Full disclosure: For those of you reading this story in print, the Mailbagg™ in the mirror is closer than it appears. Hang on, wait, that’s not the disclosure – this is: Nobody was injured in the filming of Mailba–
NO!!!!
Here we go:
For reasons too confusing to get into, this week’s Mailbagg was written – had to be written – before the conclusion of Game 6 of the NBA Finals between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder. Kindly keep that in mind as we veer from mood swing to mood swing after a week of back-and-forth with IndyStar readers in my subscriber text group.
And again, remember: The U.S. Surgeon General has determined that Mailbagg is a significant cause of mirth.
See what I did there? No?
Sigh.
What he did there: The name of the U.S. Surgeon General was once Vivek MURTHY! Sigh.
Pacers win Game 3, here we go!!
The Pacers entered Game 3 with this statistic well known: When the NBA Finals are tied at 1-1, the team that wins Game 3 eventually wins the series 80% of the time.
So when the Pacers won Game 3, I was reserved.
Hahahaha! You don’t really believe that do you? I was so thrilled, I even quoted Pat McAfee. Just saying. The only media person I’m more tired of than me? McAfee. And this story had plenty of both. Even so, I had a blast writing it.
Doyel on Game 3: Pacers win state’s first NBA Finals game since 2000. Because this is Indiana.
From: Keith P.
In 2025, Cinderella lives in Indiana. What a great experience for the Pacers faithful, especially for Herb Simon.
Game 3 was truly special. So happy for Herb.
From: Matthew S.
If they play 2 more games like this, it’s over! Pacers in 6.
Why not Pacers in five?!?
From: Mark Y.
The Pacers are a team on mission and EVERYONE seems to be stepping up! I like those 80% odds after winning 2 out of 3! I just wish the games started an hour earlier!
I’m positive the Pacers are better than the Thunder. Not sure how that’s possible, but the eyeballs don’t lie. Mine don’t, anyway.
Re-live the Indiana Pacers unbelievable run to the NBA Finals with IndyStar’s commemorative book
Pacers lose Game 4, there it goes…
The Pacers were riding high after Game 3. So was the city. So was I!
And they were leading Game 4 by 10, late in the third quarter, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was a non-factor and this is really happening people!!
But then.
Doyel on Game 4: Pacers give away home game to OKC. Did they give away NBA Finals?
From: Robert M.
Please explain it to me like I’m a 5-year-old: How does a team choke that bad in the last three minutes? Air balls? Missed free throws? Even radio voice Mark Boyle said the Pacers looked like the Keystone Cops the last four minutes.
The Thunder Pacer’d the Pacers. Wore them down. Outfought them. Played with more passion. Weird to watch.
From: David H.
It feels like the Pacers are down 3-0.
And people call ME negative.
From: Jon T.
I don’t know that I can read your Game 4 column yet. That ending upset my stomach. I worry that was their chance.
Spoiler alert: Your final sentence is pretty much what I wrote. But you were more concise, you show-off.
Tyrese Haliburton disappears in Game 5. Injury to blame?
Game 5 happened. Not sure what else you want me to say about it.
What Doyel already said about Game 5: Is Tyrese Haliburton injured? What WAS that?
From: Alan H.
As a former basketball coach, I’ve seen my share of players who mess up/lose the ball in futility. The grimaces and holding of body parts is because they need people to provide a massage (of their ego) to save face. I tend to be a cynic, so when slo-mo shows Tyrese Haliburton tripping on the toe of his shoe, falling down and throwing the ball away (again,) I default to the pride-ego thing.
Like you, though, given the info we have, I can’t tell what the deal really is. Only Tyrese Haliburton can answer truthfully – and as you pointed out, he is barely answering at all.
That was a difficult, confusing story to write, Alan. Never ever do I want to accuse a player of exaggerating an ailment. Ever. The facts around his lower-leg issue are weird, and I tried to address them – fairly, and completely.
From: Jerry H.
Your super-max contract guy CANNOT go games with single digit points and/or no made baskets.
This is neither difficult nor confusing to write: You’re 100% correct, Jerry.
From: Bill R.
If Tyrese is healthy – or healthier – do the Pacers win Game 5? I think so. If the two-day break restores his health, we can win this!
Another 100% correct note. On the road, getting next to nothing from their best player, the Pacers were within 95-93 of the Thunder? I’m not sure the Thunder are better than the Pacers, if both teams are close to full strength. In fact, I’m pretty sure they’re not.
Get to know Jim Irsay’s daughters
Jim Irsay’s death at age 65 was a tragedy, too soon, all that – but the world keeps spinning and the question turned soon to the Colts: What happens to them now?
Came the announcement: His three daughters – Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Kalen Jackson and Casey Foyt – would become tri-owners, each with their own area of expertise, with Carlie overseeing the football operations. The Irsay daughters met reporters a few days after the funeral, and made it clear:
They’re here to win, and win big, and do it soon.
Doyel: Jim Irsay’s daughters are ready to own the Colts franchise –and win big
From: Jim L.
To borrow from a favorite movie, they “announced their presence with authority.” As a decade-long season ticket-holder, their comments got me excited about the future. You could feel that they will be holding people accountable out of respect for their dad. This is now very much THEIR business.
Yup. Jim prepared his daughters quite well for that moment. Now we see about the next several years of moments. But that first impression was awesome.
From: Doug W.
I think things may be changing under new leadership.
No question. Jim was a romantic. Carlie is more dispassionate, more of a realist. This could be interesting.
From: Dennis S.
My opinion, GM Chris Ballard has this year to make a playoff run, or he’s gone. Carlie looks like someone who can kick (butt) and take names, which is what the team needs in ownership.
Jim Irsay loved to quote Bob Dylan, so it’s in Jim’s honor that I say: The time, they are a-changin’.
Get to know Herb Simon better, too
Herb Simon deserves this NBA Finals run, and not to be morbid or anything, but coming on the heels of Jim Irsay’s death at age 65 … what a relief, honestly, that the Pacers’ run happened now, while Simon (age 90) is alive.
Over the years Herb has gotten a bad rap from fans mad that he won’t sign LeBron James or trade for Kevin Durant. Never mind that LeBron wouldn’t even take the Pacers’ call, and Durant would never allow his team (who does he play for now, anyway?) to trade him here. Just the facts.
But Herb Simon saved the Pacers for Indiana, which means he saved Downtown Indianapolis.
Also facts.
Doyel: Herb Simon, ‘a reluctant receiver of attention,’ is on HOF, NBA Finals roll
From: Stephen B.
Beautiful story on Herb Simon. Indianapolis has been very lucky. And smart decisions by the city and the two teams to keep the basketball arena and the football stadium downtown next to the Convention Center. That tied the entire downtown together in a way that few cities have.
Jim Irsay gets a lot of credit, as well he should. So do Bob and Nancy Leonard, as well they should.
Herb and Mel Simon deserve the love, too.
From: Paul J.
The Simons were Godsends for our community!
Amen.
From: Tom B.
Thanks for the article on Herb Simon. Mel and Herb were friends with my grandfather. I actually have a Pacers jacket Mel gave to my grandfather. I was fortunate to attend Herb Simon’s Indy 500 party. Mel used to host it at his estate on Ditch Road, then Herb took over as host.
Love the memory Tom, thank you.
Not printing these
From: Kirk K.
Please start a 24/7 subgroup of Doyelies for those who want to ‘opt in’ to receiving texts outside of ‘visiting hours.’
Ha!! Kirk knows: I text the group only between the hours of 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. And technically it’s more like 9:15 a.m. and 8:30 p.m.
From: Brenda
She did well. She had 2 injections, 1 each day. The one yesterday took 4.5 hours. Other than a headache, she didn’t experience any other symptoms. Big relief for everyone. She will go 2 more times, next 2 months I think. Did we have a lot of rain.
I’m glad she’s doing well Brenda. Really.
From: Brenda
Sorry!!
All good. And yeah, rained a lot. But the basement held up!
Find IndyStar columnist Gregg Doyel on Threads, or on BlueSky and Twitter at @GreggDoyelStar, or at www.facebook.com/greggdoyelstar. Subscribe to the free weekly Doyel on Demand newsletter.