Posted on 11/23/2004 3:48:45 PM PST by Dan from Michigan
Fan at center of Pistons-Pacers brawl calls Artest a `thug'
11/23/2004, 2:43 p.m. ET
The Associated Press
WEST BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — The Detroit fan who authorities say threw a cup that hit Indiana forward Ron Artest and started a brawl during a Pistons-Pacers game described the player Tuesday as a "thug."
John Green, a 39-year-old contractor from the Detroit suburb of West Bloomfield Township, made the comments during an appearance with his lawyer, Shawn Smith, on ABC's "Good Morning America."
"Ron Artest went through the stadium punching people the whole night," Green said. "He was being a thug."
Artest said Tuesday he wishes he hadn't gotten into a fight with fans but feels his season-ending suspension was too harsh.
"I don't think it was fair — that many games," Artest said in an interview with NBC's "Today" show. "I respect (NBA Commissioner) David Stern's decisions, but I don't think I should have been out for the whole season."
On Monday, Oakland County Prosecutor David Gorcyca said Green was the fan who threw a cup that hit Artest. Gorcyca also said footage showed that once Artest was in the stands, Green grabbed him from behind and sucker-punched him.
Charges have not yet been brought in the Friday brawl as police in Auburn Hills continue to investigate.
Green, through his lawyer, declined to speak with The Associated Press on Tuesday. But he told reporters Monday that it may have looked like he threw the cup, but he didn't. On Tuesday, he described the scene of the brawl to "Good Morning America."
"From where I was, the cup was hurled in the general vicinity of where I was. Ron Artest got hit. He looked up. We were shocked the cup hit him," Green said. "He looked up at us and started charging up there. It was pretty shocking. I didn't know what to think. I haven't been in too many fights in my life."
Green described himself as a respected businessman with a wife and two children.
"I don't go around breaking the law," he said. "If they have found that I broke the law, I'll pay the price."
Gorcyca said Green was on probation for his third offense of driving under the influence. Green's record also includes a 1988 assault with intent to do great bodily harm, an attempt to escape from custody that same year, a conviction for carrying a concealed weapon in 1986, and a conviction for check fraud, according to the Michigan Department of Corrections' online database.
Green, who said he was not drinking Friday night, said he grabbed Artest from behind, trying to get him to stop attacking another fan.
"He (Artest) kicked me from behind a couple of times, in my shin. And then when he did that, which got me mad, then I in turn ... got a little bit angry, at the time," he said.
Pistons chief executive Tom Wilson said Green will be banned from The Palace.
A pox on both houses.
For a WWF cage match. My money is on Ron.
All I can say is just damn..
getting banned from the Palace might be a blessing in disguise!
That's quite a rap sheet. Who is the thug?
In no way am I defending Artest's actions, but I'm sorry, this Green guy is a friggin' idiot - as further evidence here:
Green, a 39-year-old contractor, told reporters Monday that it may have looked like he threw the cup, but he didn’t.
“I wish the whole thing didn’t happen,” he said. “It was awful, it was ugly.”
Green’s attorney, Shawn Smith, said his client became involved in the brawl only when he saw Artest hitting a smaller man. Green also said Artest kicked him in the shin “a couple of times.”
“We have no comment on who threw the cup, it’s irrelevant,” Smith said. He said fans shouldn’t throw things, “but is it a criminal offense? I don’t think so.”
During an appearance Tuesday on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” Green described himself as a respected businessman with a wife and two children. He said he was not drinking Friday night and that Artest was “being a thug.”
“I don’t go around breaking the law,” Green said. “If they have found that I broke the law, I’ll pay the price.”
I saw him this morning. Fits to a tee the title of "jerk."
Saw Artest too. At times it seemed he didn't understand what was going on. Goofy. And lamely tried to plug his music CD.
Hey NBA! Sign him up for a $10M/year contract. Perfect role model. /sarcasm
Don't they have THREE STRIKES IN MICHIGAN? THIS CLOWN IS GOING UP RIVER!
I think Artest is getting off lightly, if you judge by what SHOULD be happening rather than past history.
Athletes who behave like this should never play professionally again - EVER.
Wouldn't we be better off if Tyson had been forced to end his boxing career, Alomar had never set foot on another MLB field, and Sprewell had been kicked out of the NBA - permanently?
One thing for sure - the players, and today's young athletes would sure understand the penalties of bad behavior - and it would probably just about put a stop to it. Who's going to yield to the temptation to punch someone when a $10 million/year salary is on the line?
I hope they do a lot more than that to this thug.
I have no problem with the suspensions that have been handed out to the players, and with pursuing criminal charges against the players involved. At the same time, however, some of these fans who became physically involved (like Green, and those clowns who came down onto the court) should also be held accountable.
Maybe they should ban several of the players from The Palace forever, too.
now WHO believes he was not drinking that night?
Yeah, some cajones gettin himself on TV!
Boy, there's gonna be some biiiig $$$$ on this one :-)
Artest is one rare millionaire, mentally deficient AND Psycho.
After 3 DUI's????
Green is a pretty common name...how sure is the main stream fraudcasters that they have the right man...or are they just smearing one for their own little socialist agenda...
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