The Musings of Brian Groce

…but not gone from the team?

**From the 1070 WIBC NewsCenter**

Pacers’ President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird says Head Coach Rick Carlisle will not return as head coach next season. Bird has invited Carlisle to move into the front office with the team.

Nothing against Rick, but what’s up with that? Maybe something in his contract?

Anyway, what coaches are available that would be along the lines of The General? I think that might be what we need for a few seasons around here to fix the mess left behind from the Isiah Thomas era. This off season should be interesting.

Release Date: Thursday, April 19th, 2007
[listen here]

This week Jeff & Brian discuss:

ANNOUNCEMENT #1

• New Podcast Format — Well, sort of new anyway. Starting with episode #27 we’re going to be focusing on Sports & Entertainment news, with a continued focus on our local Indianapolis scene as well. And of course we’ll still cover the occasional Squirrel News. So, unless it pertains to sports and entertainment, the odd news is going elsewhere…but not too far away (see announcement #2).

SPORTS – BASEBALL

• Buehrle tosses first no-hitter of season
• Barry Bonds blasts No. 738 to help Giants edge Cardinals 6-5 in 12

SPORTS – FOOTBALL

• Urlacher fined $100,000 for Super Bowl hat
• Colts to host Saints in NFL season opener
• Patriots-Colts play again Nov. 4
• Colts’ David gets offer from Saints
• Colts sign LB Boiman to one-year deal
• Sorgi signs Colts offer sheet
• Bledsoe calls it quits
• Jones says he will appeal suspension
• Packers WR Robinson on electronic monitoring
• Moon arrested for investigation of DUI

SPORTS – BASKETBALL

• Pacers’ season ends with loss
• Pistons’ Murray not hurt in shooting
• Ohio State’s Oden to enter NBA draft: report
• Big Ten adds to basketball schedule

SPORTS – HOCKEY

• Two Panthers Hockey Players Arrested

SPORTS – TENNIS

• Tennis Fundraiser Goes Wrong

SPORTS – OLYMPICS

• Sewers to help heat 2010 Olympic village
• Chicago is U.S. candidate to host 2016 Games

SPORTS – OTHER

• Astronaut expects odd challenges in space marathon

SQUIRREL NEWS (courtesy of squirreldish.com)

• CBS fires Imus
• CBS says Couric unaware video essay plagiarized
• BREAKING NEWS: Don Imus to join Katie Couric on the CBS Evening News

ENTERTAINMENT – MUSIC

• Belgrade horses may be drugged for Stones gig
• Rolling Stone Richards “snorted father’s ashes” – April Fools?
• Ozzy hits sobriety milestone with new album
• Rapper Snoop avoids jail in L.A. case
• Johnny Cash’s Tennessee house burns down

ENTERTAINMENT – MOVIES

• Christina Ricci gears up for “Speed Racer”

ENTERTAINMENT – OTHER

• Custody of Anna Nicole’s baby still unclear
• O.J. Simpson book sale canceled

ANNOUNCEMENT #2

• Coming VERY soon from Jeff, Brian & Surge Bucket Media…Utter Oddcast. The odd news segments truly warranted their own venue and we’re thrilled to add the “oddcast” to the mix. If you’ve enjoyed the odd news from previous Trolley Dodgers episodes, you’ll love the Utter Oddcast.

HOUSE KEEPING

• Leave us a voicemail at 317-565-4250
• Snail mail us at:
  Trolley Dodgers Podcast
  c/o: Surge Bucket Media
  P.O. Box 78306
  Indianapolis, Indiana 46268
• Recorded, edited & encoded by Watershed Studio, LLC in Indianapolis, Indiana.

I’ve been pondering what to say regarding the recent eight player trade between the Indiana Pacers and Golden State Warriors. Then Indianapolis native Jason Whitlock was in town to cover the Colts game and was a guest on WISH-TV Channel 8 (Indianapolis) last night and stated it pretty well. Paraphrasing …

“I’m all for anything that gets rid of Stephen Jackson. I only wish they could have sent him to Europe so that we could get him out of this country. Next on my list is Larry Bird. He doesn’t know what the hell he’s doing.”

Now that was funny! And I can’t disagree. A management and coaching overhaul would probably do the team some good.

On paper the Pacers didn’t get the better end of the deal, but being able to unload Jackson does sweeten the deal a bit. It was sad to see Al Harrington play the role of the sacrificial lamb, but that’s how it goes in the sports business. My main complaint is that I wish they would have unloaded the rest of the baggage (Jamal Tinsley & Jermaine O’Neal…and I’m sure that I missed someone) while they were at it. But hey, the season isn’t over yet and there must be someone out on the West Coast that will trade the Pacers for these guys.