Hoosier native David Letterman's 33-year run as a national late night show host came to an end Wednesday night. The Broad Ripple High School and Ball State University alum officially retired after last night’s final episode of "The Late Show with David Letterman."
Despite his national platform, Letterman made constant references back to his Indiana roots and his hometown basketball team, the Indiana Pacers. For Throwback Thursday, here's a look at some of the greatest David Letterman Indiana Pacers moments. Starting with the time he educated comedian Hannibal Burress on the origin behind the team's name (starts at the 2:07 mark):
Pacers legends also graced the stage with Letterman, including Reggie Miller fresh off the Pacers' 1994 Eastern Conference Finals Game 7 loss. It even included a surprise visit from Spike Lee. Watch Reggie on Letterman »
Reggie was a natural visitor. The best player on a very good team from Letterman's home state. But who would have ever guessed back in 1986 that Letterman would do a little predicting of the Pacers' future? In an incredible coincidence, Letterman had a 10-year-old Frank Vogel on the show as a part of Letterman's "Stupid Human Tricks."
Just as Reggie was on Letterman with his rival, Pacers President Larry Bird joined his rival Magic Johnson at the Ed Sullivan Theater in 2012.
But it wouldn't be a David Letterman story without a Top Ten list. Here are David Letterman's Top Ten reasons he loves the Indiana Pacers, which originally ran on Pacers.com several seasons ago:
10: An 82-game season gives me 82 reasons to drink.
9: With the addition of Larry Bird, front office could beat anybody's front office in a game of pick-up.
8: If you rearrange the letters in Pacers, you get capers ... and, by God, who doesn't love capers?
7: Delicious Pacer dogs contain bits of actual basketballs.
6: Fun to watch Bobby Leonard broadcast game without pants.
5: Some teams give 100 percent, others 110 percent, the Pacers give 114 percent.
4: It's still fun to say Detlef Schrempf.
3: They're very close to signing Barry Bonds.
2: Team was nice enough to look the other way when Mom ran on the court and tried to kiss Reggie Miller.
1: After tonight's game, Jermaine O'Neal is having everyone over for dessert and coffee.