Indiana Pacers Hold 2011 Pacers Draft Party June 23

"2011 PACERS DRAFT PARTY” JUNE 23

AT CONSECO FIELDHOUSE 

            INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Pacers will host the “2011 Pacers Draft Party,” on Thursday night, June 23 in Conseco Fieldhouse. The party, which has drawn over 5,000 fans each of the last three years, is free to all Pacers fans. Doors open to the general public at 7:00 p.m.
              The Pacers are scheduled to pick 15th in this year’s NBA Draft, and again at number 42 in the second round. “I think this is a very good draft,” said Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird. “I’m very confident we will not only get a player with our first-round pick that can help us, but also with our second-round pick. I’m really looking forward to this draft.”
              “We are very excited for this Draft Party,” said Pacers Sports & Entertainment President Jim Morris. “The way our team finished this past season and how we connected with our fans has given us an extra boost during the off season. We want to share that excitement and energy with the community on draft night.”
               The first 1,000 fans to RSVP online at Pacers.com will enjoy “dinner on us” as the Pacers will provide a hot dog, chips and soft drink to each member of the family. Pacers gold rally towels and a Pacers.com Draft Guide will also be available. Fans at the party can enjoy face painting, balloons and more; and prizes will be awarded to lucky winners. Additionally, all fans attending the Draft Party receive free parking in the Virginia Avenue Garage (subject to availability). Former and current Pacers players, Boomer and the Pacemates will be on hand to meet and greet the crowd throughout the evening.
              The in-arena coverage of the draft, featuring Pacers announcers Chris Denari and Quinn Buckner, will begin at 7:00 p.m. ESPN’s coverage of the draft will begin at 7:30 p.m.
              To get ready for the 2011 NBA Draft, fans can visit All-Access Draft Central on Pacers.com for exclusive scouting reports and video interviews with all prospects as well as frequent blog updates from Conrad Brunner and Mark Boyle and a mock draft database.
            For additional information, contact Pacers Sports & Entertainment’s Public Information Department at (317) 917-2500.

F.E.V.E.R....with the Fever

It isn't often I get invited to do something I haven't done before...

Oh, who am I kidding? I get invited to go boldly (translation: blindly) into new experiences all the time.

In fact, that's what I'm known for...getting myself into adventures about which I have no clue. Which is another way of spelling T.R.O.U.B.L.E.

In, yet one more Lucille-Ball-meets-Rachel-Ray moment, I agreed to pay a game of F.E.V.E.R. (we know it as H.O.R.S.E.) with one returning Fever player and two basketball players trying out for the WNBA Indiana Fever team.

I am only 5 feet 3 inches tall...

I decided to bring some help; some really tall help.

My thought process was to bring great athletes with me. This would give me a chance to, for once in my life, win at an athletic event.

The problem being that I don't know any athletes, professional or otherwise.

Plan B.

Bring in teammates who could pretend they know how to play basketball. At least for a few minutes until we get whipped by the powerful Fever women.

I made a call.

Patricia Rettig, media and public relations director of Beef and Boards, 9301 N. Michigan Road, Indianapolis, hooked me up with some bodyguards, er, um, I mean teammates.

Enter Stage Left:
Eddie Curry, casting director of Beef and Boards, and an actor, Jeff Stockberger, assistant director of Beef and Boards, and also an actor, and Elizabeth J. Musgrave, writer of the finer things in life...non-athletic.

Okay, actors, acting like they can play basketball, and a writer (me) writing about the event afterward (now) against three really tall, physically fit athletes.

Did I mention I am vertically and athletically challenged?

Enter Stage Right:
Three women, professional athletes, looking fierce. Allie Quigley, Christina Wirth and Shay Murphy. Although all three tried out for the team, Murphy is the athlete who made the team, proving to be an asset early on.

Now, I am not going to say the athletes were scared of us or anything, but I am sure they were worried. You believe that, right?

Well, I bowed out first, then Jeff Stockberger, and, well, you get the idea...it wasn't pretty. Curry lasted the longest with the pros. The winners were gracious and didn't laugh at us. Not too much, anyway.

Bottom Line: I do not feel bad that I was barely beaten by the WNBA Fever team. Not one bit...oh, okay, humiliated was more like it. However, considering they are playing Game 3 of the series in New York tonight, losing to that particular group of athletes makes us members of that large club: teams taken down by The Fever.

Not a bad distinction.

Elizabeth J. Musgrave is a syndicated columnist, travel writer and theater critic. Catch her as Indy’s Arts & Entertainment Adviser on 93.1 WIBC and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and at gottago.us. Comments can be sent to elizabeth@gottago.us.

Photo Credits: PLR

Links: feverbasketball.com, beefandboards.com

Gotta Go is published in the following newspapers: South Sider Voice, Indiana Weekender, West Side Community News, New Palestine Reporter, West Indianapolis Community News, Pendleton Times Reporter and Fortville-McCordsville Reporter.

Michael Buble

Grammy-Award winning crooner Michael Buble sauntered into Indy for a one-night-only performance June 29 at Conseco Fieldhouse. With a stage setup and orchestra worthy of a Vegas headliner, the crooner declared the event to be a party, releasing beach balls and confetti throughout the show. Both his latest, and No. 1 ranked, CD Crazy Love, and the like-named tour seem to be about proving he is more than just a "rat pack" imitator.

And prove it he did.

Stepping out from behind the shadow of Frank Sinatra and company, Buble's biggest response from the audience came when he slid into his own smash hits including Everything, Home, and newest hit single, Haven't Met You Yet.

Noteworthy front act Naturally 7 received its own standing ovation for its rendition of Broken Wings and While My Guitar Gently Weeps. The a capella group, which became a sensation after a performance on a Paris subway platform was posted on YouTube, also performs with Buble on his latest CD.

Touring the world on a fast-paced, grueling schedule, Buble took the time to pack, along with his famous 80 suits, his happy-go-lucky attitude, holding nothing back from the ticket holders.

Perhaps that’s the secret of his obvious success.

The ruggedly handsome Canadian with the boyishly impish charm promises his admirers to always, "give so much more than I get." His working man's outlook on giving everyone their money's worth at his show, along with his heartfelt speeches throughout the performance, endears him even more to his fans.

This causes confusion for me.

Upon showing his fans so much respect, thanking them for their loyalty and crediting them with his rise to fame and fortune it seems odd that he would then disrespect the same group of people with offensive locker room language and humor.

Certainly a man able to create such beautiful lyrics should understand his romantic, poetic side is what draws people to his concerts and the music stores. Can he not refrain from unnecessary, and inappropriate, bar room antics for two hours?

Aside from the awkward comments, Buble’s performance ran at full speed, with the singer intermingling with the crowd while covering standards and contemporary tunes. The song list was wide-ranging, allowing fans to enter his world, from childhood through his adult years. Besides his own hit singles, Buble also covered standards, such as All of Me and Mack the Knife, and personal favorites including, Heartache Tonight, At This Moment and Twist and Shout.

Bottom Line: Michael Buble, the hardest working performer currently on tour, turns in an A+ performance of high energy, sincerity and quality. Prerequisites for attending a Buble performance: a party attitude, a willingness to join in and an inside aisle seat.

*This column was originally published, in the following newspapers: South Sider Voice, West Side Community News, West Indianapolis Community News, Pendleton Times-Reporter, Fortville-McCordsville Reporter and New Palestine Reporter.

*Photo credit: Lisa Gissara