How many pro sports teams are in Indy?

I was in the office Sunday putting together the Monday newspaper.

While I was waiting for our deadline to approach, Brazil Times' Sports Editor Carey Fox told me he had just read a report the Minnesota Timberwolves were interested in Pacers' forward Danny Granger.

Carey told me he had read a report the Timberwolves had offered Al Jefferson but the Pacers were not interested.

While he was telling me of this, all I could think was, "There's another professional sports team in Indianapolis?"

This is how bad it has gotten with the Pacers.

Currently, Indiana is 11-25, tied with the Philadelphia 76ers for the second-worst record in the NBA Eastern Conference.

The only other team worse than the Pacers are the New Jersey Nets, who have a record of 3-34.

According to various other reports on the Internet, teams are looking at Jeff Foster and Troy Murphy as well.

This is what the Pacers have become under the guidance of Larry Bird.

A joke.

In all reality, all the Pacers have to do is lose 15-20 more games and they'll be outside looking in.

The Pacers have not finished at or above .500 since the 2005-06 season, when they were 41-41. The season before, the Pacers were 44-38 and in 2003-04, they were 61-21, seeded first in the Eastern Conference.

How the mighty have fallen.

And as the Pacers continue down this torrid spiral, the Legend that is Bird should continue to fall as well.

After all, this has happened under his watch.

And just down the street, another professional team continues to look incredible.

Since the downward trek began, only Granger has played to maximum capacity.

Drafted in 2005 with the 17th pick, the forward turned himself into an All-Star.

Since that season, however, the Pacers have not drafted well.

And all of this falls squarely on Bird's shoulders.

Since letting go of Rick Carlisle, who was handpicked by Bird to coach the Pacers, Jim O'Brien has been at the helm. O'Brien was also handpicked by Bird.

Since Carlisle's departure, however, Indiana has not finished above .500.

This just doesn't look good.

But at least Indianapolis sports fans have a team to cheer for in the Colts.

The Pacers reached the NBA Finals in the 1999-2000 season, only to fall to the Los Angeles Lakers. The coach? Larry Bird.

But since the 1999-2000 season, the Pacers have managed just four winning seasons.

Since the 2002 NFL season, all the Colts have done is win 10 or more games each season and remained competitive, even winning the Super Bowl.

I remember the days when it was the Colts that really weren't relevant and the Pacers were. The roles were reversed.

But in the last decade, things have changed.

Since Peyton Manning came to Indy, he has transformed this team into a winner. Outside of a few years where the Jim Harbaugh-led Colts advanced to the playoffs, Indianapolis was often regarded as a cellar-dweller in the NFL.

Not anymore.

When Reggie Miller led the Pacers, the franchise was one of the best.

Not anymore.

How the mighty have fallen.