Blog seeks new niche

By Vince Alexander
     Well, I have a conundrum. My sons, Colin and Gavin, no longer attend North Central High School, so the blog name "PanthersSports" no longer applies. Although I have enjoyed covering North Central sports and watching my sons play for the Panthers, I have to change this blogs name.
     What's my next step for this blog? I'd appreciate your input.
     Here's what I'm thinking:
     How about covering the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference events?
     I teach in Lawrence Township, so how about focusing on Lawrence Central and Lawrence North?
     How about just focusing on amateur sports, with ocassional columns on my favorite topics like Cubs, Bears, or anything that ticks me off. By the way, a Cubs column will be coming soon.
     Of course, I have to keep my camera in good working condition because I do enjoy taking the photographs of the competitors in the Indianapolis area. I do it because it benefits the athletes and their families who may not be able to attend a particular sporting event.
     What do you think?

Pacers pick insults a basketball fan

     By Vince Alexander

     I watched the NBA draft last night. Now I know why I’ve never been an Indiana Pacers fan. 

     For the record, the Chicago Bulls is my team. But I’m a lifelong Hoosier, having lived in places like Terre Haute, Vincennes, Fort Wayne, Marion, and now Indianapolis.  From my seat, Indiana is the basketball capitol of the world, specializing in shooters. I know grandpa’s that can still knock down open three-pointers.

     As for the Pacers – they just missed an uncontested layup and insulted my basketball IQ – again – by drafting Miles Plumlee of Duke with the 26^th pick in the first round. Plumlee averaged 6.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 20.5 minutes per game OFF THE BENCH.
     For the novice basketball fans out there, it means that when Duke was blowing out a team, Plumlee was put in the game during “garbage time” and scored three baskets. In a tall man’s sport, this 7-footer could have been picked up by the Pacers as a free agent.  I’m sure he’s a smart, nice guy who tries hard, but he’s not a no. 1 pick in the Developmental League-- let alone the NBA.
     In the Pacer’s defense, they needed a big man to back-up and give them protection for when -- or if something happened to starting center Roy Hibbard. But they passed on Perry Jones III of Baylor, perhaps because of concerns about Jones’ knee. But looking at pictures in my local newspaper, Plumlee is wearing a knee brace in two pictures.  Ask any savvy Hoosier basketball fan, and he will take a sore kneed Jones (13.5 ppg, 7.6 rpg) over a big stiff like Plumlee -- any day.
     Let’s compare the Pacers to the Bulls. The Bulls needed a point guard because All-Star Derek Rose is injured, so they picked a Hoosier, Pike High School’s Marquis Teague, a starter from the national championship Kentucky team. The Bulls drafted Teague in the first round -- three picks after Plumlee.
     I’ll be watching Teague on WGN playing point guard for my Bulls, while Pacers fans will be watching Plumlee sitting the bench in his warm-ups.
     And if I win a free Pacers ticket, I’ll give it away or throw it in the trash.
     Why? It’s because the Pacers continue to insult my basketball intelligence by drafting guys like Plumlee.