On Wednesday, March 21, the La Porte Pop Warner program received a special visit from the newly crowned NFL champion Indianapolis Colts and their new "shiny friend": the Vince Lombardi Championship Trophy. The stop in La Porte was part of the Colts World Championship Trophy Tour, a unique tour the team is having to give fans and friends a chance to touch and have pictures taken with the famed Lombardi Trophy.

Several organizations from the Mid-America Pop Warner region were on hand for the special event at the Civic Auditorium in La Porte Indiana. The lucky guests has the opportunity to pose with the trophy (see photo left), as well as take part in a special radio broadcast and talk with members of an Indianaplois TV station. The show could possibly find airtime on ESPN at a later date.

About the World Championship Tour: (from colts.com)

The World Championship Trophy Tour will highlight the most coveted prize in the NFL from the Colts victory in Super Bowl XLI, the Vince Lombardi Trophy.  The World Championship Trophy Tour will make 50 stops throughout the State of Indiana, including parts of Illinois and Kentucky.

The World Championship Trophy Tour will give fans the unique opportunity to touch and have pictures taken with the Lombardi Trophy.  Other World Championship Trophy Tour elements include:

• Colts Cheerleader Autograph Signings
• Blue the Mascot Autograph Signings
• Free Colts Giveaways
• Photo frames sold - to benefit local United Way
• NO PLAYERS WILL BE ATTENDING ANY OF THE TROPHY TOUR STOPS

"Our owner, Jim Irsay has stated that the Vince Lombardi Trophy belongs to the fans," said Tom Zupancic, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Indianapolis Colts.  "By taking the Vince Lombardi Trophy to 50 cities and towns we are bringing the trophy right to our 12th man in their own backyard," Zupancic said.

The Colts would like to highlight the following things to keep in mind when planning to visit a World Championship Trophy Tour stop:

• The Colts encourage fans to arrive early.  The line may be cut off to ensure the Tour remains on schedule.
• Inclement weather or traffic may cause for late arrival.
• Fans will be allowed one picture per person with the Trophy, and are asked to move quickly so that everyone may get a chance to touch the trophy.
• Side angle photographs of the Trophy will be allowed from a further distance.
• All World Championship Trophy Tour stops are local times.

Times and locations of specific World Championship Trophy Tour stops may change.  Please check www.colts.com/trophy for an up-to-date listing of times and locations to be visited.