Posted on 11/20/2004 2:20:17 PM PST by RayChuang88
NEW YORK (AP) - Ron Artest, Jermaine O'Neal and Stephen Jackson of Indiana and Ben Wallace of Detroit were suspended indefinitely by the NBA on Saturday for taking part in one of the ugliest brawls in U.S. sports history, a fight with fans that commissioner David Stern called "shocking, repulsive and inexcusable."
League officials were examining video tapes of Friday night's melee and interviewing witnesses. The NBA issued a statement saying it was reviewing rules and security procedures "so that fans can continue to attend our games unthreatened by events such as the ones that occurred last night."
Artest, O'Neal and Jackson - who all threw punches at fans in the stands or on the court at the end of the nationally televised Pacers-Pistons game - were to begin serving their suspensions Saturday night, when Indiana hosted Orlando.
Wallace's suspension will begin with the Pistons' next game, at home Sunday night against the Charlotte Bobcats.
(Excerpt) Read more at sports.myway.com ...
We didn't see this happen - just the short replays on the news......... what happened? Did a fan taunt them and they attacked? We weren't sure if this was players fighting or what was going on......
Nevermind RC, saw the footage on TV last night. W-o-w.
More likely, the fans involved "hit the lottery" two nights ago. They'll come out of this with a big settlement, IMHO.
Thanks for the ping to this. I was totally unaware of this happening until this Sunday morning news (early) and talk shows. I watched and switched channels repeatedly. I think I understood the whole thing. Seems like all were out of control - players and fans alike.
But, gotta say - I LMOA when I heard Tim Russert ask John McCain what he thought about the NBA melee.
McCain answered something along the line of 'Got to get steroids out of Baseball.' BASEBALL!!!!!!!!!!
As a matter of fact, I'm still laughing about his response!
McCain said baseball twice, and I guess Russert was too much of a gentleman to embarrass him.
Hell, these guys are paid millions to have stuff thrown at them.
These players started it on the floor, the crowd got into it, and they let their egos get the better of them. One look at that crying little girl and her father was enough for me -- no excuse for any player to enter the stands and engage the fans in fisticuffs.
I've had it with the NBA.
Dang, now that NASCAR's over, what am I gonna watch????
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