[Doctorlawyer]

For Ben Wallace to only get a 6 game suspension is a travesty.

1. Ben Wallace unjustifiably shoved Ron Artest after a hard, but not flagrant foul.

2. Ben Wallace then threw a towel at Ron Artest after Artest had stopped arguing and had lain down on the tables.

3. The throwing of the towel incited the fan to throw the beer at Artest.

But for Ben Wallace's actions, the ugly incident would not have occurred.

Ben Wallaced deserved at least a 25 game suspension.

[kempo]

Shoving another player is not criminal, smacking a fan in the mouth with your fist is a criminal act. No comparison.

[pctech]

I hope these suspensions are appeal-able. While Artest can be explosive, Ben Wallace and the Detroit fans are to blame for the whole thing. Artest was only defending himself as was the rest of the Pacers who got involved.

I'm tired of this "holier than thou" attitude by the rest of the Pacers who didn't get involved, the Detroit Pistons, the Detroit press, and the NBA. A man defends himself and gets tossed for the season or 25-30 games?? I don't think so.

[Gimme]

hmm Evidently the folks that count don't agree with you.

[ElRushbo]

25 games!

So you are one of those who believes that Wallace should be penalized for the way somebody else acts? Wallace getting 7 games is a travesty because he shouldn't have got any. He pushed Artest-- that happens in 50% of NBA games---

please don't hold someone else accountable for another's actions--

Revise your moral code

[iconoclast]

You're the clown that held up the conviction of Snott Peterson too, aren't yuh?

[itcslewis]

yeah, and the riot is in no way related to Ron Artest's and Jackson's going into the stands? C'mon, bro! Those guys are lucky to have been able to leave the stands. If I was in there, me and my buds would have rocked them down back to the court where they belong. And is it considered normal for a player to LAY DOWN ON THE SCORER'S TABLE???? And where were all the refs, less that one lone referee keeping Artest back for awhile? Both Jackson and Artest should have been suspended for the rest of the year, including playoffs, and O'Neal should have been suspended for 40 games for hitting that innocent fan on the court. The fat guy was just trying to keep his buddy off the court and he already got socked by Artest for crying out loud.

[GWfan]

1. How could Ben Wallace know that a fan would throw anything at Artest?

2. Ben Wallace did not go into the stands.

Artest, OTOH, has been a volcano ready to erupt at any time. He needs help. The mistake most people who side with the Pacers are making is that they are looking at this one game only.

I propose that the lawyer in you is trying to look at this one incident only and not allow Artest's previous behavior to influence your take on this.

Let me appeal to the physician in you. Artest has a hx of volatile behavior: flagrant fouls, suspensions, throwing a TV. He also has a hx of just plain bizarre behavior: applying for a job at Circuit City before the draft (supposedly to get the discount), asking for a month off (this season to promote a rap/r&b album), and making all kinds of strange public statements regarding his own play.

In fact, at that game, he asked a reporter (I think Jim Gray) if the reporter thought that Artest was getting fouled and the refs weren't calling anything. That is a no-no in the NBA or other pro sports and Artest knows it. So is going into the stands. Every player knows to NEVER go into the stands.

He has big problems IMO. The Pacers organization have let him get away with a lot and have ignored clear signs that he needs help. It was only a matter of time before he erupted again.

[AFreeBird]

I concure, Wallace should have gotten a much heavier suspention. He incited the fans and the fans followed his example.

I'm not defending any of the players going into the stands but if Wallace had not acted as he did, it would have never happened.

And if some fans don't face some serious consequences, I'll be greatly disapointed.