Tonight will close a chapter in three men’s lives—
Bobby “Slick” Leonard” – Pacers Radio Network, Dick Harter – assistant coach, and Reb Porter – Public Announcer.
Slick Leonard is a basketball and radio legend. A native of Terre Haute, IN, Slick served as Pacers’ head coach for 12 years, Leonard won 529 games and three ABA championships. Before coming to the Pacers, “Slick” had an outstanding playing career on the high school, collegiate and pro levels and was named as one of the state’s “50 Greatest Players.” Leonard went on to Indiana University, where he was a two-time All-American and a captain of the Hoosiers’ 1953 NCAA championship team. After college, Slick played seven years in the NBA with the Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers.
Leonard is a member of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame but has yet made it into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. With his uncanny success playing, coaching and broadcasting, it is ridiculous that at this point he still remains left out. In fact, he was voted as the ABA’s All-Time Coach. It may be the ABA title that kills him. It does not have the respect of the NBA. Hopefully he will be inducted within a few years. Slick has the distinction as being just one of just six individuals in Pacers history to have a banner raised in his honor. Hanging from the rafters of Conseco Fieldhouse is a banner honoring Leonard and his 529 victories as coach of the Pacers.
Dick Harter, 80, has been an assistant coach with the Pacers for three different stints. He has previously been a Pacers’ assistant under Jack Ramsay (1986-88) and Larry Bird (1997-00). Harter is also very familiar with Coach Jim O’Brien, as an assistant under O’Brien at Boston and Philadelphia. Harter has been praised for his defensive mind and dedicating his life to the game. Although the Pacers defense hasn’t been satisfactory the past couple of years, Harter has had a tremendous impact on this team. He is a quiet voice around the team but enjoys every minute. It is hard to catch Coach Harter, who is well-respected across the NBA, not talking about the game of basketball with someone. Although he is getting out of the game, the game will live inside of him the rest of his life.
Reb Porter has been at it for 34 years. He’s been the voice of the Pacers inside Pepsi Coliseum, Market Square Arena, and Conseco Fieldhouse. Porter is most famously remembered for “Two minutes, TWO-UGHHHH.” He couldn’t recall why he began announcing two minutes remaining in each quarter, but he was surprised by how much it caught on. “My favorite phrases have been, ‘Number 31, Rrrreggie Miller,’ ” Porter said. Porter also spends his time as a local disc jockey in town, which he still does to this point. It was actually Slick Leonard’s wife, Nancy that asked Porter if he would like to do announcing at games. Slick directed basketball operations and his wife handled everything behind the scenes. Because the PA position isn’t well-paid, Porter has been at it for so long because he enjoys it. Instead, Reb Porter did it for the love of the game. We are all use to the way a Pacers game sounds because it hasn’t changed in over 34 years. Most of the teams’ biggest fans in fact weren’t born before Porter took over.
Michael Grady, the Executive Producer of ESPN 1070 The Fan will take over for reigns. It is of note that Grady will be just the 3rd permanent public address voice in the teams history. Grady’s enthusiasm for the NBA is evident with each game. The last two years he has served as the male emcee each game. He is also the PA for the Indiana Fever, set to begin his 2nd season this May. Grady has a tremendous passion for the sport, works hard at everything he does and has a unique voice. Michael Grady who is in his late twenties, could be at for a very long time if he chooses. Don’t worry Reb, the job is in great hands.
For more on Reb, see Pacers Crate with Conrad Brunner, Mark Boyle and Chris Denari.