[self_evident]

If someone charged into my cubicle at work, drenched me with beer and proceeded to pick up a chair and throw it at my head I might find it hard to remain above the fray.

True. But what if you ran over two secretaries (injuring both) and punched someone who just happened to be standing nearby? Artest didn't just fail to stay out of the fray (it might have actually been funny if he had grabbed a beer and thrown one back), he started a whole new, highly escalated fray.

[GSWarrior]

You're right. One thing led to another and it quickly spun out of control. It looked Jackson and O'Neal did more than just defend Artest. I think their suspensions will be longer than his.