Pacers Take Innocent Until Proven Guilty Stance With Jackson

Stephen Jackson Charged In Strip Club Incident

Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh said that F Stephen Jackson, who was charged yesterday with felony and misdemeanor counts for his role in a fight outside a strip club Friday morning, “is ‘presumed innocent until adjudged otherwise,’ meaning he’ll continue to practice and play in games,” according to Mike Wells of the INDIANAPOLIS STAR. Walsh: “We all spent a lot of time over the summer understanding that we came through two years where we had problems. ... We went out to try and change the team in a very dramatic way in the best way we could.” Wells notes the Pacers following the incident removed TV and radio commercials from their new “It’s up to us” campaign, as well as a promo video on the club’s Web site. Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird said, “I’m sure season ticket holders are very frustrated with us right now. We have to believe we’re going to make the change and do the right thing. We will do it and it’s just going to take some time” (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 10/12).

REAX: An INDIANAPOLIS STAR editorial states the Pacers players and organization “have been far too willing to rally around” Jackson. While he “seems sincere in expressing regret about last week’s altercation,” he “sounded the same” after the Pacers-Pistons brawl in ’04. The editorial: “What really matters is a true change in Jackson’s behavior. ... It’s time for Pacers management to acknowledge that reality and deal forcefully with their problem player” (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 10/12). Also in Indianapolis, Bob Kravitz writes, “It’s this simple: [The Pacers] can’t win back fans with Jackson on this roster” (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 10/12).