BENNER: We’ve got the Fever, but will we be able to keep it?

I’ve written about the Indiana Fever twice earlier this year. Both times, I received an e-mail response from a gentleman
named Harold.

First e-mail: “They will crash and burn in the playoffs as they always do (even with an apparent
home court advantage). Their coach (in her mediocre career) has never accomplished anything in crunch time.”

Second e-mail: “Good Lord, another of your columns on a has-been coach and a team that has NEVER delivered.”

Now I’m not knocking the guy, and here’s why. Because he at least seems to care.

That has been
the issue for the 10 seasons the Fever have been with us: inspiring the city and region to care, one way or the other. For
too long, the Fever didn’t benefit from regular-season success, nor were they damned—except by a few Harolds—for
repeatedly coming up short in the postseason.

Indifference has been their biggest enemy. After all, the worst reaction
you can get from fans is a shrug of the shoulders.

Winning, of course, cures all, and it was great to witness the
Fever bandwagon quickly overflowing as the team finally crashed through to the WNBA Finals against the Phoenix Mercury. As
of this writing, the series was tied 2-2 going back to Phoenix. By the time you read this, you will know how it turned out.

Either way, some celebration is in order. Beginning with Pacers President Larry Bird’s magnanimous gesture to
buy out the Conseco Fieldhouse balcony and distribute those tickets for free in the decisive Eastern Conference final against
playoff nemesis Detroit, the tsunami of momentum carried right through the two Finals home games.

Suddenly, the
fieldhouse rocked with noise, passion and, most of all, tension. It was like those Pacers-Knicks playoff battles.

Here’s hoping the newbies who have sampled the product will come back next year. And those males who declare the women’s
game “unwatchable” are most certainly watching a different game than I. The first four games of the Finals provided
captivating competition and outstanding basketball.

The euphoria over the team’s playoff run has not, however,
displaced the harsh realities facing the Fever in particular and the Pacers organization in general. Nothing has yet occurred
that will plug the Pacers’ stated $15 million gap in operating expenses for the fieldhouse. Owner Herb Simon continues
to express support for both franchises, but, ultimately, the bottom line is, indeed, the bottom line.

That said,
losing this team would be a crying shame. The Fever represent all that we say we want in professional sports. They offer an
affordable product. They win. They compete at a high level every game. They have players with high character who are engaged
in community service. Tamika Catchings is as good a person as she is a player and that’s really saying something. Katie
Douglas is the home-grown heroine who came home. Ebony Hoffman is true grit—think Dale Davis with a jump shot. Briann
January is a sparkling rookie.

Then there’s General Manager Kelly Krauskopf, who has led the franchise from
birth to these boom days, never making excuses or whining to the community about lack of support. And coach Lin Dunn reminds
me, in more than a few ways, of one Slick Leonard. The main difference is in the twangs.

At the very least, the
Fever’s playoff run should have bought them another year. That’s when it will be up to us, as a community, to
show that we want them to stay.

Moving on.

On the first weekend of October, the Indianapolis Colts,
Fever, Indiana Pacers (preseason game) and Circle City Classic accounted for about 130,000 spectators. Downtown was absolutely
alive, with the hotels and restaurants full. Don’t take it for granted. In many cities, it would have represented an
extraordinary weekend. Here, well, it’s just what we do.

And on a perfect fall Sunday—temperature
in the mid-60s, mostly sunny—isn’t it great to not have to go inside to watch a Colts game? Yes, Lucas Oil Stadium’s
retractable roof was expensive, but it’s a spectacular feature. I hope it stays open, even as the temps dip into the
’50s and ’40s.

Finally, I’m going to reserve judgment about the Colts’ chances in the playoffs
until the playoffs. We’ll get to the destination quickly enough. For now, enjoy the ride.•

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Benner is director of communications for the Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association and a former sports
columnist for The Indianapolis Star. His column appears weekly. Listen to his column via podcast at www.ibj.com. He can be
reached at bbenner@ibj.com. Benner also has a blog, www.indyinsights.com.