Pacers Pistons game ends up in major violence ... WOW

Fox Sports Midwest

[LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget]

Big time fist throwing. Fans, players and more. Any thoughts ?

[Mr. Mojo]

No one here is saying the beer/chair throwing fans are even remotely in the right.

....And meanwhile, Artest went after the wrong guy. Taking a chance at throwing millions of dollars and one's career down the drain by going into the stands just because one's ego is a bit bruised - Artest had his butt kicked by Ben Wallace only a minute earlier. .....I guess he figured some beer-throwing joker would be a lot easier to fight - is the height of stupidity.

[mn-bush-man]

Those of you that think you can toss objects at grown men and not expect some kind of retaliation are hilarious.

And those of you who think you can attack a person (and instigate a near riot) because someone tosses a cup at you without suffering the ramifications of the law, both criminal and civil, are ignorant.

[TheOtherOne]

I wouldn't say equally. The beer was thrown first --- that's how the whole thing got started --- the "fan" did it exactly to provoke a reaction. The players are being paid money to play a game --- not to have beer and chairs thrown at them. Honestly --- if someone you had no quarrel with just came up and threw something at you, would you have no reaction at all? You would just meekly stand there and take it?

You, and everyone, who compares this to being attacked on the street is making one big mistake. This was not to random individuals on the street. This was at a place of work with security. To me it is more like a courtroom. Where defendants have attacked people before. Ususally, the Judge does not fly off his chair, but leaves it for a bailif to restore order.

Being hit by a half empty cup, when there is securty, is not a cause to attack someone. Artest could have had that fan ejected and arrested. Instead he over-reacted, and escalated the incident. For any fan other than the beer thrower, to have a NBA player charge into the crowd near you, and have no idea who he is planning to attack. I am surprised they did not take Artest down as a group. Simple, in this case, Artest was not under any threat of being further assulted. He chose to go into an opposing crowd to meed out some street justice. No matter what he had hit in that crowd, he was wrong.

As for Ben Wallace, yea his action were bad, traditional basketball bad. Give him his few games. His actions were within the game. Artest attacked paying fans who had nothing to do with the beer. That is unjustifiable. His mistake is not justified, because it was not reasonable or necessary for him to defend himself from a 1/2 empty plastic cup.

[Types_with_Fist]

Those of you that think you can toss objects at grown men and not expect some kind of retaliation are hilarious.

I think you've hit upon a keyword there, "grown man." In my world a "grown man" is responsible enough not to endanger children, old ladies and innocents in a meaningless and thoughtless retaliation over a plastic cup.

Those of you who think Artest acted like a "grown man" are hilarious.

[SouthTexas]

No doubt. LOL

This happened after, with 45 seconds left in the game, the players decide to have a free for all on the court. There is no excuse the throw the beer although the fans were just acting like their idols on the court.

[jennyjenny]

Well, it never would have started if the fan hadn't thrown the beer. Did you see O'Neill getting pummeled from behind? Did you see Artest getting pummeled from behind? The person that Artest went after in the stands was interviewed and said that Artest did not hit him. He said he grabbed him and asked him if he was the one that threw the beer. The "fans" climbed on top of the players in the stands.Then, they go out on the court and THE SAME FANS come out on the court asking for more? That's when these fans got hit by O'Neill and Artest. Watch it closely.

[mn-bush-man]

I'm young, big, and in pretty good shape, so folks know better than to mess with me. Okay, sarcasm off.

Seriously though, I fall somewhere between Artest and the French. I am the type that will confront a legitimate threat with an appropriate response. I also recognize that there are ramifications for having a short temper or reacting irrationally. In most circumstances, I try to think before I act. Mr. Artest should have done the same (as should have beer man).

As much as I'd like to continue this all day long, I have to go hang Christmas lights now. I hate ladders.

[FITZ]

Simple, in this case, Artest was not under any threat of being further assulted.

That's not true though. Even when the game was called off and the players were making a hasty retreat to the locker room the fans were busy pelting them with more cups filled with beer and other objects. Security was doing nothing to stop the further assaults on the players.

[ElRushbo]

It's amazing to me how evil the media is. Obviously, like in everything else they report on there is hidden agenda.

Watch the black leaders turn this into a race issue. The media can't state the obvious which is many of these players are uncontrollable and very dangerous. There will be efforts to boost security to "protect the players" Ha --I'd say to protect the fans--

There will be calls for booze to stop being sold-- there will be new rules and regulations for the fans.. but the players won't get the criticism they deserve.

Part of being a professional athlete is your ability to deal with fans professionally. Those of you who say you would have retaliated they way Artest- O'Neil- and Jackson did, ought to examine your thought process a little more closely.

The second you step foot in the stands you will be fined. No matter how upset you are-- a soda being thrown at you does not justify losing hundreds of thousands of dollars-- potentially millions

Also- an incident like this occurs under 1% of the time at professional athletic events. The athletes should know this. This isn't something they deal with on a day to day basis- Yet LOOK how they reacted?

Did you see Jackson's face when he went into the crowd?

To some of these guys fighting is natural and I know for a fact many look for reasons to fight. I have had guys get in my face for commenting on the jersey they are wearing!

[FITZ]

....And meanwhile, Artest went after the wrong guy.

That's the only bad part --- too bad he didn't get the right guy right away --- but he did ask the guy while he was punching him if it was him who threw the beer and quit when the guy said no it wasn't.

[TheOtherOne]

That's not true though. Even when the game was called off and the players were making a hasty retreat to the locker room the fans were busy pelting them with more cups filled with beer and other objects. Security was doing nothing to stop the further assaults on the players.

That was because of Artest actions attacking fans. There was no riot until Artest went into the stands.

[Mr. Mojo]

That's the only bad part

Actually, and unforutantely, there were a lot more "bad parts."

[Types_with_Fist]

but he did ask the guy while he was punching him if it was him who threw the beer and quit when the guy said no it wasn't.

LOL. How very "professional" of him. Good Lord, FITZ, are you a defense lawyer, an apologist or just in love with these thugs?

[Mr. Mojo]

I hope the tapes will reveal the indentities of the chair-throwers. Those nutballs need jail-time, for sure. I've seen chair-throwing incidents after a few boxing matches as well. .....usually after questionable decisions by the judges in the hometown of the losing boxer.

[Mark was here]

Can anyone tell me how much tickets to NBA games go for these days?

8th row = $110/seat for the Pistons.

[FITZ]

Ha --I'd say to protect the fans--

They're going to have to do something --- and yes to protect the fans. The fans think it's fun to throw objects at the players and up till now they've been doing so with no consequences. You'll also have to protect the fans from each other --- from the there team's fans also. These drunks are just looking for problems --- if they can't pelt the players, they'll be pelting each other. Just like in Europe where deaths at soccer games are not rare.

[Smogger]

Oneil (I am pretty sure he was the player) landedtwo huge punches especially the running punch that connected with the fan who had gone on the court and had just been punched by Artest.

You mean the fat boy that that ran up fists clenched and mouth flapping like he was going to do something? I admit it I cheered when Artest punched his lights out.

[FITZ]

None of the above --- but for once a basketball game actually became interesting. I don't even watch the game --- if this keeps up maybe I will.

[Types_with_Fist]

I don't even watch the game --- if this keeps up maybe I will.

Okay. Touche...:-) I admit I don't watch it much either. But, I DO like contact sports and war movies, so this melee appealed to me very much.

[Smogger]

And those of you who think you can attack a person (and instigate a near riot) because someone tosses a cup at you without suffering the ramifications of the law, both criminal and civil, are ignorant

Ignorant of the law? I don't know where you live, but around here it's ASSAULT to throw anything at anyone.