2 Comments
founding

I started to write this a few days ago but didn’t finish it. My parents were also charter members at Hickory Stick so they golfed with David a few times a year and talked to him regularly when he was walking his dogs. Depending on how busy he was, David would say “hi” to Dad at the Fieldhouse some times.

When I was in grad school in the 1990s, I would take a late lunch nearly every afternoon to the old Noble Romans on Delaware (a block away from MSA). David, Bill, and others from the Pacers front office were other 3pm regulars. When I would put away my finance textbook and go back to the office, I’d pass their table and tell them I wanted people to write about a Pacers’ win tonight. So fast forward to when I’m in Chicago after graduation. And home visiting my parents for some type of reception at Hickory Stick. Dad is introducing me to David and David has an “I can’t quite place you” look on his face. I reminded him of the nearly-empty 3pm lunches at Noble Roman’s and he laughed... and told me that Sam Smith (Bulls, The Jordan Rules) always wanted to go to Noble Roman’s when he was in town.

One of the absolute best things of the Simon ownership era of this team is the outstanding human beings that work for it.

I may be frustrated that Rick is over-relying on the veteran players that I think are vastly overrated and way overpaid this season but my goodness, he really understands this franchise and it’s relationship to the city which we probably haven’t seen since Frank left.

Expand full comment