Posted on 11/21/2004 8:30:36 AM PST by Stew Padasso
Artest To Get 30-Game Suspension For Brawl, Station Reports
WDIV-TV In Brawl Says 4 Players Suspended
POSTED: 10:24 am EST November 21, 2004 UPDATED: 11:17 am EST November 21, 2004
The National Basketball Association suspended four players involved in Friday night's fight at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
WDIV-TV in Detroit is reporting today that Ben Wallace of the Pistons and Ron Artest, Stephen Jackson and Jermaine O'Neal of the Pacers will be suspended for the following number of games:
Ron Artest -- 30 Games Stephen Jackson -- 20 Games Jermaine O'Neal -- 20 Games Ben Wallace -- 5 Games
The NBA is expected to formally announce the suspensions as early as today for their roles in the ugly brawl at the end of a Pacers-Pistons game.
Indiana's Ron Artest, Jermaine O'Neal and Stephen Jackson, and Detroit's Ben Wallace were suspended indefinitely by the NBA on Saturday.
League officials continue to examine videotapes of Friday's fight.
It all started in the final seconds when Wallace went in for a layup and was fouled hard from behind. Wallace then spun around and pushed an Indiana player in the face. The benches emptied and punches were thrown. Fans got involved by throwing popcorn, beer and even a chair.
"No one can condone the level of incitement and violence we all witnessed. Clearly, there's a need to institute measures and safeguards to improve the safety of players and fans alike, to ensure that an incident like this never occurs again," said G. William Hunter, executive director of the NBA players' association.
NBA Commissioner David Stern called the brawl "shocking, repulsive and inexcusable." The Oakland County prosecutors office is reviewing videotapes of the incident after police questioned witnesses. Authorities plan to talk to the players involved.
Police said Saturday about a half-dozen people have been treated for injuries after a fight between Detroit Piston fans and Indiana players.
Most were treated at the Pistons' home arena, while two went to a local hospital. Michigan police are talking to witnesses and reviewing videotape, and officers also plan to talk to the players involved.
An Auburn Hills deputy chief said police hope to present the case to prosecutors "before Thanksgiving." He said the Oakland County Prosecutors Office will then decide whether to file charges.
Meanwhile, on Saturday night the undermanned Indiana Pacers found themselves on the losing end of an 86-83 decision against the Orlando Magic on Saturday at Conseco Fieldhouse.
They could have told Artest and Jackson and ONeill they will never play another game EVER in the NBA and it would not have been entirely out of line. 30 Games is, IMHO, too light, but when viewed through the prism that is the FU'd world we live in, I suppose it'll do.
Wallace really should have gotten a 2 game suspension, since his was a typical on-court altercation that was quickly brought under control. 10 games would be too little for the rest of them. Going into the stands and punching innocent fans is inexcusable. From what I've heard, the guy that Artest attacked in the stands was not the one who threw the beer. And running across the court at full speed and attempting to knock out a fan is also inexcusable. If O'Neal hadn't slipped before he landed the punch, he could have killed that fan.
Artest is probably secretly happy. After all, he only asked for month off to recover from recording his rap album. This should give him an extra two weeks to rest.
Human nature--soccer-fan style.
i hope stern has the guts to ban alcohol from the league
I agree - the punishment didn't fit the crime. It should be:
Ron Artest - Gone. History. Free to be the wanna-be thug rapper he wants to be.
Stephen Jackson, Jermaine O'Neil and Ben Wallace - Rest of the season off, forced to listen to Ron Artest rap CD's every day.
Artest and Jackson should be booted from the league for going into the stands and throwing haymakers. O'Neill should be gone for the year for his part on the floor.
If the NBA doesn't kick these guys out, it will happen again and someone will get stabbed by a fan.
By the way, the fans should not be exempt here either. Any fan who came on the court should be arrested for inciting a riot.
Of course, the NBA has been headed for cultural disaster for years; this incident doesn't really surprise me. What did surprise me were the ESPN guys that night (John Saunders, Stephen Smith, Tim Legler and Greg Anthony) who thought Artest and Jackson were justified in going into the stands. Unbelievable.
I'm a union guy through and through but the union is not and should not feel compelled to go to bat for these thugs. I don't think criminal activity, simply because it took place on a basketball court, is grievable.
A life time suspension is in order.
Yeah *lol* I'm amazed at the reaction of people to this. They've never seen or been in a euro-football or brasil football game EVER.
NBA is a circus act. It's a freak show. during the freakshows, when they do a poor acts, audience throw popcorn, beer, or whatever. they didn't come to NBA to see people shoving another player way the Ron Artest did. Ron ARtest is a big SOB, who doesn't know any better and who waxsn't raised properly.
It's not like they threw guns or knives. These little people who are like (5-6 ~ 5-10) are being attacked by these giant (6-5 ~ 7-9) people because these beer bottles hurt them? Do you know how big these players are? They are giants.
These little people come to see some freak shows and they got hit by these thugsish freaks.
Amen. And the enabler Stern should be gone as well if it doesn't happen.
Good! After watching that tape last night, it's a wonder they weren't thrown in jail! Artest attacked a man in the stands for no discernible reason, other than the man was yelling at him! Artest and the other players should not have gone into the stands at all. They acted like a bunch of thugs, and they should be treated accordingly.
I would like to see Life time ban on these SOBS for attacking their customers, whom paid to see these giant freaks drippling and passing balls while wearing tanktops and loose fitting shorts.
30 Games? That is slap on the wrist. I think he should be banned for life.
I'd be happier if the Pacer thugs were suspended for the entire season.
I think the fans should be sentenced to listen to Artest's rap artistry too.
Is it with or without pay?
entire season... no
Ban.
If you attack your customer when you to go to work, you get fired.
These thugs should be fired and should be in jail for Felony C class acts.
That's what I was thinking as I watched the fight live - Artest is going to get what he wanted in the first place, a long time away from basketball.
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