Continue reading this post »

Magnum Rolle - F - Hawks Magnum Rolle has been waived by the Hawks. Rolle was never considered a favorite to make the final roster. The team also waived Pape Sy and Brad Wanamaker. Dec. 23 - 11:22 a.m. ET

Continue reading this post »

[From the Fan Posts, daledavis offers a random and well-explored thought that is fitting following a pair of preseason losses to the Bulls. - TL]

Kim Jong Il peaced out at age 70. Still the only man to shoot 38 under par on a regulation 18-hole golf course – including 5 holes in one. And keep in mind it was the first time he ever picked up a club. Safe to say the golf world will never be the same.

Kim was reported to be a huge basketball fan. Rick Santorum, the Republican presidential candidate and former Pennsylvania senator, once said that North Korea posed less of a security threat than Iran because Kim "doesn’t want to die; he wants to watch N.B.A. basketball."

In 2009, The Washington Post detailed the Swiss education of Kim’s son and successor, Kim Jong-un, who was said to have little interest in politics in his earlier years and instead "spent hours doing meticulous pencil drawings" of Michael Jordan.

Madeline Albright also gave him a signed Michael Jordan Basketball. Kim Jong Il was a huge Bulls fan, and a man of his influance and power could easily manipulate games.

Continue reading this post »

[From the Fan Posts, daledavis offers a random and well-explored thought that is fitting following a pair of preseason losses to the Bulls. - TL]

Kim Jong Il peaced out at age 70. Still the only man to shoot 38 under par on a regulation 18-hole golf course – including 5 holes in one. And keep in mind it was the first time he ever picked up a club. Safe to say the golf world will never be the same.

Kim was reported to be a huge basketball fan. Rick Santorum, the Republican presidential candidate and former Pennsylvania senator, once said that North Korea posed less of a security threat than Iran because Kim "doesn’t want to die; he wants to watch N.B.A. basketball."

In 2009, The Washington Post detailed the Swiss education of Kim’s son and successor, Kim Jong-un, who was said to have little interest in politics in his earlier years and instead "spent hours doing meticulous pencil drawings" of Michael Jordan.

Madeline Albright also gave him a signed Michael Jordan Basketball. Kim Jong Il was a huge Bulls fan, and a man of his influance and power could easily manipulate games.

Continue reading this post »

I saw the preseason game coming tomorrow against Indiana. Which reminded me of how tough that series was. I wanted to check up on them and the other teams, since you know the teams in your division effect your playoff seed since you play them alot.

The Pacers lose T.J. Ford, Dunleavy, and McRoberts. This hurts their guard play and outside shooting, and takes away another inside goon. David West if healthy makes them stronger inside, but without that guard depth they lose to us 4-1 in last years series imo.

The Pistons got worse, but they sucked anyway.

The Cavs who suck got a little better, Kyrie Irving could be good, and Omri will help aging parker and baronless guard play.

NOW...the Bucks who were injury plagued got a lot better. They actually are probably a sleeper team of sorts to go farther. They got rid of dooling-salmons(ew) and maggette, but they picked up a much better set of guards: Livingston-stephen jackson, Udrih and Dunleavy.

In a perfect game for the Bucks, they have inside presence with Mbah and a healthy Bogut. Jennings, Steph Jax, and a host of guard role players. Kind of scary actually.

Just thought I would share!

Are you serious Bro! These guys think cause we lost Ford and Mcbob that we are actually a worse team than we are now. That is the arrogance of the Bulls fans. Honestly they think that they own the Division. I think they are in for a real suprise this season. I do think Rip will help them, and it does make them bettter if he hasn't lost a step. Pacers need a win tonight . . . I don't care if it's meaningless.

Patsforcolts is a straight up lunatic . . . but didn't he say something about Mike Dunleavy not being a very good basketball player. Well guess what he's $7.5 million good. . . I think its time you put this Dunleaving thing behind you and start focusing on some positve things in your life and on the Pacers Roster. Goodbye Mike Dunleavy I'm gonna miss your sweet J, your excelent passing, and of course your sweet smile . . . . Mike you'll be missed Bro!

 >Here is the problem: The owners are concerned with the future of the league. Namely, competitive balance. The way they get that is to institute penalties for luxury tax paying teams. What does that mean? It means that the Lakers, Knicks, Bulls, Pistons, and every other big-market team that spends big money on superstars, will be punished by not allowing those teams to fill out their rosters with midlevel players. Plus, if they add more tax for every dollar over the luxury tax, it will, in theory, discourage teams from over spending to get a championship. It's not really a hard cap because those teams can still pay, but it will be expensive. That means that other players will have to sign with smaller-market teams. The players don't like that because they say it limits their movement and earning potential.

Well, yes, because the players are stacking the deck against small-market teams by going to big-market teams (what Miami did last season, but not Miami; James, Bosh, and Wade). Those players had no concern about the integrity of the league's competitive balance. They manipulated system to determine the outcome, or they tried.

That is why the owners are not going to budge on the system issues, because if they continue as they are, the players have too much ability to manipulate the system (the thought of Chris Paul going to N.Y. should convince you that the system is broken). You see? This is not about money. It's about the system. The owners want integrity for competitive balance, but the players want the system issues to manipulate the system for money.

The owners are concerned about the future of their product. They're trying to to fix the system so that small-market teams have a chance to compete for the championship, too. In other words: the owners care about the integrity of their product, just like any business person cares about their product.

The players don't give a heck about any of that. They're only looking at this through money eyes, and that's why there's no deal.

The players can't get past the idea of doing a tit-for-tat deal. If the players give on the BRI split, then they want the system issues to go their way. If the players give in on the system issues, then they want the BRI to go their way.

This situation cannot work on a tit-for-tat bases. The system is broken for the small-market teams. And saying to Michael Jordan, "if you can't make a profit, then sell the team." It doesn't work that way because the next owner will be in the same predicament. There is no answer for small-market teams to "compete" with the system as it is now.

Now, the agents will say that the league should go to profit sharing so that small-market teams won't go broke. But, that is only half of the problem with the current system. The real problem is the inability of small-market teams to compete for the championship. And profit sharing by the owners doesn't address that at all. It only puts money into the small-market teams to keep them from losing money. But, owners aren't in this business for only making money. They're in this business to win championships for their cities, too. And that's why profit sharing by the league doesn't address the broken system. The small-market teams still can't compete with the big-market teams if the penalties for luxury tax paying teams isn't increased.

The agents and players don't care about all that. They're only looking at this through their greedy money eyes.

The owners are trying to improve the product by creating competitive balance, and that's why they the owners won't budge on the system issues.


The owners will void all contracts before they budge on the system issues. The owners are frustrated because they can't get this message through the uneducated brains of the players.

Continue reading this post »

I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good. I promise I will be good.

Welcome to the Dale Davis Experience . . . I’m your host the “REAL” Dale Davis. Thanks for the applause @FtWaynKarl.

Today I’m speculating where some of our Pacer Free Agents could end up at the start of the next season. (If it ever comes)

1.      TJ Ford I think is the most interesting prospect because he could really help the right team for cheap. The Heat have to sign a point guard, and I think Ford could be a really good option as a starter or back-up. The Heat need someone that will take care of the ball, but can’t be left open for double teams. TJ did turn the ball over on a lot of silly plays here in Indiana, but I think that many of those where plays he was trying to force because he didn’t feel he had a better option on the floor. Many times we would get to the middle leave his feet and have to make a terrible pass. In the Miami offense he wouldn’t have to do that because they have lots of play makers. Last year especially in the playoffs teams where doubling and leaving Mike Bibby open, who missed a lot of shots. TJ Ford can shoot or drive, and I think it would be hard for teams to leave him open. In my opinion Ford would really help the Heat make it back to the Finals next year.

2.      Mike Dunleavy I hope ends up back with Indiana, but I think he may go to a contender. The Bulls could really use a shooting guard and Dunleavy could really fit into their offensive “system” or having Rose take the ball to the hoop and kick out game. I think guys would leave him to help defend Rose or Boozer, and he would get a lot of wide open shots that are almost automatic points for him. People on this site always saying that he is a bad Defender, but Ian Leavy has shown team D is better when Mike is on the floor. If I was Dunleavy I would go to the Bulls or Mavs, and chase a championship. Mike you’ve made your money now go get that ring. . .

3.      Josh McRoberts I also hope ends up with Indiana, but he could end up being to expensive for this team. Houston and Boston are in need of bigs with rebounding. His game is very unique, and I think he is the biggest question mark this off season. Memphis’s interest in him at the trade deadline makes me think he is going to get paid more than his actual worth. I also think in the right system his size, rebounding, and ball handling could help the right team. I hope it’s us, but I honestly don’t have a good answer when it comes to Josh.

4.      Solomon Jones should sign with the Besiktas in the Turkish League. He would be a dominate center in that league with his size and could get rebounds for Alan Iverson. Also, if Deron Williams ends up going there he would be set. Solomon could probably average 20 rbs a game, and be like the Turkish Baby Shaq. Also the weird foul shooting lane would allow him to use his speed for rebounds rather that his strength which he lacks. He could also visit every district of Anatolia and try all the famous Turkish Kabobs. I’ve never been to Turkey but I have heard their cuisine is delicious, maybe it could help Jones put on a couple lbs and make a return to the states eventually.

5.      Jeff Foster was born a Pacer and should die a Pacer. I wish more Free Agents stuck it out with one team for their career. It gets so old when you hear about someone playing for his 8th team . . . Steven Jackson. I like the movement and it does produce discussions like this one, but I just wish ever team had one guy like Jeff Foster that went birth -  death with the Pacers.

There you have it folks. . . Please continue this post with your own speculation.  . . And remember take care spike you hair. WWWYKI!

[Comments are closed since this is essentially a repeat of the comments in the front page story. Horse is dead.]

If you think I’m crazy and just Hatin’ on Staircase for the purpose of Hatin’ that’s not true. He is cancer that is bad for our team and he is a flat out thug that likes to beat on women. He also has no NBA game, so why are the Pacers wasting their time on him? I say cut him and move on. Here are multiple media sources that also tell the truth about the Staircase. I cited a lot of them so you can’t say, “Oh ESPN are horrible reporters.”  I don’t know any other way to convince you guys. . .

Up and coming basketball VIP Lance Stephenson has been arrested and charged with criminal sexual abuse. Lance Stephenson is accused of groping and making threatening statements to a student at Lincoln High School in New York City.

Basketball teammate Darwin Ellis and one other boy have also been charged with forcible touching an harassment after groping a 17-year-old student and telling her that they would "slap the hell" out of her. Lance "Born Ready" Stephenson appeared in Brooklyn Criminal Court last week, and must appear again on June 29.

Lance Stephenson has been offered at least five college basketball scholarships. His star had been rising, but the recent charges will determine his future. If true, these charges may tank Lance Stephenson's basketball career.

Yahoo Sports

Do Teams Still Want Lance Stephenson

By Chris Chase

His stock has fallen farther than General Motors. Once the most-hyped recruit in the country, Lance Stephenson enters June without a school, without much hype and with many in recruiting circles saying he's not worth the trouble. This begs the question: Does anybody still want Lance Stephenson?

Probably not, when you consider quotes like this from a USA Basketball official. Speaking about Stephenson not making the under-18 men's national team last June:

"[Lance] was worthy of being on [the under-18 men's national team in 2008], but what you deal with is it would have taken too much energy for the coaches to maintain Lance playing less minutes and being on the bench, and it would have diverted [them] from working with the top five to seven guys to win a gold medal."

Translation: Stephenson is a chemistry killer. Taking one-and-done guys (as Stephenson is likely to be) is always a crapshoot, but there always seem to be more danger with the ones whose feet are already out the door before they step foot on campus. That doesn't lead to Final Fours, it leads to first-round NCAA tournament exits and a difficult recruiting situation in the fall.

Yahoo Sports

Lance Stephenson is Still without a School

This was bad enough on June 1, when Chris wrote about the topic, but it's now June 23, and Stephenson still doesn't have a school. Maryland rescinded its scholarship offer. St. John's, who would seem desperate for a New York-based savior, withdrew its interest. As of today, Florida International's Isiah Thomas has dropped the issue. The only coach still actively recruiting Stephenson appears to be Memphis's Josh Pastner, whose program may or may not be vacating a whole batch of wins -- if not worse -- this offseason.

Why is Stephenson still scholarship-less? The New York Daily News asks that question today, and the answers they come up with can be summed up as such:

1. Stephenson has a domineering father known for his loud antics at basketball games and clashes with Stephenson's high school coach. His father, Lance Sr., has also handled much of Stephenson's recruiting. Coaches are likely scared off by that relationship.

2. He might not be eligible. Stephenson will likely invite a whole mess of NCAA scrutiny once he signs on with a school for a variety of reasons, including an online TV show that was picked up by MTV2 (was he compensated?), a tour through the Under Armour factory with CEO and Maryland booster Kevin Plank, and the simple fact that he just might not make the grades.

3. Stephenson is currently charged with sexual assault for allegedly groping a 17-year-old; he's set to appear in court on June 29 with a teammate from Lincoln High School. If convicted, Stephenson could face 90 days in jail, which may or may not coincide with basketball season. Either way, "we recruit sexual offenders so long as they can be at practice on time!" isn't exactly the motto most coaches are going for.

4. His attitude. Chris's post had a quote from a USA Basketball coach about why Stephenson didn't make the under-18 team last year, and it was about team-related attitude. In the Daily News story, a Big East assistant says "With Lance, it's always me, me, me." Davidson's coach, Bob McKillop -- coincidentally the coach of the U-18 USA Basketball team that cut Stephenson -- is now on the record saying:

"Five percent of the game is played with the ball in your hands," McKillop told the News at the time. "The other 95% is played without the ball in your hands. Lance had to work on that."

Ouch.

One of these things, or maybe even two of them, would probably be fine. I mean, if coaches never took players with strong-willed parents, or players with some semblance of criminal behavior, or players with eligibility issues, or players that were convinced they needed to have the ball all the time, the NCAA would hardly exist. This is how it works. Elite basketball players occasionally come from bad backgrounds, or have behavioral issues, and that's never stopped coaches before.

But when you roll up all four of Stephenson's issues and put them in one volatile package -- and when you throw in the high-profile nature of his recruitment, and the fact that the NCAA seems certain to investigate Stephenson the minute he steps on a college campus -- you get a radioactive player. In fact, Stephenson might be the first player in the one-and-done era who was simultaneously this talented and this undesirable. He's enough to make college hoops coaches catch a conscience.

www.insidehoops.com

The questions aren't about Stephenson's game, but about the off-court issues. He seems to be the guy that every coach would rather be somebody else's problem. Between the pending criminal charge, questions about amateur status and the general sense that where Stephen goes drama follows, he just might not be worth it. Gary Williams, for instance, is desperate to sign a big-time national recruit. Will putting up with a possible Stephenson-headache be worth it for next season?
 

Lance Stephenson, Indiana Pacers NBA player, arrested for pushing his girlfriend down the stairs

BY JOHN LAUINGER

DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Coney Island basketball star Lance Stephenson - a second-round pick of the Indiana Pacers in the June NBA draft - was busted yesterday for pushing his girlfriend down a flight of stairs, cops said.

Stephenson, 19, a legendary player at Brooklyn's Abraham Lincoln High School, roughed up Jasmine Williams, 21, at her Brooklyn apartment building about 5 a.m., police said.

The 6-foot-5 rookie point guard's cowardly shove sent Williams - the mother of Stephenson's child - tumbling headfirst down 10 steps, requiring her to be treated at a hospital for injuries to her head and neck, cops said.

Mike Wells from the Indystar

Just days after feeling good about making what they think is their best trade in years, the Pacers were knocked down Sunday when rookie guard Lance Stephenson was arrested and charged with third-degree assault after he allegedly pushed his girlfriend down a flight of stairs in Brooklyn, N.Y., early Sunday.

Defensive breakdowns and some maturity issues. You gotta guy like Lance Stephenson who is just getting some playing time and some of the veterans were upset with the way he was playing out there, as far as not wanting to give the ball up  and also some of the passes he was making.

You know, Lance is a very talented player and I'm never going to take that away from him. I just feel like he needs to grow up. He's very immature still. I've mentioned that to a number of people about his maturity problems and a lot of people say, well he's only 20 years old, but my response to that is, you may be 20 years old but at the same time there's a difference between acting 19 or 20 and acting 15 or 16 and I feel like Lance is more in that 15 to 16 range and again, where the leadership lacks, he thinks he can get away with that.

Washington Post

A criminal complaint provided Monday by the Brooklyn district attorney’s office said that as Williams lay at the bottom of the stairs, Stephenson picked up her head and slammed it on the bottom step.

Stephenson attorney Alberto Ebanks didn’t return phone and e-mail messages Monday.

The All Criminal Basketball Team:

Lance Stephenson has yet to see the NBA court. Unfortunately for the former Bearcat, he'll likely be seeing a rather different kind of court quite soon. 

A month ago, the Pacers rookie was arrested for third-degree assault, menacing, and criminal possession of a weapon after allegedly pushing his girlfriend down a flight of stairs. Reports indicate that Stephenson then went down after her, smashing her head on the bottom step. The incident allegedly stemmed from Stephenson's girlfriend not answering her phone. This investigation is ongoing. 

Stephenson, an extremely talented basketball player, holds the New York State High School record for most career points scored. Although he consistently got the job done on the floor, the Lincoln High School alumnus did not necessarily score any points with law enforcement, even in those days. 

In 2008, Stephenson was arrested for groping a 17-year-old girl on school grounds, and was charged with third-degree sexual assault. 

I know its only been a day, but are you ready to try out watching some new sports?  The longer this thing goes the bigger the distaste for NBA basketball will grow to. What else is out there sports wise that you might be into? 

Here is an article I found on the subject. . .

The National Basketball Association’s lockout of its players began on Friday, July 1, 2011. Following the National Football League, whose lockout of its players began back in March, the NBA’s upcoming season is now in jeopardy.

Meanwhile, Monday Night RAW, now in its 18th season, will air this week for the 944th time.

Yes, the NBA and NFL are, by all rights, considered “legitimate” sports, and professional wrestling, specifically, WWE, is simply a work, staged for the amusement of its paying customers.

I understand the difference, and am very aware of all the arguments against the business being considered an athletic sport. I have been a fan since about age three, and as a teenager during the late '80s and mid-'90s, pro wrestling was not something a guy could admit to watching, for fear of rejection by the opposite sex.

Yeah, I didn’t get a lot of dates in high school.

But thanks to "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, times have changed, and now pro wrestling, while still laughed at in some circles, is more widely accepted. Teenage wrestling fans everywhere are now getting all kinds of action.

So, while players and owners in both the NBA and NFL bicker over money, World Wrestling Entertainment moves right along, with original programming, traveling the world and pleasing fans of all ages.

Granted, that last part is always up for debate.

But, there is no denying that while other so-called “real” sports stars flaunt their money, and “take plays off,” the majority of men and women in WWE do all they possibly can to put on a good show for their fans.

The fans are the focus of any successful pro wrestling company. Without us, there is no revenue. Without us, there is no interest. And, without us, there is no future for said promotion.

If only the powers that be in the NBA and NFL felt the same way.

It does seem that fans of the major professional sports are an afterthought these days. All of the focus is usually placed on fat contracts and highly publicized trades that are supposedly aimed at making a team better. From a distance, however, it looks as though all of those guys are just getting paid.

However, in pro wrestling, careers are built on fan response. Pushes given to wrestlers are only as good, and last only as long, as the crowd wants them to. We decide who we want to see, who we love, hate and ultimately, who we love to hate.

Hate John Cena? Take a number. But, for as many fans that curse the ground John walks on, there are just as many who pay to see the guy perform in the ring. The truth is, if fans stopped popping for him altogether, his merchandise sales suddenly dropped, and no one talked about him anymore, how long would he last?

WWE creative may have decided to give Cena his initial push in the beginning, but it’s the fans, for better or worse, who keep him there.

Rocky Maivia was a nobody that fans hated with a passion. It looked as though he was going to amount to nothing in his WWE career. Then, a mic was shoved in his face and suddenly he was the most popular guy in the company.

Why? Because WWE said so? No, because the fans said so.

WWE, TNA, ROH, no successful promotion does everything right. As fans we constantly debate the good and bad of every aspect of the business. It’s kind of our thing.

But, no matter what mistakes any of these companies, or any other pro wrestling company make, at the end of the day, we are the ones that make it all go around.

The fans, the people with money in their pockets, are the most important asset to a profitable pro wrestling promotion. WWE has not forgotten that, even if the NBA and NFL, have.

Believe me, I have nothing to gain by “hating” on either league. In fact, I am a Minnesota Vikings fan, and a Philadelphia 76ers fan. I do want to see my teams play this year. I enjoy both sports, and have for a long time.

But, pro wrestling, for all of its faults, for all of its controversy at times, is here, and will likely always be here, in one way or another, delivering what fans want.

Is it all about money? Of course it is.

Vince McMahon does not want to go on food stamps anytime soon. Is it also all about the fans? While some would say no, the answer is obviously yes. Vince McMahon didn’t get rich in the first place by putting out a product that no one wanted to see.

I will watch SportsCenter today to get the latest on the NFL lockout and how much longer it will be until it is resolved. I will also watch to learn just exactly how long the NBA lockout may last before an agreement is reached.

On Monday, I will watch the 944th episode of WWE Monday Night RAW and I will either love, or hate, what I see. I’m a fan, and that’s what I do.

Thanks, WWE, for always being there.

WOO WOO WOO YOU KNOW IT!!!!!!!!

Point Guard

1.Mark Jackson

2. Rick Mount

3. Don Buse

4. Vern Flemming

5. Jamal Tinsley

6. Darren Collison

Shooting Guard

1. Reggie Miller

2. Rodger Brown

3. Chuck Persons

4. Jalen Rose

5. Billy Knight

6. Dudley Bradley

Small Forward

1. Danny Granger

2. Chris Mullins

3. Alex English

4. Derrick McKey

5. Ron Artest

6.Detlef Shrempf

Power Forward

1. Jermaine O'neil

2. George McGinnis

3. Dale Davis

4. Antonio Davis

5. Clark Kellogg

Center

1.  Mel Daniels

2. Rik Smits

3. Herb Williams

4. Brad Miller

5.Roy Hibbert

6. Dwayne Schintzious (Only for his roll in the Movie Eddie)

GO PACERS LETS DO IT UP IF WE HAVE A SEASON THIS YEAR!!!!!!!!

Very Tired Posts

Hey we are winning games, and things have  changed here in Pacer world really quick. I think that these arguments are now VERY tired:

1.       Where’s Paul George, Stephens, and Price? I really don’t know why everybody got so over hyped about the summer league stuff. There was no way PG or LS where going to start this season, and would be a long shot to contribute a whole lot. We are trying to win games and be some kind of contender in the play-offs. Now if we get an injury at Point, Price is going to be our guy. George and Stephens will get a great shot at being contributors next year after our free agent deals shake out. But just because Stephens and George where All-Pro at summer league, doesn’t mean anything. I remember people writing, “Oh we should start all three of them.” Yeah right.

2.       JOB and Bird should be FIRED! Patients has paid off, and these guys have turned a bunch of late draft picks into a decent team. SO MUCH FOR TANKING THE SEASON!!!! I know a lot of you probably don’t want to here this, but JOB is defiantly looking at an extension if the Pacers continue on this current trend. What if he continues to be a contender for Coach of the Year? If he gets COY some of your heads will explode. . . . I have never scene more hate for one man! Bird looks like the next Bill Polian.

3.       We should have kept Rolle and dropped S. Jones. Jones hasn’t been super great, but he has been a solid back up and played his roll very well. He was a big part of the reason for Pau Gasol’s frustration against the Lakers, and he played solid D and even got to the line a few times.  Solomon Jones is ready to be a good back up in this league, and Rolle is not.

4.       TJ Ford SUCKS!!! All summer long I was forced, by my love for the Pacers, to read post after post about Point Guards that we should have brought in. There was a very lengthy discussion about Sebation Telfair?? That’s how low we sank, because if your dieing to get Telfair that has to be the bottom. Every post I saw, I would comment, “He is not better than TJ Ford.” He is really looking good this year as a back up.   .  . Expensive backup. I hope the Pacers can sign him for a deal that he is really  worth next year, but I’m sure someone out there is going to over pay him again.

5.       Trade All the Soon To Be Free Agents!!! We have got a good team, and a good group of guys. Chemistry is hard to come by in this league. Look at the Clips, you can have all the talent in the world, but if you don’t have a true TEAM, you’re not going to win many games. Unless there is an awesome deal, I think the Pacers ride this thing to end of the season. I also think if we have a decent year, that we will try to resign Ford and Dunleavy at lower contracts. They may still walk, but this is what I think is going to happen.

6.       Danny Granger is not in the top 5 – 10 players in the league!  I think Granger is our bread and butter right now, and I wouldn’t want another player leading our team.

Can anyone tell me. This guy has not retired and has not signed, so what is he doing. It's been a year since he was released, so what is he waiting for? It seems like he has dropped off the planet since his decision to leave the team. After the first few games with Garcon and Collie stepping up, everyone was like, "Marvin Who, did we even have an 88." I mean you hear nothing about him, and I'm sure he could play better than TDONT. If he isn't going to play then why not retire and let the fans send him off "Reggie Miller Style" like he should be. He is the greatest reciever the Colts have ever had, and his career should be celebrated, but it has to offically end to do that. So, Marvin if your out there .   .   . Whats Up??

 There has been a few posts about "What Does It All Mean," when your a true Pacers fan. If Roy Hibbert fell in a forest, and no one was around, would he make a sound? I saved this cartoon from a couple years ago, and I think it is all what we are still feeling. Reggie was the man, and we are just waiting for the next Pacer that is truely going to be the man. Being the man, means being the leader of this team, and putting it on your back to get us in the Playoffs. This community was Pacer crazy for a lot of years, and they are ready to come back an be fans of this team. All the pacers need to do now is win games. Win games and you will get the public back.

It is my belief that these are the top 10 sports movies of all time:

10. Air Guitar Nation - This is probably one of the best documentaries ever made, in my opinion. Its about an International Underground Air Guitar competition. It is a little slice of life that involves some of the weirdest characters you'll meet. This is a great sports movie because it really showcases the pure competitive spirit of sport. These guys are totally committed and do it for the love of competition more than anything. I highly recommend this movie as one of my all time favorites.

9. Surviving the Game - Most of you are thinking, "Isn't that the movie where they hunt down Ice Cube?" Yes it is. Hunting is a sport, and it is enhanced when you hunt a human that can hunt you back.  Now 95% of this movie was just, OK for me. A good movie but not top 10 worthy. There is one part in the movie with Gary Busey telling a story, and I don't know how he didn't win an Oscar, but it is awesome.

On my 8th birthday, my dad bought me this bulldog, this fat little bulldog. I named him Prince Henry Stout, he was strong. He would chase my pet turkey; he would chase squirrels up the trees. I trained him, I raised him, I fed him, I groomed him, I took care of him, I loved that dog, I loved that dog. More than anything in the world, I loved that dog. My father gave me a hand full of cherry bombs and M-80s and said, “You’re going to train this dog to be a protector.” So every Saturday afternoon I got behind this little dummy my dad built and I’d toss these cherry bombs and M-80s at the dog, “Boom BOOM.” The dog was scared at first but after a while, he would get angry and he would come at the dummy, “Raaw” he’d get the dummy and rip it apart. Head was off, shirt was off. So, 13 years old, birthday time, got me a 12-gauge shotgun. “We’re going hunting” I was so excited. We went out to a clearing in the woods, he laid his gun down took my gun and laid it down and said, “Son today you’re going to learn to control you’re emotions. You’re gonna do things that some men are unable and unwilling to do, follow me.” So I follow my dad we go around these lumps of trees and there’s this little kraal built, there’s Prince Henry Stout chained in the middle of the kraal. My dad takes out a pocket full of cherry bombs and puts them in my hand and says, “Get in the kraal, here’s a lighter, I want you to light those cherry bombs and then throw them at the Prince. You’re gonna face manhood, you’re gonna fight that dog to the death. He’s gonna kill you or you’re gonna kill him…. NOW!" Whip oooo BOOM. Naaaa! He was on me. He was on me like flies on shit. I had no chance. I got my arm up in between his teeth and my neck, Womp! Went down in the mud, rolled over, rolled over. That dog is fighting and biting and kicking and scratching, I’m screaming and crying, I grab him around the head, I stand up, Raawpow! I fall on him with my weight on it, “Naawoo” I hear his neck break. He’s dead. He’s not breathing. He’s not yelping, he’s not biting. I’m covered with blood. I stand up, I wipe the blood off, I lick it. My dad says, “Welcome to manhood.”

8. Prefontaine - This movie is not on a lot of peoples list for whatever reason. In my opinion, Steve Prefontaine has one of the best stories in sports, and I really enjoyed the movie.

7. Caddy Shack - License to kill gophers by the government of the United Nations. Man, free to kill gophers at will. To kill, you must know your enemy, and in this case my enemy is a varmint. And a varmint will never quit - ever. They're like the Viet Cong - Varmint Cong. So you have to fall back on superior intelligence and superior firepower. And that's all she wrote.

6.  Bad News Bears- I got a Harly Davidson. Does that turn you on . . . Harly Davidson.

5.  King Pin - The greatest bowling movie of all-time. There will never be a better bowling movie made.  It all comes down to this roll. Roy Munson, a man-child, with a dream to topple bowling giant Ernie McCracken. If he strikes, he's the 1979 Odor-Eaters Champion. He's got one foot in the frying pan and one in the pressure cooker. Believe me, as a bowler, I know that right about now, your bladder feels like an overstuffed vacuum cleaner bag and your butt is kinda like an about-to-explode bratwurst.

4. Tin Cup - Suppose there's this guy, and he's standing on the shore of a big wide river, and the... river's full of all manner of disaster, you know, piranhas, alligators, eddies, currents, shit like that... nobody'll even go down there to dip a toe. And on the other side of the river's a million bucks, and on this side of the river... is a rowboat. I guess my question's this: What would possess the guy standing on the shore to swim for it?

3. 61* - HBO Movie . . . Billy Crystal really got into the behind story to the M&M boys. I am not a baseball fan what so ever, but I love this movie and watch anytime they show it.

2. Rudy - Not only is this about sports but also highlighted the people that where important in Rudy's life. I think we can all look back at our lives and remember the people that have helped push us along in different ways. It's a great true stroy. You're 5 foot nothin', 100 and nothin', and you have barely a speck of athletic ability. And you hung in there with the best college football players in the land for 2 years. And you're gonna walk outta here with a degreefrom the University of Notre Dame. In this life, you don't have to prove nothin' to nobody but yourself. And after what you've gone through, if you haven't done that by now, it ain't gonna never happen. Now go on back.

1. Hoosiers - Indiana Classic - Alright, boys, this is the last shot we got! We're gonna run the picket fence at 'em! Jimmy, you're solo right! Everett, Merle should be open on the other side of that fence! Now, boys, don't get caught watchin' the paint dry!

I think I know how almost everyone sees this upcoming season, but I have a different view. My prediction is that your Indiana Pacers will battle for the fourth and fifth spots in the East with the Hawks and Orlando. I am going to lay out the reasons I think this, and undoubtedly the fantasy ninja fan guy will tell me why I'm wrong in a ten paragraph essay litterally 30 seconds after I post this. How can the ninja be on here 24/7 ready to post at all hours of the day. Does he get paid per word on this site? How does the fantasy ninja guy support his family? But I digress. . .

1. The Malice at the Palace Curse is Gone -  We are due for a good season, and Epke going down is a sign to me that the bad luck is over. It is a new time for a climb up. Ron Artest won a championship, why can't we get to 4th in the East.

2. Contract Years - Three of our guys, Dunleavy, Murphy, and Ford are in thier contract years. I think all three are going to start, if no trades are made. So, they are going to play thier a**es off to get paid. They will play through injury, they are going to build thier stats, and get wins for this team. We all work for that almighty dollar, but they all make around 10 million. They want thier next contract to be as close to that as they can get. They will play great, because they have to, this is thier last chance. I like to call this the Dampiereffect: When a NBA player suddenly starts to play good in the last year of thier contract. Call urban dictionary cause thats a good one.

3. Young Core Becomes Vets - Hibbert is going to move as our solid starter at center, and Rush is going to be a good defender coming off the bench with the second unit draining threes. McRoberts has shown leadership in the summer league and I thnk that will help his confidence as he becomes the trash man for this team. Granger will continue to be the standout player, and the All-Star/MVP of our team.

4. Rookies Make Contributions - The young guys played good in Orlando, but as for the 10-11 season goes, none are ready to start. All will be good back ups, and give us the depth we have been lacking the past few years. If George can come off the bench and take the ball to the hoop, thats exactly what this team needs.

5. Why not?? Last year was a seriously injury plagued year, and we have some good pieces. Why not let all that come together now with a weakened division. If we can stay away from injury I think we can be there.

PS- One last Bold Prediction - I think the Fantasy Ninja Guy will get a job in 2011, crossing my fingers for White Castle third shift for him, and he will then post less than Tom Lewis. That one is a shot in the dark. . . Is that to much .   .   . I never know. . .

I find it intresting how we have so many familiar faces in the broadcasting world. Reggie Miller on TNT, Mark Jackson on ABC, and Jalen Rose on ESPN, have joined Clark Kellog on CBS/Pacers. All on different networks, but with very different styles. So, who do you think is the best and then tell why??? Mark Jackson has recently been blasted for saying that the Rik Smits Tip changed the 98 series. The cool part is that because of these three guys the Pacers are being kept alive by these guys stories, and at the very least people are talking about this team.

I am a fan of the All-Star weekend. I really enjoy it, and look forward to watching it.

Why can't Indiana ever get a team in the Shooting Stars thing. Reggie Miller, Danny Granger, and Tamika Catchings would clean up in that event, there is know doubt in my mind. I know its not much, but hey as this season unfolds it may be are only chance to win anything for awhile.

The Dunk contest was bad this year. They need to put up some big money to get the good players to do it. They should do like 500,000 for the winner, and 500,000 for the charity of the players choice. That would get these guys in. King James and Howard would be an all time great show down. And how sad was it for the Dallas Mavricks to have the biggest no names in the history of the contest judging. But before Cuban I guess they sucked worse than we do now.

Here are some more Shooting Stars Match-ups I would like to see:

Ray Allen - Larry Bird

Baron Davis - Danny Manning

Steve Nash - Rex Chappman

Peja Stojakovic - Glen Rice

Derrick Rose - Micheal Jordan or Pippen

1. The handling of Mark Jackson. This guy was traded to the Nuggets for Jalen Rose, and then in the middle of the season traded back for Eddie Jones, Vincent Askew, and a couple 2nd rounders. Then just let go after the 2000 season. Mark Jackson should  have finished his career as a Pacer like Reggie Miller.

2. Trading for Dunlevey, Murphy, and Ford. They just all suck, and when they are not sucking they are hurt. They are overpaid roll players at best, and three of the biggest mistakes in the franchises history. Granger cannot carry this team on his back forever.  We as fans deserve a better than them.

3. Trading Antonio Davis for Johnny Bender. We traded a good player for hype. The Pacers gave this kid $29 million for 4 years of nothing but a slam dunk contest at the All-Star Game.

4. Trading Brad Miller away for basicly nothing. They should have kept this guy. We haven't had a good true center since, and it forced JO to play center a lot of the time, which contributed to his injuries.

5. Going Young after 2000 -  The offseason brought changes to the Pacers' lineup, as Rik Smits and coach Larry Bird retired, Chris Mullin returned to his old Golden State team, Mark Jackson signed a long-term contract with Toronto, and Dale Davis was traded to Portland for Jermaine O'Neal, who went on to average 12.9 points per game in his first year as a starter. Also Bird out and Thomas in. Why coudn't they keep that team together for one or two more years? They traded DD for Jermaine, and Antonio could have moved into center. They should have not blown it up that easily. Who cares if we would of made it the finals for a second year in a row only to be beat by the Lakers agian, at least we would have been there.

Since there is not much future to discuss lets chat about the past in hopes that we won't repeat it.