It’s difficult to say which challenge will be more daunting for Indiana University’s athletic department—the king-size sinkhole in the school’s football field or the self-inflicted wound to the image of its men’s basketball…
It might be a bit over the top to say that a man I met only once and barely knew had a profound influence on my life, but that’s how I felt about Jim McKay. Thus, when I tuned in to view the Belmont Stakes on June 7 and the lead story was not of Big Brown’s (failed) bid for the Triple Crown but of Jim McKay’s passing at the age of 86, I admit I felt a sudden pang…
An advocacy group formed a year ago to boost the visibility and growth of the state’s advanced manufacturing and logistics industries has received a major lift from Purdue University. Conexus Indiana and Purdue earlier this month announced the formation of a partnership in which the university will lend its academic and research talents to the organization. The key goals include linking manufacturers with new suppliers, exploring emerging markets and supporting startups launched from university or privatesector research. “Conexus is very…
If you’ve been watching the National Basketball Association finals this week between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers, you’ve noticed the latest television ad campaign by the Indiana Pacers airing on ABC.
The eye-catching spots created by the team’s ad…
Indy Racing League officials were in Mexico City early this week to look at a possible location for a race there, which could be held as early as 2009. It may have to be pushed to 2010, depending on scheduling…
My father in law, John Parker Jr., died this past March in LaPorte. He was 90, so he didn’t get shortchanged in the longevity department. He had a full, complete life. Except for one thing. He spent virtually all those 90 years rooting for his beloved Chicago Cubs to win a World Series. As with many from northwestern Indiana-Da Region-his afternoon ritual, especially in his retirement years, was sitting in front of the television to root, root, root for the…
Over the last 20 years, life expectancy for residents of the United States as a whole has increased steadily. However, recent studies by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have shown that not all Americans are enjoying longer, healthier lives. The implications of these studies are particularly ominous for Hoosiers. The disparities in life expectancy are most pronounced between richer and poorer Americans, reflecting the pronounced growth of income inequality the last two decades. In 1980, the most…
After the checkered flag dropped on this year’s Indianapolis 500, the green flag fell on negotiations for a new television contract between the Indy Racing League and ABC/ESPN. The current deal doesn’t expire until the end of next season, but the contract calls for the parties to discuss an extension starting this month. Sources close to both sides said ABC/ESPN pays the IRL about $10 million annually, but getting that kind of guaranteed cash beyond 2009 could be difficult. Still,…
The Detroit Free-Press reported that fans watching last weekend’s Red Bull Air Race World Series along the Detroit River got a “thrill-chill.”
The crowd size assembled along the river banks might have thrilled Indianapolis…
The Indiana Pacers will host a party at Conseco Fieldhouse on June 26, where fans can watch the 2008 NBA Draft and hear from Pacers executives about the team’s draft. This marks the…
The vital statistics are in from last week’s NBA pre-draft camp. It’s official: Eric Gordon is nowhere near 6-foot-4— the measurement used by Indiana University when he played there last season—not even in…
The Horizon League and Nelligan Sports Marketing Inc. announced that they have agreed to a long-term extension to their partnership agreement that continues the New Jersey-based company’s exclusive rights to manage the Horizon League’s corporate sponsorship and marketing rights.
“We are…
Sarah Fisher is speeding ahead with plans to do at least two more Indy Racing League races this season. Despite the defection of two main sponsors and a crash at last month’s Indianapolis 500, Fisher still thinks her team will…
The Indy Racing League is continuing its popularity growth.
After a strong month of May in Indianapolis, the IRL saw a 30 percent attendance increase at its race yesterday in Milwaukee, to just more than 30,000.
While…
The Indiana Pacers got an assist recently from other National Basketball Association owners that could push the team out of the red. In April, the league’s board of governors approved a 63-percent increase in the amount of revenue shared among teams after a letter signed by Pacers co-owner Herb Simon and seven other small-market teams urged the change. The revenue challenges faced by smallmarket teams can no longer be ignored, said the letter signed by Simon in late 2006. Though…
Well, to all but one sourpuss. “The [Indy Racing League] is garbage,” said caller “Gordon from Zionsville” on WNDE’s sports-talk show, “The Drive,” on the Tuesday following the big race. Gordon was weighing in to denigrate the IRL and praise NASCAR. Back to him in a moment. For the time being, the IRL’s competition isn’t NASCAR. While overnight ratings showed the afternoon Indy 500 scored a bigger rating than NASCAR’s prime-time 600-miler at Charlotte-and that Indy’s ratings were up from…
The Indiana Pacers today began offering season tickets for about $6 per game. That’s one of the lowest ticket prices in the National Basketball Association. The cost is cheaper if you figure in preseason games, which are included in the…
The Indianapolis Star is about to lose its third sports department veteran since April.
Star Sports Editor Jim Lefko announced this week that assistant sports editor Pat McKee will depart the state’s largest daily…
The Big Ten Conference recently hired Dallas-based Learfield Sports to bring in more revenue from sponsorships, hospitality and other corporate initiatives.
Big Ten and Learfield Sports officials announced they have signed a pact where Learfield will develop an exclusive corporate partner…
The Indy Racing League has a new problem.
Too many cars.
Twenty-seven car-driver combos are expected to show up for this weekend’s Milwaukee Mile. The problem is, the short oval only has room for 26…
