Relief. Frustration. Confusion. Uncertainty.
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The Pacers were dealing with a jumble of emotions Sunday in the aftermath of another early-morning incident involving point guard Jamaal Tinsley, whose party was fired upon by an assailant armed with an assault rifle in front of the Conrad Hotel Sunday morning. Pacers equipment manager Joe Qatato was wounded in both elbows and remains hospitalized.
“Upset,” said team President Larry Bird when asked his first response to the news. “I really didn’t know what to think about it. I was just hoping everybody was alright. You feel bad any time your players are in some situations, you feel bad for everything that happened. I don’t know enough about everything that went on to talk a lot in detail but I just feel bad for the organization. I’m very passionate about this organization, always have been, and we’ve had some things that’s happened here that have really bothered me and bothered our fans and really the whole state. We’ll get through this but it’s tough right now.”
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Reaction from the Pacers in the aftermath of the Tinsley incident.
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According to police, the incident began at “Cloud 9,” a club on West 38th Street in Indianapolis, where Tinsley’s group was being chided about their expensive cars – including a Rolls Royce – and obvious wealth. Tinsley’s group left the club but was followed to The Conrad by a gray Chrysler and a dark pickup truck. That’s where the shooting began, with the Rolls Royce struck by several bullets and another vehicle on Tinsley’s caravan taking five bullet holes, adding the suspected weapon is a .223 caliber assault rifle.
It was the third time in a little more than a year Tinsley has been involved in events rooted in nightclubs in the same area. He is scheduled to stand trial next month in charges from a fight at the 8 Second Saloon last February. He was also present but not charged in October 2006 when former teammate Stephen Jackson fired gunshots in the air after a car ran into him in the parking lot of Club Rio.
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“Jamaal put himself in a situation that was very, very dangerous,” said Coach Jim O’Brien. “These guys have every right to go to a nightclub. I have a right, everybody here can be out till 3 or 4 o’clock in the morning. As a professional athlete, where we’re in an environment nationally that has seen professional athletes targeted, it was not a good decision and that’s basically it. It was not a good decision. I’m sure he knows that and I’m sure there will be a lifestyle change for him . … But, to the best of our knowledge he was a victim. He wasn’t out there causing problems, he was victimized from everything we understand. The police will get to the bottom of it and we’ll move on.”
Tinsley did not practice with the team Sunday at Conseco Fieldhouse and will meet with Bird and O’Brien Monday morning to determine the franchise’s course of action. The Pacers next play Tuesday in Cleveland.
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“We’ll deal with it,” Bird said. “We’ve got to find out the information first. We don’t know anything that’s going on. We can talk about what we’re going to do but until we know everything that happened, if our players are at fault, they’ll be punished. …
“This is something we can’t just put right behind us and walk away from. It’s something we’ll have to discuss. I don’t know how long it’ll take and we’ll continue to talk about it. We have to make a change, there’s no question about it.”
Team captain Jermaine O’Neal spoke for the players after Sunday’s practice, saying they would lend Tinsley their support.
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“As players we understand the situation and we understand the backlash that comes,” O’Neal said. “As players we have to understand when we step out our house we are targets. We make a lot of money, we drive nice cars, people idolize us, but people also envy us. We have to make sure that we put ourselves in better situations. Not to say Jamaal wasn’t in a good situation, but we have to know what the situation is every time we leave our house.
“It’s very unfortunate, especially considering the type of year he’s having. He’s our early-season MVP. We need him to play very, very well. We’re going to support him. I know this city has been down this road with us before. Let the judicial process play itself out and continue to support us. This team is hitting its stride where we’re really starting to get healthy. We don’t want to be distracted. We know it’s a little bit of a distraction, but we’re going to play basketball and let Jamaal handle his situation and move on.”
Police were investigating whether to file charges against Tinsley's brother, James, who returned fire. He had a permit for his weapon. The assailant escaped.
