IndyStar: Jim Morris to succeed Walsh

[Scoot McGroot]

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a ... 4/80416049

Morris succeeds Donnie Walsh as head of Pacers Sports & Entertainment. The team also said that Herbert Simon, co-owner of the team will serve as the chairman and chief executive officer.

"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.

Sounds more like Herb Simon is taking a huge step forward in terms of day to day responsibilities of the franchise. I assume Morris, while being the President, is focused more on the business aspect, with Bird focused on the lineup and personnel aspect, and Herb Simon overseeing all of it.


Any thoughts? Satisfied with this as step one of the organizational shakeup? What else would you like to see as an organization?

[Dunthreevy]

Glad to see Herb taking more responsibility for everything. As an owner I would think that's how I would handle the situation if I was in his shoes. If you're being held responsible you're more likely to actually take a vested interest in the team and not just look at it from a monetary standpoint.

[cdash]

I dont really know how I feel about it. I like that for the first time I can remember, the owners are taking an active stance with the organization. Some owners (think Herb Kohl) meddle too much in day to day affairs and dont let their basketball people do their thing. Some owners (think Mark Cuban) really are a blessing for the fan base with their enthusiasm and knowing their boundaries. Cuban doesnt always adhere to the boundaries, but he knows what hes doing. I know nothing about Morris and wont pretend to, so I am apathetic in that regard.

I think part of the reason Herb is doing this is because he wants to keep Bird on a short leash. He wouldnt be meddling in day-to-day affairs if Walsh was still around, so this tells me he doesnt entirely trust Bird. I like it for the most part though. I like that the owners realize that this team has some real issues it needs to sort out and that they care enough to see them get fixed, as opposed to cutting their losses and selling the team. All in all, I like it. This will be a really, really interesting summer in Pacerland.

[PR07]

I think owners should be involved. I don't think Herb was involved enough earlier on, so I'm glad he's changing his ways a little bit. Obviously, there is getting too involved like an Oakland Raiders' Al Davis, but having a owner who's actively interested in his product...pushes management who push the coaches and players.

[joew8302]

Man, I hope this works but it seems bizarre. Why would Herb all of the sudden want this role? Is he extremely insecure now that Walsh is gone? I love the Simons as owners and couldn't ask for more, I just hope Herb hasn't bitten off a bigger piece of pie than he can chew here.

[PR07]

I think he's embarrassed. Here he is, investing a lot of money into a product that stinks. The fans don't like the team, and a lot of the expected changes haven't happened yet in terms of improving the image and play of this team.

[harding156]

I think he's embarrassed. Here he is, investing a lot of money into a product that stinks. The fans don't like the team, and a lot of the expected changes haven't happened yet in terms of improving the image and play of this team.

[Grang33r]

This was my least favorite season following the team that i have moved almost all of my life. They were so hard to watch. And when they won, it was just as painful as if they lost. The brawl season was bad too but atleast we played all backups and players stepped up and played with heart. This year, we were a mess all season, only in the playoff race due to a very weak eastern conference.

With off court troubles of Shawn Williams, then Donnie Walsh rumours which turned to reality and the whole soap opera of Jermaine O'Neal, the only way we can truly rebuild is via the draft and yet we kept winning and ruining our chances.

We're stuck in the worst possible situation. Mid 1st round pick. It'll do us no good im afraid.

[ajizzle]

We needed to keep winning. We had to think about the guys that are gonna be on this team, and I don't want Dunleavy, Granger, Williams, or anyone questioning whether we want to win.

We'll probably draft around 10, maybe a couple picks later, but we already have enough scoring, all we need is a PG who can defend and run the offense. I want Chalmers, b/c he can be a scorer as well as a floor general, but he averaged over 2 steals a night and can pressure the ball.

As far as the Simons, I love the move. They're obviously intelligent enough to be successful in life, and they've been around Donnie for a quarter-century... I'm sure they've at least picked up on the basics of the job, if not learned more than we can imagine about the biz. I know they'll do the job well.

[cdash]

See I think we are okay. We have two solid building blocks in Granger and Dunleavy, an intriguing youngster in Shawne Williams, a lottery pick (the 11th pick is not mid first round), and the promise of changes to be made. I would be absolutely shocked if Tinsley is on the roster after this summer.