File this under “duh!”…

[Via the AP] — Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Jackson violated his probation in Michigan when Indiana prosecutors charged him with firing a gun outside a strip club, a judge ruled Friday.

Police said Jackson fired a gun in the air at least five times during an Oct. 6 fight outside Club Rio. Jackson originally told police that he fired the gun in self-defense, but Marion County (Ind.) Prosecutor Carl Brizzi said Jackson retrieved his gun from his car and fired it before he was struck and injured by another car.

…and boy am I glad he’s not a member of the Indiana Pacers anymore.

I’ve been pondering what to say regarding the recent eight player trade between the Indiana Pacers and Golden State Warriors. Then Indianapolis native Jason Whitlock was in town to cover the Colts game and was a guest on WISH-TV Channel 8 (Indianapolis) last night and stated it pretty well. Paraphrasing …

“I’m all for anything that gets rid of Stephen Jackson. I only wish they could have sent him to Europe so that we could get him out of this country. Next on my list is Larry Bird. He doesn’t know what the hell he’s doing.”

Now that was funny! And I can’t disagree. A management and coaching overhaul would probably do the team some good.

On paper the Pacers didn’t get the better end of the deal, but being able to unload Jackson does sweeten the deal a bit. It was sad to see Al Harrington play the role of the sacrificial lamb, but that’s how it goes in the sports business. My main complaint is that I wish they would have unloaded the rest of the baggage (Jamal Tinsley & Jermaine O’Neal…and I’m sure that I missed someone) while they were at it. But hey, the season isn’t over yet and there must be someone out on the West Coast that will trade the Pacers for these guys.