The once-proud Indiana Pacers – the franchise of Reggie Miller’s heroics, Ron Artest’s thuggery, and zero NBA titles – are hemmoraging money according to the team’s owners. They claim the Pacers have lost money nine out of the last 10 years, and $200 million total since the Simon Brothers bought the team in 1983. Who’s going to save the day, and prevent the team from moving to another city? The taxpayers.

Unless, of course, the Indy Star can convince them otherwise.

I’m sorry, Brothers Simon, but we can’t afford to further subsidize your sports enterprise — at least not to the levels being discussed. We sincerely appreciate the upstanding corporate citizens you have been. We’re sorry you’re losing money on your NBA franchise. We regret that you feel you can’t continue to suffer your team’s financial burden. But, ultimately, that’s your problem. Not ours.

This is shaping up as an interesting showdown – one that could play out in multiple sports in multiple cities this year and next as the world waits for Armageddon.

States, cities and school districts are laying people off, and there’s going to be a headline about giving money to a new basketball team?

Guy’s got a point.

Sorry, Pacers, the answer’s no (Indy Star)