Not The "Jail Pacers"

Not The "Jail Pacers"

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The jokes and references to Portland surfaced soon after Jackson's incident. Former Pacers great Reggie Miller criticized Jackson's behavior on a national radio show, saying Jackson was at the strip club "shooting it up like it's the wild, wild West."

Some radio talk-show hosts referred to the Pacers as the "Jail Pacers," a takeoff on the Trail Blazers' less-than-flattering moniker.
Former Pacer Antonio Davis said Portland's situation was worse but added that the Pacers can't afford another slip-up or they will resemble the Trail Blazers.

"Exactly like Portland," he said.

Jermaine O'Neal, who witnessed some of the Portland mess firsthand, called the comparisons "ridiculous."

First, O'Neal said, the Pacers have been involved in just two incidents, albeit very public ones.

O'Neal noted that Portland's troubles started in 1997 and included more than 25 player suspensions and 20 arrests or police citations, ranging from marijuana possession to animal abuse to assault.

"This franchise is so far from the Portland situation that it's a joke," said O'Neal, who was drafted by Portland and spent four seasons there. "I expect this city to be upset and down because they've grown to expect a tradition here. They want to see it. As players, we have to do a better job, not only on the court, but also off the court, on making ourselves presentable to this city."

Paul Swangard, a marketing expert with the University of Oregon's Warsaw Sports Marketing Center, agreed that the Pacers aren't the Trail Blazers. But he said teams run a dangerous risk with fans if they continue to have turmoil.
"It's not a fair assessment to throw the Pacers into the same category as the Blazers, but the Blazers were a franchise that people enjoyed watching," Swangard said. "Their season tickets have dropped since people started calling them the 'Jail Blazers.'

That shows any franchise is at risk.

"All you have is your credibility. If you are going to charge those prices, you have to have credibility and entertainment value in the building. You have to have credibility in how the franchise represents the community and what they do off the court. If those things continue to damage your image, you shouldn't be surprised to wake up one day and wonder why, when you open the doors, no one chooses to come in."</div>

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