For The Tribune
The Indiana Pacers have scheduled a special event May 12 for fans to honor the late Bobby “Slick” Leonard, their Hall of Fame coach and longtime broadcaster.
Leonard passed away at 88 on April 13 and was buried in a private ceremony in South Bend. He will be honored with this public celebration of life titled Boom Baby! The Life and Times of Bobby ‘Slick’ Leonard at 6:30 p.m. at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Mark Boyle, Leonard’s radio partner, will be master of ceremonies. Video tributes from former Pacer players and segments from the “Heart of a Hoosier” documentary about Leonard will be shown. “Boom Baby!” was Leonard’s signature broadcast phrase uttered when the Pacers made three-point shots.
Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday for $5.29 through pacers.com/slick with proceeds going to the Dropping Dimes Foundation, the organization that provides benefits to former American Basketball Association players and officials in need.
Live attendance will be capped at 1,500 due to protocols related to COVID-19, and doors will open at 5:30 p.m. The event also will be livestreamed online at pacers.com/slick.
Pacers are wearing a black stripe with the word “Slick” written across it on their uniforms for the rest of the season.