glenn. The Colts don’t need any extra sacks of quarterback Peyton Manning.

6. Tarik Glenn changing his mind and showing up at camp.

5. Members of the Super Bowl V champion Baltimore Colts visiting a few practices, and then meeting Coach Tony Dungy and his team afterward. This is the best chance to heal those old Indy-Baltimore wounds.

4. Thirty camp practices without any serious injuries.

3. A new Peyton Manning commercial filmed on Wabash Avenue.

2. A standing ovation each time the classy Dungy walks onto the field to start a practice.

1. A repeat of this entire scenario next summer.