It was 1983 and I was working the night shift for Network Indiana radio and available to cover spot news that evening.  I was assigned to be at the airport to join the media scrum there meeting Mayor Bill Hudnut as he returned from a trip to New York City, huddling with the NBA Commissioner David Stern.  There was speculation the Pacers might be moving out of Indy.

I recall Hudnut’s media person half-joking he hoped the mayor was actually on the flight.  Yes, he was and we all gathered around Hudnut as he departed the plane (the security rules were different then).  The television reporters always pushed themselves to the front of the pack, closer to the mayor, at events like these.  No one ever told  me why, protocol I guess.

As the mayor began speaking, I felt a strange sensation around my feet.  Turns out, one young television reporter was late and she decided to crawl under the rest of us to take her spot up front.

Mayor Hudnut told us the Pacers had a local buyer for the franchise but would not identify the buyer at that time.  A few days later, it became clear Mel and Herb Simon, local mall developers and real estate people, came forward when other wealthy local people took a pass on buying the Pacers.

Mel Simon passed away years ago, but his brother Herb is still with us and he continues to own the Pacers, although his son David has taken-on many of the owner duties.

The reason I write about this now is an announcement made during NBA All-Star weekend in Indianapolis.  Herb Simon is a finalist for the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame.  The Naismith is THE basketball Hall of Fame.  Simon is a candidate in the contributor category.

If any contributor to the game of basketball deserves Hall of Fame recognition, it is Herb Simon.  He has been one of the most respected NBA owners for a long time.

We will know whether Herb Simon is selected for the Naismith Hall of Fame by April 6, with enshrinement April 17.  If the Hall of Fame voters look carefully at the record, this should not be a close call.  Herb Simon belongs in the Naismith Hall of Fame.