If you can find a career where what is expected from you is to stand there and let people throw beer, trash, fists, etc. at you, and you will get paid 6-7 figures, go for it. I don't think you'll have much luck. That's not what these players are getting paid to do. I really think the drunk "fan" should have given it more thought, because if I decided to throw a beer on someone, unprovoked, I'd quite expect them to come after me, regardless of how much money they make.
I heard that. If you throw something unprovoked at a grown man, much less a 200 lb athlete I think it's safe to assume you might get an ass-beating.
Those of you that think you can toss objects at grown men and not expect some kind of retaliation are hilarious.
....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.