They’re Back! Pacemates at Pacers FanJam 2011

Thank you to the NBA powers for giving us a wonderful gift, the NBA back on Christmas Day! Preparing for the new season is occurring at warp speed, and the Indiana Pacers held their annual FanJam last Sunday, the annual free event with free food, autograph opportunities, a blue versus white scrimmage, and the antics of Steve Max, who has created his own unique niche of travelling the country leading games of “Simon Says” (FYI, Pacer newcomer and Indianapolis’ own George “Napoleon” Hill was the best Pacer Simon Says player). Maybe the Pacers like “Simon Says” because the Pacers are owned by the Simon family of mall ownership fame.

But the best gift of all is that the NBA being back means that the Pacemates, particularly the rookies, who have been patiently waiting to perform on center court, are able to dance and cheer on their team. The Pacemates were on the concourses signing autographs, encouraging fans to sign a “Good Luck” banner, and then hit the sidelines for the intra-squad game. The Pacemates cheered on their teams and put up with the constant antics of mascot Boomer, who at one point bulldozed his way on his hands and knees through the courtside Pacemates; that crazy cat! Then at halftime of the scrimmage, it was the Pacemates turn to perform at center court. It was their second performance of the season, after a pre-season game the previous Friday against the Bulls (with 14,000 in attendence, way to go Pacers fans!).

Michelle Duggan has been the coach/choreographer of the Pacemates since 2008 after her seven years as a Pacemate herself. As Michelle oversaw the activities of the Pacemates at FanJam, she took time out to fill in UltimateCheerleaders on the preparation for the new season. The rookies have been waiting and wondering when they would hit the court, but Michelle says keeping them motivated has been no problem. “It was actually really easy,” Michelle says, “We just had to change focus. We did a lot of team-building activities throughout the season. It just gave us a little time to bond, that we don’t usually have. Of course, we would have wanted to be on the court, but it’s fun.”

The schedule was modified according to Michelle during the lock-out. “We had practices once a week, and then we did a lot of community service. Again, we don’t usually get a lot of extra time to do those things besides our appearances, so we focused on that.”

This season’s adapted NBA schedule has a lot of back to back to back type games, but Michelle has no worries. “We are prepared,” Michelle smiles. “Just the energy and anticipation, being anxious about getting started, it is making their performances and practices easier, because they have wanted to be out there for so long. So I don’t think we will have to double up or anything like that, we are going to stay with our schedule, and we are going to go on from there.”

Michelle looks forward to this season and being around this Pacemate squad. “I think I have a beautiful team all-around this year. I think their abilities are well rounded and they get along really well. So I am just looking forward to seeing them on the court, and the better they get along off the court, the better they are going to perform on the court.”

Michelle was a staple at FanJams for years as a Pacemate, so does she miss being on the squad, giving autgraphs and performing? “I was just thinking about that when I was standing against this wall,” laughs Michelle. “I was just thinking, ‘You know, I kind of like being back here, so I don’t have to be ready and everything.’ But it’s hard, it’s where I was for a long time. I like this part of being a leader and motivating the girls, and getting them involved in the community. So, I had my time, and am ready to do my other parts.”

Michelle’s time directing the Pacers included becoming a mom to her daughter 20 months ago, which creates new challenges to balance mommy-hood and running the Pacemates. “Oh, it’s hard,” laughs Michelle, “but it makes it easier when I love both sides of my roles. I like being a mom and I like doing this.”

Michelle says her daughter is showing her first dancing skills. “She is starting to,” reports Michelle, “she shakes her behind. She is going to be a little performer, she is a drama queen. So is her mom, and her dad,” laughs Michelle.

Here are some more photos of Michelle’s Pacemates during autograph sessions and on the court at FanJam. Sorry Steve Max, no photos of you until you have the Pacers and the Pacemates face off in Simon Says (there is probably an UltimateSimonSays website somewhere anyway). And I still want to see Pacers and Pacemates paired up for a Dancing with the Pacers competition at FanJam, with audience applause serving the role of Len, Carrie Ann, and Bruno.

Thanks Michelle and all of the Pacemates, and have a super fun season!