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Jermaine O’Neal

JO Knows His Legacy Will Always Be in Indiana

by Jared Wade on December 20, 2010 at 4:27 pm · 0 comments

Jermaine O’Neal is saying that he might retire this summer if the Celtics win a championship. I have never met or spoken with the man but it’s not hard to believe that the constant injuries and diminished role of his career’s twilight just might make the ongoing grind more than it’s worth if he can indeed fulfill his dream of winning a ring. He’s only 32, but he’s an old 32.

But regardless of whether the end is that near or if it will come after a few more seasons, JO wants to be known as a Pacer forever, something he has now stated multiple times this season.

O’Neal, who is out with a knee injury, said he wants to retire as an Indiana Pacer.

“Just because I’m not there anymore doesn’t mean all the memories are forgotten,” O’Neal said. “If it wasn’t for the Pacers, the organization and the community, nobody would have probably known who I was. Anywhere in the world I go, they know me because of my Pacers days.”

Best of luck getting that ring, #7.

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JO “Would Like to Retire as a Pacer”

by Jared Wade on November 8, 2010 at 10:09 pm · 5 comments

No one could ever accuse Jermaine O’Neal of lacking confidence. In his latter years with the Pacers he was always positive, seeing himself just on the brink of returning to the in-the-MVP-discussion form he showcased in 2004. Some thought JO was wearing rose-colored glasses — and indeed, he never did return to form.

More so, 2004 and the subsequent injuries (that he always nobly battled back from it must be noted) and the max salary he continued to receive forever changed how many Indiana fans saw JO. When he was traded to Toronto, it marked an unfortunate end to what had been one of the more dominant — albeit short — stretches by any player to wear a Pacers jersey during the NBA era.

When the trade happened, many were legitimately happy to see him gone. Others just felt it was time for the team and most high-profile face of an era eventually marred by mischief — and worse — to part ways. But there were indeed many who wished he never left the blue and gold at all.

For those fans — and all Pacers fans with long enough memories really — this message Jermaine sent last night through Twitter will hopefully provide a flashback to the better times.

It’s also something that at least this Pacer fan would love to see.

Good luck with the rest of your career, #7. And, more importantly, good luck with everything after that.

Jermaine Oneal Celtics

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JO and Marquis Had a Fun Halloween

by Jared Wade on November 1, 2010 at 11:16 am · 0 comments

Neither Jermaine O’Neal nor Marquis Daniels is on the Pacers anymore. But we always like to keep tabs on Indy alums, if you will, and it looks like the never-ending frat house that is this year’s Boston Celtics had itself a nice lil’ All Hallows Eve.

Below is Jermaine dressed as Mr. T and Marquis dressed as a man of the cloth.

Well done, gents.

You can see some other Celtic costumes here, a stellar Justin Timberlake get-up from Dwyane Wade here and an Atlanta Hawks Halloween party here. Apparently the rule in the ATL was that you had to come as a famous entertainer — unless you were drafted ahead of Chris Paul and Deron Williams, which meant you had to phone it in and pretend a stethoscope is a costume. Looking good, Marvin.

jermaine oneal halloween

marquis-daniels-halloween

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Pacers 11th in NBA Jam East Power Rankings

by Jared Wade on January 6, 2010 at 11:49 pm · 2 comments

nba jam

News that a new version of NBA Jam will be coming out exclusively on the Nintendo Wii swept the nation in recent days, leaving millions — perhaps, billions — (or at least one guy who runs a Pacers blog, anyway) ecstatic with nostalgic glee.

I don’t have a Wii — yet — but I will own this game very soon. And much like me, GP and Kemp used to back in the day, I will own you at this game very soon. Seriously, you don’t want it.

Back in the day, the Pacers were a serviceable, if not particularly good team. Still, Reggie could get hot, Detlef was pretty versatile and Derrick McKey was good at shoving people to the floor.

Unfortunately, however, it looks like today’s Pacers might be just as mediocre, according to Will Leitch and Joe Delessio’s “What Would NBA Jam Look Like Today?” power rankings. I suppose it shouldn’t be surprising, but it is still depressing. It’s like the Pacers are now even retroactively terrible in 16-bit form. Or something.

Then again, I guess 11th is considerably better than they are in real life right now, so I’ll take it. And at least Danny Granger will provoke a ton of “From long RANGE!” comments by the play-by-play guy, who, as evidenced here, is probably a Top 10 game-caller of all time and right up there with Marv, Chick Hearns and Johnny Most.

Below is the Eastern Conference breakdown from the New York Magazine piece.

Do you agree with this Pacers lineup of Granger/MDJ/Murphy? I would take Hibbert over Murph for shot-blocking/shoving purposes. Murphy would actually be decent given his size, ability to hit threes and his penchant for somersault dunks from the free throw line with his sneakers ablaze, but you probably need MDJ on the bench in case you’re up against a really good turnover-forcing lineup (like Kobe/Artest, maybe) and you need to sub in a ballhander at the half.

But even more importantly, who would you take for your All-Time Pacers NBA Jam three-man lineup?

I’m going with Granger, JO and Jalen.

East NBA Jam Power Rankings

I’m pretty sure Philly got hosed here. Iggy will be Pippen Lite in NBA Jam.

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