Perfect 10

As poor college students, we always look for the biggest bang for our buck. As poor college students who are diehard sports fans, finding a good steal to satisfy your sporting needs can be difficult.

It’s hard for so many reasons. It’s hard because HDTV is expensive.

It’s hard because there are no professional teams in Bloomington and the major IU athletic teams – that’s basketball and football for those wondering – are in minor slumps.

But most importantly, it is hard because of ticket prices.

All major sporting options cost a fortune.

The Colts – $34 for the way upper deck balcony seat. Oh, and they are sold out – even for the Lions.

Hoosier Basketball student seats – $15 and your ticket will be in section AA, row 16.

Columbus Blue Jackets – $20 and you have a nice little drive to watch a bad hockey team.

Hoosier Football – $14 for your case of Keystone at the tailgate.

But then there are the Indiana Pacers.

Oh, I’m sorry. I forgot most Hoosiers have been erasing the Pacers from their memories the last couple of years.

The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team in the NBA that plays a mere 50 minutes north of Bloomington.

You probably haven’t heard as much about them lately since they traded their hired guns for upstanding citizens who have stayed out of trouble off the court.

But back to the deal.

The Indiana Pacers have a college night. A student can buy a ticket to any Tuesday game this season for $10. All you have to do is show your student ID.

You get a ticket and a T-shirt. And if you’re good, you can sell your T-shirt to someone when you get back to school and break even.

But for $10, you can see some great teams. The college night games include LeBron and his Cavs, Kobe and his Lakers, Elton Brand and his 76ers and even Deron Williams and his Jazz.

Not only that, but Hoosier heroes return home for college nights. Mike Woodson coaches the Hawks, Lawrence Frank the Nets and Randy Wittman the T-Wolves. All three teams come on a college night. The Bulls round out the lineup of college night games for you Chicago kids.

And you can’t forget the Pacers.

They might not be the best team in the NBA, but they will be entertaining to watch every night. They will play hard and fast. They will leave it out on the court every night.

They already spanked the defending champion Celtics and will hopefully be over .500 by the time this gets printed.

So, grab your roommate, significant other, best friend or me, get in your car and go to a game. The Pacers might surprise you.

And if not, the chicken finger basket is worth the trip anyway.