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Vote of confidence: The Simons

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  • #16
    Re: Vote of confidence: The Simons

    Peck, I believe if Walsh and or Bird had gone to the Simons and said that Brad Miller was needed and the price to keep him was worth it - the Simons would have paid the luxury tax to keep him.

    Comment


    • #17
      Re: Vote of confidence: The Simons

      Herb and Mel? YES!!



      I do worry that the family might become involved someday and how that would impact the franchise.
      Ever notice how friendly folks are at a shootin' range??.

      Comment


      • #18
        Re: Vote of confidence: The Simons

        Originally posted by DisplacedKnick View Post
        A tepid yes.

        They've been overly loyal to DW and that's a mistake right now IMO. OTOH they've been very loyal to Indy - maybe overly so there too. Plus they don't interfere too much with basketball decisions - they know they build malls and shopping centers, not basketball teams.

        And if you're going to be "overly" something I'd prefer people who are overly loyal to people who are overly fickle.

        Unless you're Jim Dolan who I wish would just haul Isiah off to an island somewhere and make him his butt-monkey already.
        While I understand everyone willing to fall on their swords for the Simons you have to ask how far will they let the team sink before taking action... or will they let it sink so far that they reach a point where they think the only thing left to do is move or sell the franchise to another city?

        As I've said, if the Simons think this team is being operated properly, and if things don't change (which so far they haven't been), then how can they believe anything other than Indy won't support NBA basketball any longer? They can blame the city government... blame the loss of control of the local media... blame the resurgence of IU and Purdue (along with recent Butler successes)... blame the city and state's love affair with the Colts and growing reputation as an NFL town... the loss of interest in basketball at the grassroots level since the inception of class basketball.... etc...

        There's just a lot of places they can put the blame if they don't want to look into the mirror.

        As said in this thread, the Simons aren't basketball people. They don't appear to have the overwhelming desire to see this team win a championship which has allowed the team to operate with the bar too low for too many years. It's an angle of this whole thing that has allowed Walsh to stay on as long as he has.

        Just as it's hard for many players to step away from the game even after it's passed them by, I'm sure it's hard for Walsh. Particularly when the media and fans have given him a pass for so long based on his moves 15-20 years ago.

        But how long can you keep giving all these people a pass for being loyal to each other? At what point does someone have to start thinking about being loyal to the fans and city... or even loyal to the NBA and not allowing a franchise to flounder like this and lose fans right and left?

        If the people you've hired to operate the team can't fix it, won't fix it, or move so slow via bad moves and no moves that things are snowballing, how long can you sit back and watch before needing to step in the forefront and make a bold move before it's too late?

        I think the Simons have allowed a snowball to start building whose end result will be the Pacers leaving Indianapolis. Something has to change to stop that snowball.

        -Bball
        Nuntius was right for a while. I was wrong for a while. But ultimately I was right and Frank Vogel has been let go.

        ------

        "A player who makes a team great is more valuable than a great player. Losing yourself in the group, for the good of the group, that’s teamwork."

        -John Wooden

        Comment


        • #19
          Re: Vote of confidence: The Simons

          Well I see that we are not interested in playing by the rules here.

          Yes yes we all know the Simons saved the city there is no doubting that, however that does not answer the question of can they get us out of this mess currently.

          Also Hicks, I know about the whole Brad thing. I just used that as an example. Remember I was the one who canceled my tickets until I actually heard Herb say he would have paid the luxuary tax if Donnie thought he should have.


          Basketball isn't played with computers, spreadsheets, and simulations. ChicagoJ 4/21/13

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          • #20
            Re: Vote of confidence: The Simons

            Originally posted by Peck View Post
            Well I see that we are not interested in playing by the rules here.

            Yes yes we all know the Simons saved the city there is no doubting that, however that does not answer the question of can they get us out of this mess currently.

            Also Hicks, I know about the whole Brad thing. I just used that as an example. Remember I was the one who canceled my tickets until I actually heard Herb say he would have paid the luxuary tax if Donnie thought he should have.
            I'm trying to stick to the rules....

            The Simons can only get us out of this mess now by doing something much differently than they've done in the past. I don't have a high level of confidence that they're willing to do that. IF they continue to hand out votes of confidence to those below them, then we're in trouble. Past history says they will continue to allow those under them to run the franchise in the wrong direction.

            It's not been that long ago that one of the Simons was quoted as saying he didn't want to own a team that didn't involve Donnie Walsh (or something similar to that). That's just not a comforting feeling that we're about to rearrange the team goals, develop a new vision for the franchise, and become a player in the 21st century NBA.

            -Bball
            Nuntius was right for a while. I was wrong for a while. But ultimately I was right and Frank Vogel has been let go.

            ------

            "A player who makes a team great is more valuable than a great player. Losing yourself in the group, for the good of the group, that’s teamwork."

            -John Wooden

            Comment


            • #21
              Re: Vote of confidence: The Simons

              Originally posted by Bball View Post
              I'm trying to stick to the rules....

              The Simons can only get us out of this mess now by doing something much differently than they've done in the past. I don't have a high level of confidence that they're willing to do that. IF they continue to hand out votes of confidence to those below them, then we're in trouble. Past history says they will continue to allow those under them to run the franchise in the wrong direction.

              It's not been that long ago that one of the Simons was quoted as saying he didn't want to own a team that didn't involve Donnie Walsh (or something similar to that). That's just not a comforting feeling that we're about to rearrange the team goals, develop a new vision for the franchise, and become a player in the 21st century NBA.

              -Bball
              I wasn't talking about you.


              Basketball isn't played with computers, spreadsheets, and simulations. ChicagoJ 4/21/13

              Comment


              • #22
                Re: Vote of confidence: The Simons

                Originally posted by Peck View Post
                I wasn't talking about you.


                WHAT??? Me then?????



                Peck...your original assertion is flawed, it doesn't all end here "at the top".

                There is one other....Der Furher....Da Commish....David Stern. Is the Pacer plight tied to the plight of the NBA? Has DS become so enamored with his vision of a Universal NBA that he has let the homeland fall to ruin? I leave it to you to pose that as another question in another thread.
                Last edited by indygeezer; 03-04-2008, 01:24 PM.
                Ever notice how friendly folks are at a shootin' range??.

                Comment


                • #23
                  Re: Vote of confidence: The Simons

                  Originally posted by Peck View Post
                  Well I see that we are not interested in playing by the rules here.

                  Yes yes we all know the Simons saved the city there is no doubting that, however that does not answer the question of can they get us out of this mess currently.

                  Also Hicks, I know about the whole Brad thing. I just used that as an example. Remember I was the one who canceled my tickets until I actually heard Herb say he would have paid the luxuary tax if Donnie thought he should have.
                  I guess I didn't answer your question - yes they can get us out of this mess -If they don't, and sell the team it will be moved.

                  Comment


                  • #24
                    Re: Vote of confidence: The Simons

                    I am confident that they want whats best for the team and the city. I am not 100% sure they know how to do that. That is where management comes in and ownership leaves.

                    I would rather have them, then a Cuban. At some point you have to let the people do their job, and the Simons allow that.

                    So I say yes. Their past experience has shown this.

                    Comment


                    • #25
                      Re: Vote of confidence: The Simons

                      Why should Herb and Mel be pulling us out of anything? That's what they hire people to do. I doubt they confer with Slick or JOB about diminishing mall sales. Hell, if you can't depend on the people you hire what's the point?

                      Peck, you can't discount the civic aspect of this. They knew they weren't basketball people but they made a major commitment.

                      I'm sorry, but I don't point the finger at the Simons. I don't point the finger at Bird, I don't point the finger at Walsh. Moves were made that, on paper, were terrific for this franchise. Unfortunately, we had players who diminished their own stock quicker than Enron tying the hands of what could - and more importantly COULD NOT be done.

                      This has been a proud, respectable franchise that has been victimized by the likes of Artest, Tinsley, Williams, Harrison, Jackson none of whom gave a **** about TPTB, the coach, the fans, the city. And I'm not above throwing our paper leader under that same bus.

                      Bball - I disagree with your assessment of the post brawl reaction of the Simons. I think they were livid and vociferous in their protest.

                      Can the Simons deliver us from this destructive path? Who knows? I say yes. The question is who else is going to do it? That's right - nobody - at least not in this city.

                      And last but not least, I'm not going to criticize an owner for making attempts to be fiscally responsible. I'm still on the fence about Brad. He was way overpaid on the market. But then, on the other side, we were too quick with Bender, too quick with Tinsley and paying franchise money to a non-franchise player.

                      Rewards and risks are a two-way street and we have just had too many players wear the mask until payday before revealing themselves.
                      The best exercise of the human heart is reaching down and picking someone else up.

                      Comment


                      • #26
                        Re: Vote of confidence: The Simons

                        Uncle Buck

                        I have to disagree with you on one point.

                        If the Simon's sell the team I'm pretty sure they will make sure it remains in Indy.

                        I don't see the Simon's stabbing this city in the back like that. Not after all they have done for Indy.

                        I'll stick my answer to Peck's question too.

                        I don't think the Simons have it in them to turn this thing around. Its not in their MO. They would have to take some bold steps & let some people go. Walsh might go on his own, Bird will have to be pushed & I don't see any of the Simon's doing that.

                        Comment


                        • #27
                          Re: Vote of confidence: The Simons

                          Originally posted by Jose Slaughter View Post
                          Uncle Buck

                          I have to disagree with you on one point.

                          If the Simon's sell the team I'm pretty sure they will make sure it remains in Indy.

                          I don't see the Simon's stabbing this city in the back like that. Not after all they have done for Indy.

                          I'll stick my answer to Peck's question too.

                          I don't think the Simons have it in them to turn this thing around. Its not in their MO. They would have to take some bold steps & let some people go. Walsh might go on his own, Bird will have to be pushed & I don't see any of the Simon's doing that.

                          But what if the Pacers stay in the Simon family and things continue like they are right now - I believe the younger Simons will look to sell the team and in that scenerio, it is more likely than not for the Pacers to leave Indianapolis. My guess is in about 3 years Seattle will make a very hard push for a team.

                          Comment


                          • #28
                            Re: Vote of confidence: The Simons

                            It pains me to say it but I agree with UB about what might happen when the younger Simons take over the team.

                            I'd like to have confidence in Mel and Herb, but IMO they need to get rid of Larry and Donnie. I just don't think they'll have the balls to do it.

                            Comment


                            • #29
                              Re: Vote of confidence: The Simons

                              I agree with what ABA is saying.

                              As far as the whole Brad thing really can't blame them for not wanting to pay the luxury tax. The Pacers already had enough money tied up into players and considering the fact that we won 61 games with Jeff Foster as our center and damn near made the finals I really don't think that Brad was worth the money for the Pacers.

                              Anyways lets face it this is probably the lowest point in the franchise history since the Simions became owners. I don't think they have ever had to deal with a situation this badly before. As ABA pointed out it's really the players fault.

                              As far as the Simions getting rid of Larry/Donnie I don't think so. Especially Donnie. All the success Donnie has had and then you fire him now? Who the hell is going to want to work for the Pacers if they did that? They are running a business here and they don't want a reputation of treating employees badly.

                              Comment


                              • #30
                                Re: Vote of confidence: The Simons

                                It strikes me that the Simons have been fairly hands off. However, they've proven to be very astute businessmen and have continued to see their company prosper despite a lot of change in the retail industry. That gives me confidence that they certainly have the capability to turn things around.

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