Posted on 11/23/2004 5:30:58 AM PST by MrBallroom
BRAWL IN THE FAMILY
by Timothy Rollins, Editor and Publisher
November 23, 2004
What in the world has become of sports these days? I'm not just talking about the athletes who have long been out of control, but now that venomous contagion has spread into the ranks of the paid attendance as well. Take for example the latest example of both athletes and fans behaving very badly, no; make that atrociously or rather, criminally.
We begin with the granddaddy of all fights, the basketbrawl showdown (yes, you read correctly) between the Indiana Pacers and the defending NBA champion Detroit Pistons where all hell broke loose Friday night at the Palace in Auburn Hills with only 45 seconds remaining in the game and Indiana had a 97-82 lead. A punch is thrown, players go at it, benches clear, fans get in on the act, and Indiana Pacers forward Ron Artest - long known as a problem child within the league - who went into the stands to slug it out with a fan, gets suspended for the remainder of the season without pay. This action will cost him over $5 million, all on account of his choosing to allow his ego to get the better of him and not be the better man and ignoring the actions of the fan that provoked him. Maybe now he can use some of that time off he wanted last month to promote his upcoming rap album. Remember that? His request for time off to do just that got him benched for a couple of games last month. Between Artest and the others players suspended, there will be a combined total of some 143+ games missed, all on account of the need for some overgrown children to 'let it out' and act like a bunch of spoiled brats. The referees called the game at the point when they realized it had become a shambles and was unsalvageable; that, and the Pacers had a 15-point lead anyway.
Suffice it to say, tapes of that game are being reviewed by the NBA to (a); discipline players and coaches involved, if any, (b); identify any fans involved. The president of the Detroit Pistons has said that if season ticket holders are involved, those non-refundable tickets will be revoked. At upwards of $9,000 and up a ticket, fan transgression may become very expensive indeed. In addition, the Auburn Hills Police are seeing who else was on Candid Camera for criminal charges against both fans and players alike, and lastly, the sharks - you got it, the lawyers - are getting in on the action too. Representing both fans and players, they'll be suing and countersuing each other over the melee that only further reinforces a reputation Detroit has earned by many across the country as a bunch of animals who can't behave themselves in public. Is it any wonder they call the place "New Fallujah"?
Just as this was still fresh in the minds of sports fans, the very next day - in South Carolina - the University of South Carolina was playing its main rival Clemson in their season finale and the final game of legendary coach Lou Holz's career, when towards the end of that game, all hell broke loose when players started slugging it out with one another, prompting coaches to try and break it up. They failed, police got involved, and a riot almost broke out in the process. What on earth is happening here? It's only a game, people!!
Lest we forget, earlier this year Vancouver Canuck Todd Bertuzzi kissed his NHL career goodbye for the hit he put on Colorado Avalanche center Steve Moore - a sucker punch that broke Moore's neck, gave him a concussion and other injuries that will in all likelihood end his career. Bertuzzi has been criminally charged by Vancouver Police in this incident and is scheduled to go on trial January 17th. Bertuzzi faces a maximum sentence of 18 months if convicted, and should be given the maximum sentence with no favoritism because of his celebrity status. Ironically, his trial will be in the same courthouse as another violent athlete who was knocked out of the NHL for his actions …
Going back further in history, we had the slashing incident in an NHL game back in 2000 season by enforcer Marty McSorley of the Boston Bruins that resulted in a year-long suspension which effectively ended his 17-year career. In addition, the Crown Attorney also filed criminal charges in that case as well, as it occurred in Vancouver, British Columbia. That trial resulted in McSorley being convicted of assault with a weapon but he received an 18-month conditional discharge, meaning no jail time and no criminal record after probation. Bertuzzi on the other hand, should not be as favored because the injuries he inflicted on Moore were far more severe; as such, his punishment must be as well. To do otherwise sends a dangerous signal to athletes at all levels that it's open season once play begins, and one is left to ask what kind of lesson does this teach our children? With this kind of animal behavior, are sensible parents going to want to get their children involved in sports? I think not, especially when parents themselves get out of control at everything from little-league baseball to pee-wee hockey, with a Massachusetts dad now serving six years in the state prison for killing another dad in an argument at a children's hockey match.
It's time that common sense and good sportsmanship broke out once more across the nation, and it must start at the professional level - especially the NBA - by placing a complete ban on alcoholic beverages anywhere in the building during NBA games. This restriction should not only be in the seats but in the luxury suites as well. In so doing, the NBA can restore its image as family-friendly and in the process take a major leap forward in regaining the respect lost over the weekend as a result of some players and fans who felt the urge to act like a bunch of two-year-olds. ***
© 2004 Timothy Rollins
EDITOR'S UPDATE: Since this article went to press, news has come out of Detroit that the first lawsuits - most notably against Indiana Pacers forward Ron Artest - are being filed in Oakland County (Michigan) Court. Also, the NBA players union is expected to appeal Artest's season-long suspension saying the punishment is too harsh. The suspension will more than likely be upheld. Stay tuned sports fans. Expect more to hit the fan in the coming days. ***
COPYRIGHT © 2004 BY THE AMERICAN PARTISAN
All writers retain rights to their work.
Just one more person's take on this... let me know how you feel about what clearly appears to be a growing problem in the sports arena.
It's (Geoffrey) FEIGER TIME!!!!
We never brawled????
The problem is the "nosebleed section" is getting closer to the field of play! ;^)
No organization seems to have the fortitude to offload this overhead because they are afraid they might miss out on a winning season without these idiots.
Of course after these guys retire, the teams seem to find another superstar or the talent managers find another super singer dancer or whatever.
So, why don't these people in charge of hiring get rid of these defectives and just move onto the talent they need that is already there, waiting to be hired.
The message to the professional problem children needs to be that they are replaceable and are not guaranteed a job in spite of bad behavior.
I cannot wait for the day when professional sports can be off shored.
I for the life of me cannot see why this is breaking news.
The guy is a cheapshot artist, plus he's nuts too..I bet that a lot of players are glad the bum is off the court for a year, too.
The answer to all this mayhem in the NBA is to bring in more players from Europe and other countries...They play TEAM basketball and can win in the NBA!
I'd love to hear your opinion of Latrell Spreewell.
And of course, the Player's Union is all upset about the harsh treatment of their "Boy".
DAVID STERN: RESIGN NOW!
HA! HA! I never liked P.J. Carlisimo. As a Wizard fan I'd take Spreee anyday!!! Haaa! Haaaa!
BTTT
Ping!
I understand...IMHO and ROFL.... but what the hell does BTTT mean?
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