Pacers coming to Bluff for Tyler Day

Poplar Bluff is about to turn a deeper shade of blue.

Members of the Indiana Pacers organization are coming to town Thursday for Tyler Hansbrough Day, bringing their FanVan and mascot, Boomer, to the event.

"I think it's a great thing for Poplar Bluff to be honoring Tyler," Pacers coach Jim O'Brien said. "It's certainly appropriate after his career at North Carolina and becoming a lottery pick in the NBA Draft.

"It's a great honor and well-deserved."

Hansbrough, who was selected by the Pacers with the 13th pick in the June NBA Draft, will be honored at two separate events Thursday.

O'Brien will be one of the featured speakers at both events.

Also scheduled to attend will be University of North Carolina coach Roy Williams.

Hansbrough will be given the Key to the City and other honors during a free event at Peters Gym. The event will start at 5:30 p.m. with doors opening at 4:30. Seating will be general admission (first-come, first-serve basis).

A banquet dinner, which requires a ticket, will be held at 7:30 p.m. the Black River Coliseum.

Both events will feature the same speakers, including representatives from the city and school, however, the banquet at the Coliseum will be longer and also include video highlights from Hansbrough's career at North Carolina.

Former Mules coach John David Pattillo is also on the program for both events.

A ticket to the banquet does not reserve a seat at Peters Gym.

A handful of tickets are still available at the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce. Any tickets orders that have not been paid for by Wednesday will be put back on sale. Tickets are $50 per person.

Proceeds raised from ticket sales will pay for both ceremonies and anything left over will go toward a sign proclaiming Poplar Bluff as Hansbrough's hometown. A tentative location for the sign has been found on the southwest corner of the intersection at Westwood Blvd. and PP Highway (Kanell Blvd.) and will be unveiled at the banquet.

Also scheduled to be in town from the Pacers are General Manager David Morway and Sam Perkins, vice president of player relations, who played 15 seasons in the NBA after playing at North Carolina and winning a gold medal as co-captain of the 1984 U.S. Olympic basketball team.

The Pacers will also have merchandise stands and will be selling tickets at both locations.

O'Brien is entering his third season as the Pacers head coach after spending the 2004-05 season in Philadelphia. He was head coach of the Boston Celtics from 2001-04 after seven years as an assistant coach and as a head coach in the college ranks.

The Pacers are coming off consecutive 36-46 seasons, finishing ninth in the Eastern Conference and missing the playoffs by three wins last season.

Hansbrough will not be available to sign autographs but everybody who attends both events will receive a program that will include a photo and copy of his signature.

To purchase tickets for the banquet, visit the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce at 111 West Pine. For more information call the Chamber at (573) 785-7761.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Thursday, Aug. 13

4:30 p.m. * Doors open at Peters Gym (no addmission, general seating)

5:30 p.m. * Program starts:

* Speakers will include representatives from the school and city with presentations, former Mules coach John David Pattillo, Indiana Pacers coach Jim O'Brien, North Carolina coach Roy Williams and Tyler Hansbrough. (Once the program is finished, Hansbrough and speakers will leave Peters Gym and head to Black River Coliseum.)

7:30 p.m. * Banquet at Black River Coliseum (tickets required $)

* Following dinner there will be a highlight video of Hansbrough. Speakers will include resentatives from the school and city, Pattillo, O'Brien, Williams and Hansbrough.

($) Tickets are on sale for $50 each at Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce (111 West Pine). A ticket is good only for the event at the Coliseum.