Fieldhouse Files: Scott Agness on the Indiana Pacers

NBA executives were busy this week in the final days leading up the Trade Deadline at 3:00 p.m. ET on Thursday. Most teams remained out of it, including the Pacers (28-25). They decided their best option was to not pull the trigger on any trade.

In this episode of the Vigilant Sports Pacers Podcast, I give you my take on what did — and didn’t — go down before the deadline. Plus, I talk with one member of the Pacers’ four-headed monster: Peter Dinwiddie, Vice President of Basketball Operations.

Dinwiddie, a Cathedral High School graduate, has a law degree from New England Law and has been with the Pacers for a decade.

I also talk with former Nets assistant GM Bobby Marks, who’s now with The Vertical.

Subscribe to the Pacers Podcast on iTunes or on Stitcher.

Topics Discussed:

* Why the Trade Deadline was quiet

* Why we hear so little about the Pacers trade interest

* Lance Stephenson being moved to Memphis

* What the Trade Deadline is like for NBA execs

* How the St. Vincent Center will help the team

* What’s in store during free agency come July

ESPN will air a 30 for 30 short on the “Save the Pacers” telethon held in 1977. They were out millions of dollars and needed money from folks in Indianapolis to keep the franchise afloat, and in town.

In turn, it was incredibly important to the development of downtown Indianapolis and the sports landscape in the city.

Indianapolis filmmaker Michael Husain was compelled to tell the story and so he pitched the idea to ESPN, who then green-lit the project.

Husain joined me in studio ahead of its consumption by sports fans. The 15-minute short will be posted online Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 10 a.m. ET, and it will then air nationally on ESPN during the 6:00 p.m. ET edition of SportsCenter on Feb. 19.

Subscribe to the Pacers Podcast on iTunes or on Stitcher.

Topics Discussed:

* Why he wanted to share the story of the “Save the Pacers” telethon

* The pitch to ESPN

* The process of producing a short from concept to air

* How he prefers to interview subjects

* The impact of Slick and Nancy Leonard

* The role of a director

* How he’ll watch and celebrate its first appearance on ESPN

Bill York is a staple around Indianapolis sports teams. When there’s a home game, Bill York is sure to be there working.

He began working the stats room at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1957 and has been with the Pacers since the beginning (1967). He says that he even helped unload the Mayflower trucks with the Colts moved to town in 1984.

Sports reporters in Indianapolis media know York, who typically can be seen with his Colts Super Bowl ring on, his Fever WNBA Championship ring, and one (of three) from the ABA Pacers.

At a westside breakfast spot in Indianapolis, we went back in time as York shared stories of the past and how things are different today.

Subscribe to the Pacers Podcast on iTunes or on Stitcher.

Topics Discussed:

* Growing up in Bunker Hill and being a basketball fanatic

* Why he moved to Indianapolis and how he got hired on at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

* The size of his room to work at Pacers home games, and what it used to be

* How fans embraced the Pacers when the ABA was first formed

* Changes in stats and media today

* The impact of Slick and Nancy Leonard

Nate Taylor is a fresh voice now covering the Indiana Pacers. His first day with the Indianapolis Star was in September at Pacers training camp.

Taylor, a graduate of the University of Central Missouri, previously was a do-it-all journalist for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. He is married and has an infant son, Hayden.

This week on the Vigilant Sports Pacers Podcast, I talk with Taylor, who offers a fresh perspective on the Pacers with the 2015-16 season halfway over.

The Pacers are 22-19, on pace to finish with a 44-18 record, good for seventh in the Eastern Conference.

Subscribe to the Pacers Podcast on iTunes or on Stitcher.

Topics Discussed:

* Nate’s passion for journalism and reporting

* His impressions of the organization

* How the team’s November success may have been a bad thing

* His interview with Pacers President Larry Bird

* Picking one: Small ball or a traditional lineup

* How the Pacers have squandered at least six lossees

* The rookies, Myles Turner and Joe Young, earning playing time

* Paul George’s season and his preference for a traditional lineup

* Lack of leadership on the team

This week on the Vigilant Sports Pacers Podcast, I’m joined by Mark Montieth, who has covered the Pacers for decades — first for the Indianapolis Star and for Pacers.com since 2012.

[The podcast is now on iTunes, so subscribe today so that the latest episode will download automatically.]

Topics Discussed:

* Early season success

* Ian Mahinmi’s growth … an Hack-a-Ian

* Luis Scola

* Paul George elevating his game

* The young guys

* How Myles Turner can impact the team once returning

* Can any team dethrone Cleveland in the East

* Breaking ground on the St. Vincent Center

* A new project of his

Jeremiah Johnson is in his third season covering the Pacers for FOX Sports Indiana, and his second as the sideline reporter and host.

Johnson, a Ball State graduate, joined the podcast from his hotel room in Los Angeles.

[The podcast is now on iTunes, so subscribe today so that the latest episode will download automatically.]

Topics Discussed:

* On the work that goes into each broadcast, meetings, and information gathering process

* What he believes is the most important job of a sideline reporter

* His career aspirations as a kid, attending Ball State University and being Charlie Cardinal (the mascot)

* How his job impacts his time with family

* Roy Hibbert facing the Pacers for the first time

* Kobe announcing his retirement prior to facing the Pacers

* The Pacers winning 11 of their last 13 games and chemistry being strong

* His favorite arenas to visit

Quinn Buckner was a spectacular athlete. He was a two-sport athlete at Indiana University, part of the 1976 undefeated team, and is one of three individuals to have a championship at every level.

This weekend, with family and friends sharing in the celebration, Buckner will be inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in Kansas City, Missouri.

The ceremony will be emceed by Clark Kellogg, formerly of the Pacers, and Doug Gottlieb.

“As you move along this pendulum of life, it’s about memorable moments,” Buckner said about about this upcoming weekend. “And this will be one of the most memorable moments I’ve ever had athletically.”

[The podcast is now on iTunes, so subscribe today so that the latest episode will download automatically.]

Topics Discussed:

* What he expects this weekend to be like for him, and who will be there

* Why he attended Indiana University

* Why he chose basketball over football after two seasons

* Where he got his hard-nosed mentality and tenacity from

* Why he looks to mentor young Pacers players

* What he thinks of this year’s team

* And, whether he’s truly on Twitter

A new podcast is up! It’s a busy time of year so this time, Scott Agness goes solo.

After the Pacers started the season 0-3, they have since gone 5-1 (with their only loss being to the Cleveland Cavaliers by four points).

[The podcast is now on iTunes so subscribe today so that the latest episode will download automatically.]

Topics Discussed:

* How the team bounced back from a bad first week

* Paul George returning to form

* George Hill’s role and how comfortable he has been from the left corner

* Rookie Myles Turner’s thumb fracture and how time off the court can help

* Quick look around the lead

* Shoutouts

The Indiana Pacers unveiled their NBA “Pride” uniform this fall, one that uniquely connects with the community. (Best of all, it’s not a sleeved jersey like most of the “Pride” uniforms around the league.) Several team execs gathered in a room nearly two years ago to brainstorm, and they came to an agreement on Hickory uniforms from the movie “Hoosiers.”

When doing their research, they found out that next year — 2016 — will be the 30th anniversary since the movie was released.

Perfect, right?

On Friday (Nov. 6), the Pacers will wear their Hickory uniforms for the first time against the Miami Heat. It is also their first nationally televised game (ESPN) of the season.

The organization and MGM Studios came to a five-year licensing agreement and this season, the team will wear the uniforms in ten games, six at home. And, at those six home games, the team will celebrate and honor teams or individuals in this state that made a substantial impact.

In addition, Bankers Life Fieldhouse will be dressed up for all six Hickory home games, the Pacemates have old-school uniforms, Boomer will have a new look, and more.

The Pacers gift shop has dozens of items for sale, including jerseys, t-shirts, hoodies, and novelty items. Pre-ordered jerseys were mailed out this week and will be available for sale in the gift shop Friday. Orders have been received from 41 states and seven countries.

One of the guys in that room a few years back was Pacers exec Todd Taylor, who joined the team in June 2011 after previous stints with two Major League Baseball teams. Taylor, the Senior VP and Chief Sales & Marketing Officer of Pacers Sports & Entertainment, is my guest on this week’s podcast — one that I’m really excited about.

I hope that you enjoy it.

Topics Discussed:

* How the team chose Hickory uniforms

* What goes into getting a new uniform approved

* What fans can expect at home games

* Merchandise sales of Hickory gear

* When the team might get new uniforms

A new episode of the Vigilant Sports Pacers Podcast is here just in time for the season opener — Wednesday night in Toronto.

You’ll be watching on FOX Sports Indiana, who plans to televise all 82 regular season games for the first time ever. You know Chris Denari (10th), Quinn Buckner (17th), and Jeremiah Johnson (2nd), but you don’t know Max Leinwand. Why would you — he’s new to town!

You appreciate the work they all do on game broadcasts — one of the best in the league, in my opinion — and on this podcast you’ll hear Leinwand’s story and how he joined the broadcast team.

Leinwand, who has been employed by FOX Sports Midwest since September of 2005, is the new producer for Pacers broadcasts which means it is his job to cover and share the Pacers’ story all season long.

I spoke with Leinwand Tuesday before he met the team at the airport for Game No. 1.

Topics Discussed:

* His career path from New Jersey to St. Louis

* How he has a history of overseeing Pacers broadcasts for FSI

* FOX’s priorities for game broadcasts

* New features to be used on air

* The role of a producer

* What FSI has in the works for Hickory nights

* How they plan to incorporate analytics