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Rule #1

Pacers Digest is intended to be a place to discuss basketball without having to deal with the kinds of behaviors or attitudes that distract people from sticking with the discussion of the topics at hand. These unwanted distractions can come in many forms, and admittedly it can sometimes be tricky to pin down each and every kind that can rear its ugly head, but we feel that the following examples and explanations cover at least a good portion of that ground and should at least give people a pretty good idea of the kinds of things we actively discourage:

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Now, does the above cover absolutely every single kind of distraction that is unwanted? Probably not, but you should by now have a good idea of the general types of things we will be discouraging. The above examples are meant to give you a good feel for / idea of what we're looking for. If something new or different than the above happens to come along and results in the same problem (that being, any other attitude or behavior that ultimately distracts from actually just discussing the topic at hand, or that is otherwise disrespectful to other posters), we can and we will take action to curb this as well, so please don't take this to mean that if you managed to technically avoid saying something exactly like one of the above examples that you are then somehow off the hook.

That all having been said, our goal is to do so in a generally kind and respectful way, and that doesn't mean the moment we see something we don't like that somebody is going to be suspended or banned, either. It just means that at the very least we will probably say something about it, quite possibly snipping out the distracting parts of the post in question while leaving alone the parts that are actually just discussing the topics, and in the event of a repeating or excessive problem, then we will start issuing infractions to try to further discourage further repeat problems, and if it just never seems to improve, then finally suspensions or bans will come into play. We would prefer it never went that far, and most of the time for most of our posters, it won't ever have to.

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In any case, quite frankly, the overall quality and health of the entire forum's community is more important than any one troublesome user will ever be, regardless of exactly how a problem is exhibiting itself, and if it comes down to us having to make a choice between you versus the greater health and happiness of the entire community, the community of this forum will win every time.

Lastly, there are also some posters, who are generally great contributors and do not otherwise cause any problems, who sometimes feel it's their place to provoke or to otherwise 'mess with' that small minority of people described in the last paragraph, and while we possibly might understand why you might feel you WANT to do something like that, the truth is we can't actually tolerate that kind of behavior from you any more than we can tolerate the behavior from them. So if we feel that you are trying to provoke those other posters into doing or saying something that will get themselves into trouble, then we will start to view you as a problem as well, because of the same reason as before: The overall health of the forum comes first, and trying to stir the pot with someone like that doesn't help, it just makes it worse. Some will simply disagree with this philosophy, but if so, then so be it because ultimately we have to do what we think is best so long as it's up to us.

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All of the above is going to be subject to a case by case basis, but generally and broadly speaking, this should give everyone a pretty good idea of how things will typically / most often be handled.

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If this is done the wrong way, those comments will be deleted, and if it's a repeating problem then it may also receive an infraction as well.

Rule #3

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When you ignore a user, you will unfortunately still see some hints of their existence (nothing we can do about that), however, it does the following key things:

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Rule #4

Regarding infractions, currently they carry a value of one point each, and that point will expire in 31 days. If at any point a poster is carrying three points at the same time, that poster will be suspended until the oldest of the three points expires.

Rule #5

When you share or paste content or articles from another website, you must include the URL/link back to where you found it, who wrote it, and what website it's from. Said content will be removed if this doesn't happen.

An example:

If I copy and paste an article from the Indianapolis Star website, I would post something like this:

http://www.linktothearticlegoeshere.com/article
Title of the Article
Author's Name
Indianapolis Star

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The legal means of watching or listening to NBA games are NBA League Pass Broadband (for US, or for International; both cost money) and NBA Audio League Pass (which is free). Look for them on NBA.com.

Rule #7

Provocative statements in a signature, or as an avatar, or as the 'tagline' beneath a poster's username (where it says 'Member' or 'Administrator' by default, if it is not altered) are an unwanted distraction that will more than likely be removed on sight. There can be shades of gray to this, but in general this could be something political or religious that is likely going to provoke or upset people, or otherwise something that is mean-spirited at the expense of a poster, a group of people, or a population.

It may or may not go without saying, but this goes for threads and posts as well, particularly when it's not made on the off-topic board (Market Square).

We do make exceptions if we feel the content is both innocuous and unlikely to cause social problems on the forum (such as wishing someone a Merry Christmas or a Happy Easter), and we also also make exceptions if such topics come up with regards to a sports figure (such as the Lance Stephenson situation bringing up discussions of domestic abuse and the law, or when Jason Collins came out as gay and how that lead to some discussion about gay rights).

However, once the discussion seems to be more/mostly about the political issues instead of the sports figure or his specific situation, the thread is usually closed.

Rule #8

We prefer self-restraint and/or modesty when making jokes or off topic comments in a sports discussion thread. They can be fun, but sometimes they derail or distract from a topic, and we don't want to see that happen. If we feel it is a problem, we will either delete or move those posts from the thread.

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Rule #10

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Rule #11

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Bird, Walsh working to win back Pacers fans

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  • Bird, Walsh working to win back Pacers fans

    The sigh on the other end of the phone was long and heavy. Pacers' key dates * Tuesday: Training camp opens.Comment

    More...
    *beeps*

  • #2
    Re: Bird, Walsh working to win back Pacers fans

    http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dl...TS04/610010494


    By Mike Wells
    Mike.wells@indystar.com

    The sigh on the other end of the phone was long and heavy.

    Pacers' key dates
    • Tuesday: Training camp opens. Practices are closed to public.
    • Oct. 8: FanJam at Conseco Fieldhouse, 4-7 p.m., free to public.
    • Oct. 11: Preseason opener vs. New Jersey, 7 p.m.
    • Oct. 26: Final preseason game at Utah.
    • Nov. 1: Regular season opener at Charlotte.
    • Nov. 3: Home opener vs. New Orleans Hornets, 7 p.m.

    Indiana Pacers president Larry Bird wasn't lost for words. His comments might be brief, but they're usually to the point.

    Bird, who along with CEO Donnie Walsh put together the Pacers' roster, said what many of the team's fans have felt the past couple of seasons.

    "These have probably been my toughest years I had in the NBA," Bird said last week. "The last couple of years have been very trying. It's tough because you know you have a good team, and you know it's up to the team to play together and do the right things, and they don't."

    The Pacers went into the past two seasons as legitimate title contenders, only to have those aspirations erased by incidents that left embarrassing blemishes on the franchise.

    The players' behavior took a toll on what once was a loyal fan base. From each Ron Artest disturbance to Stephen Jackson repeatedly cursing at coach Rick Carlisle during games, their actions turned off fans.

    Those who came to Conseco Fieldhouse booed.

    More troubling, many just stayed away.

    The Pacers, who open training camp Tuesday, promised change. They brought in 11 new players. They've humbly reached out to the community by taking out newspaper ads and filming television commercials. Their faces are on billboards around the city promoting their new attitude: "It's up to us."

    "We're trying to acknowledge things are going to change and go back to the value system that we've had for most of the time in the last 15-20 years," Walsh said.

    Acknowledging a problem

    The Pacers averaged 16,180 fans -- their lowest total since 1997-98 -- during a disappointing 41-41 season. Walsh and Bird looked around the Fieldhouse during the playoffs and saw even more empty seats; they averaged 15,898 fans to three home playoff games.

    They didn't need to see another Peyton Manning-to-Marvin Harrison touchdown to know they weren't Indianapolis' favorite son anymore.
    "A tough team to embrace," is how former Pacers point guard and current New Jersey Nets television analyst Mark Jackson explained the poor attendance during the playoffs.

    "I felt when we ended the season, when we said we were going to make changes, they were relative to the smaller crowds and people booing, those types of things," Walsh said. "That was an acknowledgment something had to change because we hadn't had that before."

    Wins and losses play a significant role in fan support, but a likeable team is just as important. That's why Walsh and Bird targeted players with good character to help unify a divided locker room.

    They brought back noted hard worker Al Harrington. They acquired Darrell Armstrong, a 12-year veteran just months removed from playing in the NBA Finals, to provide leadership. They added athleticism, hoping an up-tempo offense breeds more excitement, more victories.

    They also brought back the player fans loved to boo and wanted to see traded, though they did so with an asterisk. Stephen Jackson has promised the Pacers he's not the same moody malcontent who questioned everyone from game officials to Carlisle last season.

    "The reason I believe he'll be different is because he approached me and said he spent the summer evaluating himself," Walsh said. "He said he knew he had to change some of the things he's done in the past and he's determined to do that."

    'A good group of guys'

    Indianapolis once reached out to save the franchise, holding a telethon in 1977 to raise money to keep the Pacers in town.

    This summer, the organization reached out to fans while sharing their message of rebirth.

    The Pacers staged parties for season-ticket holders. Bird reportedly invited more than 250 guests, including those on the fence about renewing their season tickets, to his 350-acre estate in August where they could enjoy the team president's hospitality and ask questions about the direction of the franchise. Bird's party brought in more than $150,000 in new season-ticket sales, according to the Street and Smith's Sports Business Journal.

    Walsh declined to discuss the number of season tickets they've renewed or added.

    "(Season-ticket sales have) picked up in the past month or so and I think we're getting back to where we should be," he said. "We know that this is a world where you have to go out and prove yourself. That isn't always wins and losses. It comes from how the team plays, the effort they give and what type of team you put on the floor.

    "I'm really looking forward to the city getting to know these players individually. I think we've got a good group of guys here."

    Some players walked into camp last year already upset over contracts and potential playing time, intangibles that carried over to the regular season. The current players have formed their own version of the "Get Along Gang."

    "We've been together off the court more in the past month than we have in the past two years," forward Jermaine O'Neal said. "We've gotten together to watch football. We've had cookouts and gone bowling. We know that if we don't like each other, the business can't work to its best.

    "We have put this city through a lot the past couple of years. We can come in with a clean slate and not think about the last few years."

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Bird, Walsh working to win back Pacers fans

      We know that if we don't like each other, the business can't work to its best.
      I'm glad they finally figured that out. No more of this "we don't have to like each other, we just have to respect each other" and then expecting the chemistry not to be an issue crap. It's not that you love everybody on the team, but you have to work at liking each other to give the team a positive environment.

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Bird, Walsh working to win back Pacers fans

        I'm very happy to hear all of this. I'm also happy it's nearly time for fans to evaluate if this offseason will produce the desired results. Bring on training camp and the season.
        Take me out to the black, tell 'em I ain't coming back. Burn the land and boil the sea, you can't take the sky from me.

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Bird, Walsh working to win back Pacers fans

          Originally posted by Hicks View Post


          They also brought back the player fans loved to boo and wanted to see traded, though they did so with an asterisk. Stephen Jackson has promised the Pacers he's not the same moody malcontent who questioned everyone from game officials to Carlisle last season.

          "The reason I believe he'll be different is because he approached me and said he spent the summer evaluating himself," Walsh said. "He said he knew he had to change some of the things he's done in the past and he's determined to do that."

          That begs the question, if Jackson had not approached DW and said the things he did say, would Jackson be elsewhere right now

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Bird, Walsh working to win back Pacers fans

            I think things will be different. How much? Who knows, Our off season certainly couldn't make things worse. We were 41-41 and while we lost talent we certainly have quite the influx of new talent. We only gave up 2 starters AJ and Peja. We will miss Pejas outside shooting but if were going to play uptempo it may not be that big a loss. It remaons to be seen whether Williams and White will get significant minutes. We know Als going to start and Tins will be great if he can stay healthy. We could win anywhere from 41 to 61 games.

            Buck says:
            That begs the question, if Jackson had not approached DW and said the things he did say, would Jackson be elsewhere right now
            Didn't *see rules*Ron say the same thing a year ago? I guess it remains to be seen. Once the officials know your a crier do you where that label for your career?
            "He wanted to get to that money time. Time when the hardware was on the table. That's when Roger was going to show up. So all we needed to do was stay close"
            Darnell Hillman (Speaking of former teammate Roger Brown)

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Bird, Walsh working to win back Pacers fans

              Winning cures all, but this article says I lot of things I enjoy hearing.

              UB, I am still not sure we did not try to shop him, but simply could not find any takers.

              I guess only time will tell, but I'll tell you one thing. I think it would be pretty bad- to get to chill out in Larry Birds crib.

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Bird, Walsh working to win back Pacers fans

                "We've been together off the court more in the past month than we have in the past two years," forward Jermaine O'Neal said. "We've gotten together to watch football. We've had cookouts and gone bowling. We know that if we don't like each other, the business can't work to its best.
                Haven't we heard this before. Remember JO chirping about him and Ron being BFF?
                Come to the Dark Side -- There's cookies!

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Bird, Walsh working to win back Pacers fans

                  Originally posted by Unclebuck View Post
                  That begs the question, if Jackson had not approached DW and said the things he did say, would Jackson be elsewhere right now
                  I think if we'd gotten even a half way decent offer for him he'd be gone, no matter what his change of heart.
                  MY guess is they couldn't GIVE him away.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Bird, Walsh working to win back Pacers fans

                    "Dean Wermer, could you find it in your heart to give us just one more chance?"

                    “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” - Winston Churchill

                    “If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to serve as a horrible warning.” - Catherine Aird

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Bird, Walsh working to win back Pacers fans

                      Originally posted by Los Angeles View Post
                      "Dean Wermer, could you find it in your heart to give us just one more chance?"

                      Super Bowl XLI Champions
                      2000 Eastern Conference Champions




                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Bird, Walsh working to win back Pacers fans

                        Originally posted by Unclebuck View Post
                        That begs the question, if Jackson had not approached DW and said the things he did say, would Jackson be elsewhere right now
                        And then you start to think, if Jackson was somewhere else, who would be here?
                        I think KP is a Captain Planet fan. He believes that the collective will of five decent starters can outweigh the power of top-level talent. Too bad Herb won't cut the check for their Planeteer rings.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Bird, Walsh working to win back Pacers fans

                          Originally posted by indyman37 View Post
                          And then you start to think, if Jackson was somewhere else, who would be here?
                          This is just more tired talk. He needs to show it on the floor. I'll back him 100% if he stops acting like a Jack.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: Bird, Walsh working to win back Pacers fans

                            I finally read something from Wells I liked.

                            The Pacers are working hard to do everything possible to build a respectable franchise, and that's awesome. The guys suiting up just need to figure out what playing pro ball means to them individually, and use that as inspiration to win a championship. This team is very close, imo. I like the guys we've got, but we'll see.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: Bird, Walsh working to win back Pacers fans

                              Originally posted by Los Angeles View Post
                              "Dean Wermer, could you find it in your heart to give us just one more chance?"

                              Hey Magic Rat,

                              We have a job for you.

                              Comment

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