Kudos to the NFL for getting it right.

They kicked off their 2007 season September 6^th when the defending Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts defeated the New Orleans Saints, 41-10.

The NFL’s kickoff celebration featured performances from Faith Hill, Kelly Clarkson and Hinder; tens of thousands of fans descended onto Monument Circle for a free three-hour concert in downtown Indianapolis.

John Mellencamp then performed “Home Town” during the pregame ceremony midfield at the RCA Dome.

Too often, major sports take advantage of their ties with Hollywood and sponsors and make their opening kickoff an overplayed, overhyped mess. See this year’s Daytona 500. But the NFL avoided such mishaps. They focused on the football and made the performances a secondary enjoyment.

They managed not to upstage themselves.

Furthermore, the NFL manages to massage its relationships in Hollywood without creating an overzealous foreshadowing like Major League Baseball does with its Tim McGraw-Tug McGraw association. They kindly remind that actor Mark Harmon is NFL great Tom Harmon’s son without bashing you over the head with it. Harmon gives a great interview on his late date on SI.com this week.

Their 2007 “Who Wants More” campaign is a winner and an appropriate start to the NFL’s 88^th season.

Now, let’s play ball!

-Linda Przygodski