When the Indianapolis Colts play their home opener Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons at Lucas Oil Stadium, many of the expected 60,000-plus fans a large percentage will be sporting blue and white Colts jerseys, shirts or hats.
But perhaps none of those in attendance will be decked out in as much Colts gear as Michael Sisk. Known as “Sisko,” the 56-year-old Columbus resident dresses from head to toe in paraphernalia representing his favorite team.
“I thought maybe it would make the fans happy,” Sisk said. “Kids love it. Adults love it. I put a smile on people’s faces. That’s what it’s all about.”
Sisk began following the Colts when they moved to Indianapolis from Baltimore in 1984. But he didn’t start going to games until about seven years ago when his friend Mike Sanders began taking him to games.
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Since then, Sisk and Sanders have had season tickets. Then, 3 1/2 years ago, Sisk began dressing up.
“As soon as I get to games, I get swarmed right and left,” Sisk said. “’Can we get a picture? Can we get a picture?’ I say, ‘Yeah, sure.’ Fans love it.”
Sisk wears a Transformers-type helmet with Colts stickers, shoulder pads that he painted blue with real horseshoes and mini-Colts helmets attached. He wears blue Clots pajama-like tops and bottoms with assorted Colts-themed jewelry and a Colts license plate hanging around his neck.
Sisk said he got most of the items at thrift stores or Goodwill. He found the mini helmets online, had had them signed by former Colt Jeff Saturday, kicker Adam Vinatieri and general manager Chris Ballard. He bought the horseshoes at Rural King, stickers at Kroger, pajama bottom pants at Hobby Lobby and shoes at Wal-Mart. A friend made his jacket.
“(The outfit) was my idea,” Sisk said. “I’d seen so many things on Facebook and newspapers and the news, and I started putting little pieces together. I had three or four different outfits in the past, and this came out to be the best one I came up with.”
Sisk sits in Section 404, which is in the corner of the end zone above the visitors sideline.
“If there’s a lot of empty seats, I’ll move down to the lower level,” Sisk said. “The security people don’t say anything to me about it. They know what I’m all about.”
Sisk met and got a picture taken with Chris Ballard. Sisk sent Ballard the photo and received footballs autographed by former Colts stars Robert Mathis and Reggie Wayne.
Two years ago, Sisk, a 1982 Columbus North graduate, met recently-retired quarterback Andrew Luck when Luck came to North for one of his Change the Play camps. Luck was the first to sign Sisk’s jersey, which has since added former Colts quarterback Peyton Manning’s autograph.
Sisk said he understood Luck’s decision to retire at the age of 29.
“Part of it was the Colts organization’s fault,” Sisk said. “In the second and third year when he was playing, if they would have went out and spent the money and got him a front line to protect him, he wouldn’t have got beat up like he had. But I wish the man the best of luck. He’s going to be a father. Andrew Luck is a super nice man.”
Each October, Sisk dresses up in his Colts outfit and entertains fans at the team’s Halloween party at Lucas Oil Stadium. He also belongs to the team’s Blue Crew fan club.
“We’re all superfans,” Sisk said. “We all tailgate before the games up there, and we all have a good time.”
