As you probably know by now, the Indiana Pacers made headlines again this week -- not for their outstanding ability on the basketball court -- but for their apparent inability to stay out of trouble.

Instead of taking shots on the basketball court, our model Pacers were getting shot at on the streets of Indianapolis and, once again, leaving their coaches and owners to pick up the pieces.

I wonder how Pacers coach Jim O'Brien feels now about his decision to come to Indianapolis or team president Larry Bird for sticking with the team over the past several years. I thought Bird looked so sad -- and understandably ashamed of his team -- on TV the other night when he was answering questions about the shooting.

And don't forget the team members themselves -- that is those who are dedicated to their profession and who don't shame the team on a regular basis. Several Pacers players were featured on the TV news Sunday night for taking underprivileged children from Indianapolis on a shopping spree. How sad to see their glory taken hostage and destroyed by their unruly colleagues at the top of the newscast.

This team has been on a downward spiral since the infamous brawl at Detroit in 2004 and they have no one to blame but themselves. In my opinion, they continue to bring shame to the team, the city of Indianapolis and the state of Indiana.

Even if I were an avid basketball fan, I would have stopped watching them a long time ago. If they can't get their act together, then as far as I'm concerned, they should move to another city.

These are men who, as we all know, are making millions of dollars to play basketball and this is how they respond -- by getting into fist fights with fans, having altercations at nightclubs and leading Dick Tracy-style car chases through the streets of Indianapolis?

Shameful.

I have a great-aunt who's almost 90 years old and she loves the game of basketball, stemming from her days on the girls' team at Greencastle High School. She is a faithful listener (yes, she favors the radio over the TV) of the Pacers, but instead of talking about the team's hit and miss victories on the court, she is more concerned by their frequent trips to THE court (of law).

I know what you're saying … Tinsley isn't going to be "punished" for his involvement in the shootout.

So he's innocent -- this time. Big deal. The damage to the team has already been done.

And what was he doing hanging out with someone wanted for alleged drug dealing?

Here are two sayings for the Pacers to keep in mind: "If you look for trouble, you're going to find it" and "you're guilty by association."

If certain members of the Pacers team insist on living this life of late-night altercations and car chases, then let them. But first let them turn over their uniforms and explain to all the children who view them as role models that "it's okay for me to act this way, but it's not okay for you."