Hoosiers Headlines and Hangups

INDIANA PACERS

Granger
via Indystar

 [BAND WAGON ALERT!!!]...
...Congratulations to the Indiana Pacers for clinching a spot in the NBA Playoffs!  It is the first time they have made it past the regular season since 2006!!  I am excited though because, as I've mentioned before, I used to play basketball and enjoyed it very much.  I also used to be a major Pacers fan even before we moved back to Indiana in '99.  But in recent seasons they have been unimpressive and with embarrassing antics, both on and off the court.  I am definitely a bandwagon/fair-weather fan nowadays but I'm not the only one, see here.  It seems like the group of players we have now, although young, have a good head on their shoulders and have the motivation to get work done. 

INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS

Victory Field via

Tonight is the season opener for the Indianapolis Indians.  This is a sure fire indication that Spring is in full swing and Summer is just around the corner.  I've been to a handful of Indians games and always enjoy myself.  I especially love their $1 nights where selected concessions are deeply discounted.  This is a great opportunity for families with kids to have a fun and entertaining night out as well as individuals on a budget (like me!).  They kick off their season in a 4-game series against the Columbus Clippers complete with Fireworks, a complimentary schedule magnet (first 2500 people), and a $15 Value Pack (entry, hot dog, unlimited soda refills, and a free souvenir).

Smoking Ban Proposal in Indiana: Denied

Yesterday, state legislators squashed the smoking ban bill that was recently put on their plate.  This was the fifth time a smoking ban has been proposed in Indiana (see full story) .  It doesn't eliminate smoking from all public places including casinos, bars and many private businesses.  Sounds like a pretty weak attempt anyways.  The biggest argument, I think, would be allowing smoking in bars.  I am a former smoker (with occasional slip ups) and I would completely support a ban of smoking in bars/restaurants.  I've been to other cities here in Indiana, like Bloomington, that have banned smoking in their bars (as well as bigger cities like Chicago and LA) and never felt like having to go outside was an inconvenience, even in the dead of winter.  Not only did I smoke less, I also didn't smell as much like a rotten ashtray when the night was over.  Now that I've quit, I notice how awful smokers smell and it is downright repulsive.  I definitely think Indiana needs to reform the laws on smoking but it needs to be tighter and more restrictive.



DIRTY, ROTTEN SCOUNDREL

Tim Durham, outside courthouse
Indystar

On Wednesday, Tim Durham (Indiana's own Bernie Madoff), was ordered by a judge to spend the next 7 days at a halfway house (Volunteers of America) in downtown Indianapolis.  This is the former money manager that is accused of bilking investors, even friends, out of  200 mil dollars in an elaborate ponzi scheme masterminded through his company, now defunct, Fair Finance.  This is becoming a rags-to-riches-to-rags story and I'm sure those who he duped would love to get their hands on him.  The halfway house will be a far cry from what he is accustomed to.  Durham is a guy of which the word "modest" doesn't fit into his vocabulary or lifestyle.  His life, for many years, has been extravagant, opulent, boisterous: He owns massive estates in Geist and Los Angeles and many top-of-the-line luxury cars.  He hosted "Playboy" parties that were highly publicized.  He appeared in a multi-page spread in Indianapolis Monthly where he tried to play up his humble beginnings.  He lived a Hollywood dream lifestyle while jetting back and forth on private planes between Indiana and the West Coast.  But now, in his dust, people/friends/whole families are devastated by his greed and corruption.  I babysat for a family who lost thousands to his company.  How he can sleep at night (resting on 5000-thread count Egyptian cotton sheets, no doubt) is beyond me.  I just hope that those left in the Fair Finance aftermath can see a light at the end of the tunnel and pick up the pieces. 



BAD DOG(S), BAD!!!



via

The ball is passed to Shelvin Mack with seconds remaining...he scrambles around to find an open shot...he lofts the ball up in the air...3...2...1...The crowd holds their breath as he releases it from his hands and sinks it in from outside the 3-point line as time expires....Butler Bulldogs by 3 over the UCONN Huskies!!....HOORAYYY!! <<CELEBRATION! JUBILATION! HINKLE FIELDHOUSE, INDIANAPOLIS, THE NATION, GOES BANANAS!>>

Right?....Well, sadly that was only the end of the first half. 

I once heard a saying: "If 'if' was a fifth, we'd all be drunk" Well "if" the game ended at the half, Butler would have won the National Championship and the season would have truly ended in the fairy tale fashion that everyone had anticipated.  Instead, it was like Cinderella got all dressed up for The Big Dance: new dress, shiny glass slippers, hair and makeup to the nines, and then the Prince went home with another girl (and trophy)....Disappointing!

Don't get me wrong, I am proud of the Butler Bulldogs, their players, cutie-patootie coach Brad Stevens, their passion for the game and their electrifying back-to-back runs to the National Championship.  They have been tremendous, on and off the court, and I know that collectively, the city is super proud of them.  But, and this is a BIG but, it was painful watching them play what is probably the worst game of their careers, and sadly, the last for a few players, too.  Like my boyfriend D, they just couldn't stay up til the end of the game. 

In the first half, both teams struggled offensively and defensively but it seemed like Butler had the defensive edge for a while -- and the momentum going into halftime.  I thought for sure that Brad Stevens was giving his team a momentous --"If you put your effort and concentration into playing to your potential, to be the best that you can be, I don't care what the scoreboard says. At the end of the game, in my book, we're gonna be winners." (from the movie, Hoosiers) -- kind of pep talk in the locker room and that the Dawgs were going to emerge with a vengeance, like hungry dogs ready to sink their teeth into a t-bone steak-- or like a team seeking redemption and ready to finally capture the prestigious trophy and title that eluded them last year against Duke.  But what happened in the second half was anything but that: absolutely no offense with a complete inability to get inside the paint (let alone actually score in there-there were only three the entire game!); and lackluster defense (unlike what we've seen in previous games) with poor rebounding on both sides of the court.  Smith, Hahn, Mack, Vanzant, Howard, Nored -they all fell flat, like someone just let the air out of Butler's tires and they just couldn't keep up with the Huskies. 

Mack, Hahn and Howard via Indy Star

I'm not a sports writer or even someone who is competent enough to give you a recap of the game so for the details (in case you didn't witness it ), here's ESPN's Pat Forde.  They say, everyone is a critic nowadays but I was slightly annoyed that I stayed up til close to midnight watching the game, despite having to be at work at 6am so I'm dealing with a bit of a sports hangover.  But this too shall pass and so will the bitter taste in the mouths of Butler fans (both true and fair-weather).  I hope that the team receives a warm and loving reception this afternoon at the welcome home ceremony taking place at 4pm because they deserve it and hey, there's always next year, right?

Hoosiers in the Headlines: IN geniuses and GO DOGS!!

I love when Hoosiers make the national news spotlight for reasons other than being a Teen Mom.

Here we have 12 year old Jake Barnett, a child prodigy, who is already taking college-level astrophysicist courses and is being recruited by Indiana University.  To read the full article here.

In other news, the Butler Bulldogs leave Indianapolis at 2pm this afternoon, making their way to Houston to compete against VCU in the Final Four; Blue 2 (their beloved Bulldog mascot that was banned from travelling to the previous tournament games) will be joining them on Friday.  This is the first time in Bulldog history for back-to-back trips to the Final Four.  Last year, they narrowly lost to Duke in the championship game which was hosted in Indianapolis.  The Bulldogs, the talented group of classy players (including Indiana native Matt Howard) and the passionate, young coach, Brad Stevens have truly made Indiana proud and now they are forcing the nation to stand up and take notice.  My Facebook newsfeed has been bombarded with Butler support as well as hopeful VCU fans.  (I lived outside of Richmond all through elementary and junior high) so it is split 50/50 in terms of FB status updates.) 

I am in no way, a college basketball enthusiast.  It is safe to say that I am a bandwagon fan when it comes to college hoops.  Don't get me wrong, I LOOOOOOVE basketball.  I played to for several years when I was younger.  I was a huge fan of the legendary Indiana Pacers who were led by Reggie and the gang back in the mid-90s.  But I am always excited to stand up for the hometown, no matter IU, Purdue, Butler, IUPUI Jags.

Hoosier Hang ups: Former Indiana Pacers star, Jalen Rose, was arrested in Detroit on March 11 on suspicion of DUI.  I am certainly disappointed.  He's done a great job in his retirement getting commentary gigs through ESPN and I hope that this latest snag doesn't derail that progress (probably won't).  I lived across the street from him when I was in high school, during his glory days with the Pacers.  Occasionally, I would see him drive by and would wave to him as he sped by.  I even went Trick-or-Treating at his house (as a freshman) just to catch a glimpse.