BENNER: From the NBA to the Big Ten, putting butts in seats is king
Even watching the game from home on ESPN, a casual observer might have thought Bankers Lie Fieldhouse was a neutral court.
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Golf business heats up thanks to 2012 drought
Positives can be hard to find in a record-breaking drought. However, for most of the roughly 430 golf courses in Indiana, last summer’s scorcher was actually good for business.
Indy’s new soccer team blowing sales expectations ‘out of the water’
Still 13 months from kickoff, sales are so brisk that team officials think they may sell out of season tickets for their inaugural season.
Indiana House panel OKs child labor-referee measure
An Indiana House panel on Tuesday unanimously approved a measure pushed by a 13-year-old boy that would allow sports leagues to hire youngsters like him as referees.
Information leaks threaten to sink IndyCar, Speedway
The scariest thing for the Speedway and IndyCar Series is that the breaches could indicate there are forces within the organization’s leadership pushing in different directions.
Indy gets its first FM sports/talk station
Emmis Communications has begun simulcasting The Fan on its newly acquired FM frequency, but with a couple interesting twists. A wider coverage area in a growing format could mean big bucks for Emmis.
Reports: Butler to join new Big East as early as next season
Although it has not yet withdrawn from the Atlantic 10, Butler University will join the so-called “Catholic 7” in the new conference, according to reports in national media outlets. The school declined to comment on Friday.
Pacers general manager wrote the book on teamwork
Indiana Pacers General Manager Kevin Pritchard believes character is forged in losing as much as in winning. He’s shared that philosophy in a recent book he co-wrote called “Help the Helper: Building a Culture of Extreme Teamwork.”
BENNER: Bird’s faith in Lance Stephenson now looks well-placed
I guarantee he’s closely watching the team he assembled and has a trained eye on the 22-year-old.
IU’s Assembly Hall could get new name if price is right
Naming rights deal for 42-year-old IU basketball venue could score the school $2 million a year, sports marketers said. IU Athletics Director Fred Glass says re-naming the facility is not out of the question.
Danica’s Daytona sends TV ratings, IMS hopes soaring
The most popular racer, man or woman, on four wheels is the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's best, and perhaps only, chance at reversing an ugly and costly attendance slide at the Brickyard 400 in July.
Emmert gets vote of confidence from NCAA
NCAA President Mark Emmert still has the confidence of the association’s executive committee, despite several indicators in recent days that some schools are questioning his effectiveness.
Daytona 500 gets green light despite horrific accident
Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood said the track will “be ready to go racing” in time for Sunday’s Daytona 500, following an accident Saturday that injured fans and drivers.
Collectors snap up Bush Stadium’s salvaged seats
Indianapolis sports fans and collectors lined up Thursday to buy seats salvaged from Bush Stadium, snapping up more than 300 in the first day of the three-day sale — six times as many as organizer People for Urban Progress had expected for the entire offering.
BENNER: College hoops would benefit from less hacking and flopping
I’m worried about where the game seems to be heading. Where’s the rhythm and flow?
Westfield golf pro to be inducted into PGA Hall of Fame
Don “Chip” Essig IV was the 2011 recipient of the PGA Golf Professional of the Year award.
Crean’s revival of IU basketball fuels donations, merchandise sales
Indiana University is looking to cash in on the success of its men’s basketball team this season, but is struggling to find ways to make more money from an already popular program.
NCAA sues Pennsylvania over $60M Sandusky abuse fine
The governing body for college sports says that the state is violating the U.S. Constitution by passing a law that confiscates the $60 million sanction imposed against Penn State in the Jerry Sandusky child-abuse case.
Senate OKs Indianapolis Motor Speedway funding plan
A plan providing up to $100 million in state funding toward improvements at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has won approval from the Indiana Senate.
NCAA fires VP of enforcement after botched Miami investigation
An internal report found the NCAA violated its own practices and policies by paying the attorney for convicted Ponzi-schemer Nevin Shapiro thousands of dollars to help with the Miami case.