From a 2008 Chicago Tribune article on Gill (who was then still a player at Northwestern):

“Hey, that’s my grandpa!” defensive tackle John Gill shouted, pointing toward the sidewalk to an 86-year-old man wearing a powder-blue turban — and over it, a Northwestern visor.

The bus cracked up, and a surge of pride shot through Gill.

“Even though I have somewhat dark skin, a lot of people don’t believe me when I tell them I’m half-Indian — probably because I’m so big,” he said. “But once they see my grandpa with a turban on, it’s hard to deny it.”

“Hey, that’s my grandpa!” defensive tackle John Gill shouted, pointing toward the sidewalk to an 86-year-old man wearing a powder-blue turban — and over it, a Northwestern visor.

i loved that. made my day.

thank you lakshmi.

i wonder if he does a pairi pawna before the game.

Geaux Saints!

He was dressed for the playoff game vs the Jets but was the only Colts player beside the backup QB not to play and was inactive vs the Ravens the week before. Every team in the NFL has a 53 man roster and dress 45[not counting the option to dress a 3rd QB as the 46th player].

The Colts have 10 Defensive Lineman on there roster and have 7 active for games most times. The key to Gill playing may be the injury status of Colts star Dwight Freeney who is will be playing with a injured ankle and will be a game time choice to play. They may dress a exta D-Lineman for this game, but that could be a extra Defensive End who the outside, as Gill plays Defensive Tackle on the inside.

"He wants to dine with Gandhi and he likes Italian food? Oh, I get it now: He meant Sonia Gandhi."

lol !!!- enjoy your posts Melvin. As for Gill he sounds awesome - you can't blame him for dining on anything but Gujarati food (sorry to the gujaratis out there there but to me your cuisine is very bland).

Good for you. Good for them. IN UK Asians ( read desi) have now established themselves on the groun level in Rugby ( like your Gridiron), football and boxing. On national level Cricket and Boxing. Bout time it happened in the states

"Bobby Jindal wants you to root for the Saints in the Super Bowl"

Being from New England, I was naturally going to root against the Colts. But you had to point that out. Now I don't care about either team.

It's nice to see a Desi playing the real football. Nothing against soccer, but football is king in America and it's great to have an Indian playing in the Super Bowl.

Hard not to root for the Saints, given their underdog history and past events in the state, though. Still Yanks do love supporting winners.

Q:If you could dine with anyone from any period in history, who would it be?

A: Ghandi (sic)

Odd how many times I see this (mis)spelling of Gandhi, and almost always by Americans. Is there a reason for this? I can't see it, since it goes against how the name is conventionally spelt in English and pronounced.

Saints for the Win baby!!!!
Waited so long for this moment.

No Gill on field yet, but so far have counted at least 3 Indians in the commercials,
not including the ones in the Intel group shot......

Um. WTF. Comments on the metropcs commercial????

Odd how many times I see this (mis)spelling of Gandhi, and almost always by Americans. Is there a reason for this? I can't see it, since it goes against how the name is conventionally spelt in English and pronounced.

Ghandi seems to be a Middle Eastern name. There's a Ghandi Cafe in New York. And Professor Ghandi from Iran.

No Gill on field yet

That's why the Colts lost. Gill would have intercepted Brees and ran 100 yards for a TD.

Great article. I just loved to read the details.