Who amongst us did not survive our five years of hell?

[McKeyFan]

This is a great day to be a Pacer fan.

We have locked up fifth place in the entire league. We have the third seed in the East. We have enjoyed a great winning season. We are poised to enter the second round of the playoffs, maybe further.

I would not ridicule anyone for not persevering through the last five years of hell known as Pacerdom. Whether the brawl, five losing seasons, or the madness of JOB, it has been an unmitigated disaster.

So . . . who of our faithful Pacers Digest members did not weather the storm? I can list two:

Twes and Putnam.

Two excellent contributors whose participation I miss very much.

But, again, I can fault no one for dropping off in the midst of this wilderness. However, I can indeed give major props to every Pacer fan and all the members of this board who have stuck it out through the tough times. I salute you all.

[Roaming Gnome]

Re: Who amongst us did not survive our five years of hell?

Is it too early to read last rights on our fellow admin Chicago J?

[Indra]

Re: Who amongst us did not survive our five years of hell?

The funny thing about it is that I was a HUGE Pacers fan during the 94-98 run, slowly tapered off and I wasn't quite as active as a fan during the Finals years and the following successes, but became a very big fan AFTER the brawl and the ensuing crap-fest. I guess it's the Cubs fan in me that loves to root for the underdog, and the Pacers were ultimate underdogs the past few years. But I'm LOVING the success now!

[ndcoltsnpacers]

Re: Who amongst us did not survive our five years of hell?

The funny thing about it is that I was a HUGE Pacers fan during the 94-98 run, slowly tapered off and I wasn't quite as active as a fan during the Finals years and the following successes, but became a very big fan AFTER the brawl and the ensuing crap-fest. I guess it's the Cubs fan in me that loves to root for the underdog, and the Pacers were ultimate underdogs the past few years. But I'm LOVING the success now!

I know a guy who is similar to that. Was a Bulls fan back in the day and actually started liking the Pacers in the past 5 years.

[Will Galen]

Re: Who amongst us did not survive our five years of hell?

Didn't Grace drop the Pacers for Milwaukee? That would be 4 counting Chicago J.

[Sollozzo]

Re: Who amongst us did not survive our five years of hell?

Is it too early to read last rights on our fellow admin Chicago J?

I definitely miss his contributions. He peaked in a couple times last year and I think he even mentioned that he came down to Indy for game 4 against Chicago. I was surprised he didn't pop in a couple times this year. Even though he hated Bird the player, he always gave Bird a fair amount of credit as a GM from 08 on. He didn't seem that depressed about the team, I just think he is a really busy guy.

And you're right, McKeyfan. Everyone who has stuck with the team deserves a salute. 2005-2010 were miserable seasons and yet this still remained one of the best sports forums on the internet. The people who stuck with the team are the the ones who are getting the most joy out of this season.

[Romsey31]

Re: Who amongst us did not survive our five years of hell?

Its great, being the only Pacer fan in this side of the world i get ALOT of heat, but funny enough the only thing they can tell me now is ..you guys are never on cable. Winning is fun, it solves everything. I never post much but I'm always here lurking, I'm extremely excited! Go Pacers

btw West is quickly becoming my fav pacer. He's a baddddd man!

[Romsey31]

Re: Who amongst us did not survive our five years of hell?

BTW i'll be going to orlando to catch a game, havent decided which one as yet, but any of you guys making the trip?

[duke dynamite]

Re: Who amongst us did not survive our five years of hell?

I resented the drive to and from the Fieldhouse starting two seasons ago. It was more like, "Ugh, time to drive up to Indy for the game."

This year (and the end of last) it was more along the lines of, "OMFG TIME TO DRIVE TO INDY FOR THE GAME!"

It's been really hard. Especially with the commute I take. (Not to downplay anyone else for that matter.) But when gas is high and your return of investment on your entertainment dollar is low, it wears on you. Not to mention the countless times I got made fun of while I was in college because how bad we were, and the thug image the team had portrayed.

During the lockout I actually was at a point in my mind where I humored the idea of a complete loss for the season. Even after our playoff series against the Bulls. Even after trading for George Hill. Yeah, I would've been perfectly happy without a season this year. It wasn't until about 12 games in that I was wrong.

And again, I'm not trying to downplay anyone else's fandom here. For me it was just like I couldn't stop sticking my finger in the light socket. I just hoped at the beginning of each season we would somehow be better than we were the season before. As it turns out eventually it will happen.

Granted the Pacers are trivial in the grand scheme of things for a lot of people. Me? not so much. I just can't stay away. And for that, I appreciate the bad years. I appreciate Jim O'Brien (to an extent) because without those bad years and him, none of this would be possible.

I would like to take a quick moment to thank everyone who I've met over the years for sticking with the team as well. It takes patience and dedication like no other to be the kind of folks you are. Thank you, guys.

[Sandman21]

Re: Who amongst us did not survive our five years of hell?

In retrospect, it's scary just how close I came to walking away in the dark days of JoB and Troy Murphy.

Trading that bum for Collison was like taking a defibrillator to my fandom. Then Vogel kicked it in the rear end!

[Mac_Daddy]

Re: Who amongst us did not survive our five years of hell?

I reverted to lurking for the last few years. Now that I'm graduated and employed, I seem to have lots of free time to lollygag about the internet so I've tried posting here a bit more than never.

[ECKrueger]

Re: Who amongst us did not survive our five years of hell?

Definitely just lurked during that time. Didn't even watch games half the time, just came here after and looked at the score. It was not worth watching it on some crappy internet stream on a computer.

Feels good now.

[pizza guy]

Re: Who amongst us did not survive our five years of hell?

I reverted to lurking for the last few years. Now that I'm graduated and employed, I seem to have lots of free time to lollygag about the internet so I've tried posting here a bit more than never.

I followed a similar path. I joined PD in November of 04, and quickly became as addicted to the board as I was the game. But, in 06 I got married and in 07 my wife & I had our first baby. As this coincided with some really bad basketball, I became more of a lurker than poster, and more of a box score watcher than game addict.

Over the last couple years, my life has changed and the Pacers have changed. In the last couple years, I have come back to posting more like I did years ago. And for that, you all are welcome.

We may have lost some, but that's ok, we gained some too.

[vnzla81]

Re: Who amongst us did not survive our five years of hell?

I can tell you that I was ready to forget about the Pacers completely two seasons ago, it was just to horrible to deal with and like Duke my coworkers would make fun of me when I talked to them about the Pacers, the funny part is that now they are the ones talking to me about the Pacers and how good the team is

[iogyhufi]

Re: Who amongst us did not survive our five years of hell?

I may be a n00b as far as membership goes, but I've read here for longer and I feel I can reach this conclusion: You guys rock. Out loud. Be proud for sticking it out through everything this franchise has been through. From the Brawl to Murphleavy to JO'B, this franchise has suffered enough. Now the Pacers are getting theirs, and y'all can tell your kids this: "We were there to see the return of the Pacers."