Herb Simon to be Chairman/CEO of Pacers

[Unclebuck]

Just received an e-mail from the Pacers.



Pacers Sports & Entertainment announced Wednesday that Herbert Simon, co-owner of the Pacers with his brother Melvin for the past 25 years, will serve as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Pacers Sports & Entertainment (PS&E) effective immediately.

"I am committed to returning this team to its proud winning tradition as well as strengthening the connection of the entire organization to the community," said Simon. "Indianapolis and Indiana are vitally important to the Simon family and I realize how important the Pacers are to the city and state. I'm passionate to do whatever I can to enhance the franchise on the court and in the community."

As previously announced, Larry Bird is the President of Basketball Operations for the Indiana Pacers. It was announced on Wednesday that Jim Morris will assume the role of President of PS&E. Morris will oversee the business operations for the Pacers, Indiana Fever and Conseco Fieldhouse.

"I'll rely on these two strong leaders on a day-to-day basis," Simon said, adding that both will report directly to him.

Additionally, Rick Fuson has been elevated to Chief Operating Officer of PS&E. "We have a strong management team in place, and we look forward to the future," concluded Simon

[Speed]

Re: Herb Simon to be Chairman/CEO of Pacers

Whats this mean?

Is Fuson the guy who used to work for the Star?

I must have missed this too, who is Jim Morris?

Maybe it means the buck stop here, with Herb.

[Unclebuck]

Re: Herb Simon to be Chairman/CEO of Pacers

Whats this mean?

Is Fuson the guy who used to work for the Star?

I must have missed this too, who is Jim Morris?

Maybe it means the buck stop here, with Herb.

No Fuson isn't the guy who worked for the Star - that was Wayne Fuson. Rick Fuson I think has been in charge of security for several seasons - I think

I think it means Herb Simon is taking a more hands on approach

[Rajah Brown]

Re: Herb Simon to be Chairman/CEO of Pacers

Press con on 1070TheFan going on right now. Some dude names Miller
(no, nor Reg) is the new community PR liason or similar.

[Shade]

Re: Herb Simon to be Chairman/CEO of Pacers - press conference right now

So, then, Herb is taking over Donnie's old position?

[Unclebuck]

Re: Herb Simon to be Chairman/CEO of Pacers - press conference right now

So, then, Herb is taking over Donnie's old position?

Yes. Sounds like they will be trying everything to change the image of the franchise

[Rajah Brown]

Re: Herb Simon to be Chairman/CEO of Pacers - press conference right now

Some media nitwit asked LB about J.O. and got the stock response.
He then asked Herb who responded, ' if J.O. is healthy, he'll be a
BIG part of this team'.

I hope he was just deflecting the question with a superficially
upbeat, rhetorical reply.

[Speed]

Re: Herb Simon to be Chairman/CEO of Pacers - press conference right now

Some media nitwit asked LB about J.O. and got the stock response.
He then asked Herb who responded, ' if J.O. is healthy, he'll be a
BIG part of this team'.

I hope he was just deflecting the question with a superficially
upbeat, rhetorical reply.

Everyone in the franchise needs to say that or you gonna get Darius Miles for JO straight up calls, if it sounds like a fire sale. It's really the only response they need to give. I'm glad Bird didn't say more to weaken his already bad position at the trade table.

[Rajah Brown]

Re: Herb Simon to be Chairman/CEO of Pacers

Speed-

Understood. Just don't want Herb anywhere near the player
personnel, decision-making process. Presumably, he knows
better than the start 'Jerry Jones-ing' things up in that
area.

[Unclebuck]

Re: Herb Simon to be Chairman/CEO of Pacers

I must have missed this too, who is Jim Morris?

He's on AM 1070 right now

His primary function will be to reconnect the fans to the Pacers team. "We've been embrassed by a few incidents and will rid the team of those type things" "Players will know what the standards are". "If there is a choice between character or talent, we'll take character"

Does seem like a new direction

[McKeyFan]

Re: Herb Simon to be Chairman/CEO of Pacers

He's on AM 1070 right now

His primary function will be to reconnect the fans to the Pacers team. "We've been embrassed by a few incidents and will rid the team of those type things" "Players will know what the standards are". "If there is a choice between character or talent, we'll take character"

Does seem like a new direction

Words, words.

I'm looking forward to seeing some action behind them.

[Unclebuck]

Re: Herb Simon to be Chairman/CEO of Pacers

Words, words.

I'm looking forward to seeing some action behind them.

Yes, but no one has ever put it so bluntly before

[DisplacedKnick]

Re: Herb Simon to be Chairman/CEO of Pacers

Uh-oh. Surely Herb won't be THAT bad but whenever I see an owner taking a hands-on approach I think of the one, the only, Mr James Dolan.

[Rajah Brown]

Re: Herb Simon to be Chairman/CEO of Pacers

Herb is on AM-1070 w/ White and Kravitz at 4:00.

[Unclebuck]

Re: Herb Simon to be Chairman/CEO of Pacers

This says that Morris is taking over Donnie's position.

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080416/SPORTS04/80416049/1088&template=printart

Jim Morris to succeed Walsh with Pacers

By Mike Wells
mike.wells@indystar.com

Longtime Indianapolis civic leader Jim Morris, who joined the Indiana Pacers last spring as a special advisor, was named president of the team today as part of a sweeping management overhaul.

Morris succeeds the departed Donnie Walsh as head of Pacers Sports & Entertainment. The team also said that co-owner Herbert Simon will serve as the chairman and chief executive officer. Larry Bird remains as president of basketball operations.

"Before, I was a 'hands-on, hands- off' owner. And now I'm going to be a 'hands-on. hands-on' owner," Simon, who has owned the Pacers with his brother Melvin for the past 25 years, told reporters at a Conseco Fieldhouse news conference.

"I'll be participating with the two gentlemen (Bird and Morris) to relook at the franchise from top to bottom. To make us more responsive basketball-wise. More responsive to our fans and our sponsors. I'm getting energized myself over this."

Morris most recently was head of the World Food Program for five years, and has also run the Indianapolis Water Co. and Lilly Endowment, among the state’s largest foundations.

The management makeover follows disappointments both on and off the court – notably, the string of player escapades at local nightclubs that have included fights and gunplay.

Morris, in an article by Star columnist John Ketzenberger early last June, said he wanted to “help the community understand the importance of the Pacers to the city and the state.”

The former aide to Mayor Dick Lugar and season ticket-holder is a friend of the Simons who has worked with them in other civic causes, including Gleaners Food Bank, Riley Hospital for Children and the Boy Scouts.

"This is a great opportunity to do something that's fun and interesting," Morris said at the time. "It gives me freedom to be creative."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------