Posted on 11/19/2004 7:54:02 PM PST by LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget
Big time fist throwing. Fans, players and more. Any thoughts ?
Sorry, can't be done. Their reputation is already too low to be able to insult them.
IT'S FAN-TASTIC!
You're right, there is something seriously wrong in a lot of what goes on in pro sports(any sports, to some degree.)
That said, there are bad trends in music and film but I'm not willing to throw the baby out with the bathwater. If the country believed in holding these private companies accountable for their own projects and stadiums, you wouldn't have stadiums being paid for by public funds, at least not as anything other than a loan.
In any event, where are some of these critics when Monica Seles gets stabbed and those two jerks came onto the field and beat down the Cubs First base coach? Where are the clever keywords then? Where are the cries of "thug ball?"
Basic point--what happened is sad, but is also expected when fans believe they are above consequences to hurl personal and racial insults at players and escalate it to physical assault. This is not some problem endemic to the NBA and frankly that so many people believe that reveals much about their other biases. Now, those making a larger comment about sports are perhaps more justified, even if I disagree on certain points.
But this incident is NOT about the NBA and I have to immediately be suspicious of anyone looking to claim that when there was a fight before the Cleveland-Pitt game and there were fights in college games before the kickoff(in addition to baseball and hockey.)
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - (KRT) - All hell broke loose Friday night at the Palace.
A hard foul by Indiana's Ron Artest on Ben Wallace with 45.9 seconds left caused a melee that spiraled into a near riot in the Pacers' 97-82 victory over the Pistons.
After the foul, Wallace pushed Artest, and Artest, Stephen Jackson and Jamaal Tinsley eventually fought with fans in the stands.
"It's the ugliest thing I've seen as a coach or player," Pistons coach Larry Brown said.
After several minutes of fighting with fans in the stands, the Pacers were pelted with beer, ice and popcorn as they made their way to the locker room in one of the scariest brawls in NBA in history.
The game was called at that point, setting up an interesting rematch at Conseco Fieldhouse on Christmas Day.
"I felt like I was fighting for my life out there," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. "I'm sorry the game had to end this way.
"I've been around 20 years and have never seen or been involved in something like that."
Pistons public relations director Matt Dobek said Pistons players would not comment after the game.
Friday's game was much-hyped before it started because the Pistons beat the Pacers in the Eastern Confernce finals last season. The two are expected to battle for the Central Division and conference titles again this season.
With 45.9 seconds left in the showdown, Artest fouled Wallace with his left hand without trying to block Wallace's shot. Artest then pushed Wallace as the play broke up.
Wallace took exception to Artest's foul and shoved the Pacers forward in the neck, causing a brawl that spilled over to the scorer's table. Wallace was restrained by coaches and players.
Artest lay on the scorer's table and put on a headset as the fight dissipated. He became enraged and jumped into the stands after a fan threw a drink that hit him.
Jackson and Tinsley joined Artest in the rumble with fans. Jermaine O'Neal was seen on tape hitting a fan_later identified as Charlie Haddad_in the face.
"That was the scariest thing I've ever seen in my life," Brown said. "I saw the foul. The guy never made an attempt for the ball. Up 15 points with 49 seconds to go; I don't know if that's something you expect. Ben didn't throw a punch, but unfortunately fans got involved. I've seen fights happen before, but the players and coaches and referees usually handle it. When it extends into the fans; that's pretty ugly. Indiana played great, they deserved to win; it shouldn't have ended like that.
"You'll see the foul. Ben didn't attempt to punch."
Brown encouraged the public address workers to get the fans to stop throwing items at the Pacers. But it was too late.
Auburn Hills deputy chief of police Jim Mynsberge said one person was taken to the hospital and there were many other injuries.
"The tape will be reviewed and there will be a full investigation," Mynsberge said. He added that police will also talk to players and fans to gather information.
Mike Ryan of Clarkston said Artest attacked him.
"He asked, `Did you do it? Did you do it?' I said no and he started pummeling me."
The Pacers used three-point shooting and 14 steals to give the Pistons their first loss of the season at home.
Artest scored 24 points and O'Neal had 20 points and 13 rebounds. Tinsley had 13 points, a career-high eight steals and eight assists.
Richard Hamilton led the Pistons with 20 points, Rasheed Wallace had 19 points and 10 rebounds and Ben Wallace had 13 points and 10 rebounds.
---
© 2004, Detroit Free Press.
Absolutely correct. Artest had no idea who tossed the cup at him. He simply charged the stands and looked for the first guilty looking person he could find and then started wailing on him.
Getting back to that guy in the hat who had his hands in his pockets as Artest charged by him.
Funny how he tried to make himself out to be nothing more than a casual, if not a somewhat of a disinterested observer, that is until Artest was well past, with Artest's back to him, and Artest preoccupied before he decided to take his hands out of his pockets and suddenly become "interested" by grabbing Artest from behind and then punching him in the back of the head.
Your restraint is most admirable.
"If the country believed in holding these private companies accountable for their own projects and stadiums, you wouldn't have stadiums being paid for by public funds, at least not as anything other than a loan."
And the down side to that is?
Basketball should institute rugby rules. That'll keep the score low and shut the fans up.
Ok .. I'll keep an eye out for the different angle
Thanks
lol!
from the above article. He is going to get at least 5% of Artest Rap royalties.
The fans going onto the court are the ones who need to be arrested since they aren't responding to anything, but actually trying to start new fights. In particular, the two fat guys in Pistons jerseys. Of course, I think one of them got what he wanted, which was a good view of the rafters, courtesy O'Neal. There was another guy who walked out to fight Artest as he was being escorted out, before the cops ran over ready to pepper spray Artest, instead of the other guy, though four cops ran over to him.
The rest of it, the throwing of things was just disgraceful. What's worse, and I don't know if anyone noted this in the several hundred posts, is the two kids who were seen crying appeared to be leaving the stadium with the huge dude in the tan (on the left side of the Artest rumble). Ah, nothing like watching your old man pound a guy into the ground. The good thing about it is that these boys weren't cheering him on, so there's hope (and yes, this is based upon pure speculation that they were related)
What an ugly mess.
Dont you mean "Did you Did it ?"
Artest went into stands as a visiting player and slamed people- first. Detroit fans will be charged but Artest with his long troubled history will lose the most
I see your point HOWEVER IF I did NOT see who did it, I would be WRONG for just punching anyone in sight......agreed?
I agree that he had that look like .. "ummm I didn't do anything wrong" .. my kids tend to try and pull that on me
With that said .. as for the sucker punch on Artest .. It was after he was trying to pull Artest off the younger guy
I would have hit Artest also in an attempt to get him off the dude
My 76 year old mom could foul harder.
Artest is nuts- he assaulted the fans and he's gonna pay the most
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