Indiana’s in full basketball mode. The Pacers are in the NBA Finals for the first time since forever, and the whole state’s buzzing. But in Fort Wayne, one man’s hoping the moment brings something extra special—redemption for a song he wrote back in 1993.
The title? “Take Me To The Game James.” You’ve probably never heard it. But for John Schmucker, it’s his heart on tape—and he thinks its time has come.
Born With Rhythm, Raised Without Radios
John Schmucker didn’t have a normal start. Growing up Amish in Indiana meant no TV, no basketball games, and definitely no rock ‘n roll.
“I had to keep the radio hidden,” he says, half-laughing, half-remembering. “Got my first guitar at 16. Had to hide that too.”
One sentence.
But music was in his bones, and so was basketball.
“Even if I couldn’t watch it, I felt it. Hoosier basketball… it’s in the air around here.”
Eventually, Schmucker left the Amish life. But he took its discipline with him, channeling it into writing, recording, and staying up late sketching lyrics on diner napkins.
A Song That Was Never Meant to Die
Back in 1993, the Pacers were rising, high school gyms were packed, and Indiana’s love for basketball was loud as ever. Schmucker knew he had to write something.
“This is what I came up with,” he says, strumming the opening chords. “Take Me To The Game James. It’s an Indiana thing—I can guarantee you that.”
The lyrics paint a vivid picture of basketball culture:
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“From Fort Wayne to Kokomo to down in Evansville, it’s got the whole town shaking and it probably always will.”
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“We don’t need bright lights—we got gym lights, Friday nights.”
It’s a simple song, made with love and recorded on a cassette deck in a Fort Wayne basement. It never went anywhere. Until now.
Pacers’ Finals Run Breathes Life Into an Old Tune
Schmucker’s timing might be perfect. The Pacers are charging through the playoffs, chasing their first-ever NBA title. State pride is peaking.
“All I’m saying is—this moment, this is the moment,” Schmucker says. “I’ve been waiting over 30 years. I think this is when the song finally makes sense to people.”
He’s not wrong.
The state’s unified behind the Pacers in a way it hasn’t been in decades. Every Hoosier with a basketball memory is tuned in. Schmucker wants his song to be part of that soundtrack.
“I wish they’d play it at a game,” he says. “Even just once. That’s the dream.”
He pauses.
“Actually, the dream is that some Pacers fan hears it and says, ‘That’s it. That’s the anthem.’”
Hoosier Sports and Schmucker’s Hope
Basketball in Indiana isn’t just a sport. It’s closer to religion. Schmucker’s words echo that. His track may lack polish, but it’s got soul. And it speaks to people who know what it means to stand outside a packed high school gym in February waiting to get in.
Here’s what makes this moment ripe for revival:
| Factor | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Pacers’ NBA Finals Run | Renewed interest in Indiana basketball culture |
| Schmucker’s Song’s Theme | Deeply rooted in state pride and small-town hoops |
| Digital Accessibility | Old music now easier to share and distribute |
| Community Buzz | Local fans eager for unique expressions of support |
Even Schmucker admits the production isn’t modern. “It’s raw,” he says. “But so is basketball here.”
One Song, One Dream, Seven Million Hoosiers
There’s something refreshingly earnest about Schmucker’s wish. He’s not asking for fame. Just a high-five. Or a nod.
“If one Pacers fan hears it and says, ‘That’s my Indiana,’ then I’ve done my job.”
He chuckles, then adds, “Actually, if Tyrese Haliburton heard it, that’d be even better.”
A one-sentence paragraph? Absolutely: Schmucker knows it’s a long shot.
But for someone raised without modern conveniences, who hid guitars like they were contraband, he’s already come a long way.
“I speak for 7 million Hoosiers,” he says. “That’s not ego. That’s just love.”
