A couple of years ago, many Indiana Pacers fans were just about ready to give up on team president Larry Bird and his long-range plan. After Reggie Miller retired in the spring of 2005, the team found itself in a quagmire of spoiled personalities, big contracts and lackluster play on the court. All during the four-year playoff hiatus that ensued, Bird kept telling us to be patient, and that the Blue and Gold would once again become an NBA power. As much as I admire Larry Legend, a fellow Hoosier and an all-time great on the court, I was among those who thought that a change might be in order when the Pacers continued to go through motions year after year. I know that Bird couldn't have been having much fun, but he stuck to his story and owner Herb Simon stood by Bird through those dark days. As the Pacers emerge into the sunlight of relevance, it seems that Indiana fans aren't the only ones who have taken notice. On May 16, the NBA announced that Bird selected as the 2012 Executive of the Year in a vote of his peers.
Of course, this award is just the latest in a long and storied career for Bird, whose other hardware includes three Most Valuable Player trophies with the Boston Celtics and the 1998 Coach of the Year award nod when he stalked the sidelines for the Pacers. But we shouldn't let the litany of honors jade us to Bird's achievements and what he has meant to this franchise. He has shown himself to be the rare superstar who is able to not only dominate on the court but also guide a team from the bench AND from the front office. If you think that is easy to accomplish, then see Michael Jordan's record in the NBA since retiring as an active player.
So now Indianapolis is looking at a Pacers team in the hunt to return to the Eastern Conference finals, and we have confirmation that the franchise leadership actually did have a viable plan in place all these years. The annual question now arises as to whether or not Bird will return for another go-round as the boss, and his answer to that query seems more pertinent than ever before. In years past, I wouldn't have been too sad to see him walk away, but now I would really like to see what he can do with the team in an off-season following a successful campaign. The Pacers are probably not quite at their peak yet (at least I hope not), so there is work left to be done.
A lot of that onus will fall on coach Frank Vogel and the players themselves, but Larry Bird could undoubtedly add something to that mix. He is, after all, the man with the plan.
Adam Hughes was raised, and still lives, in rural Indiana. He has been a Pacers fan since the early 1980s and has witnessed the rise and fall of a great NBA franchise. He follows the current club closely and is happy to see the Pacers begin their next ascent.
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