There is renewed optimism at Bankers Life Fieldhouse with another season set to begin, and with so many fresh faces on the Indiana Pacers roster, a program to identify the new troops certainly comes in handy. There is, however, one glaring omission this year, and many like myself wonder just how in the world we will get by without him around to ride herd on those of us who’ve been around long enough to know what basketball really is nowadays. Yes, after nearly 50 years, Wilson York (affectionately known as Bill to his friends), media room manager for the Pacers, has posted the “gone fishing” sign and moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to be near his beloved grandchildren.
York was there when the Pacers franchise set up shop in the American Basketball Association in 1967, and he led the statistician crew and media room personnel as if they were his own family. He also commandeered the Media Center at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for some 50 years as well, and just for good measure, managed to do the same for the Indianapolis Colts for a mere 32 years in his spare time. Not bad for a boy from Peru, Indiana, who simply wanted to attend Purdue University, where he met his beautiful bride. Along the way, he started a wonderful family and became a fixture in the Indianapolis community, while developing both personal and professional relationships with athletes and dignitaries all over the country through the world of sports.
However, his greatest challenge was taking a gregarious Jimmy Olsen wannabe like myself and explaining the lay of the land at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. After convincing Shannon Williams years ago that I knew something about IndyCar and that the Recorder needed to have a greater presence at the Indianapolis 500, I set out to conquer the world at 16th and Georgetown.
While my background historically had been television production, I quickly gravitated to the man who could make my life easier if I would just shut up and listen to him. York sat me down and explained that while I had experience, I would have to earn my stripes with him, and the rest is history. Through the years, we’ve joked and laughed and hoisted a few at his famous Fourth of July parties, and he always treated me with the respect that stems from genuine friendship and a passion for sports.
He’s been a friend, a mentor and even a disciplinarian (who was undoubtedly sorely needed in many cases). It was a privilege to be an honorary pallbearer when his beloved son died, and the compassion he showed me when my father succumbed to Alzheimer’s was unparalleled and will never be forgotten by this old scribe, who owes virtually everything to him.
The real beauty of this legendary man is he’s helped thousands of people during his illustrious career and never asked anything in exchange. Humble, loyal and caring are just a few of the adjectives that come into play with this legitimate icon, who can only be described as the Godfather of Indiana sports media. I know when he reads this he’ll cringe in his own modest way and probably say I went overboard and laid it on too thick. You’re wrong Brother York, as I really haven’t scratched the surface in terms of giving you the proper accolades.
Thanks for believing in the Indianapolis Recorder and for being so good to me all these years. You took a greenhorn by the ear and gave him one helluva ride along the way. I’ll miss you on the sidelines and will always be indebted to you. Simply put, you’re a mountain of a man, and I’m not ashamed to say I love you and wish you the best in your well-deserved retirement. If the maturation process ever kicks in for me, I want to be just like you. So long, my friend, and I do hope our paths cross again some day.
Danny Bridges, who would be a billionaire if he had a nickel for every good piece of advice he received from Bill York, can be reached at (317) 370-8447 or at bridgeshd@aol.com.
