Posted on 11/20/2004 11:43:57 AM PST by Dan from Michigan
NBA indefinitely suspends Artest, O'Neal, Jackson, Wallace
November 20, 2004
NEW YORK (AP) -- The NBA suspended Ron Artest, Jermaine O'Neal and Stephen Jackson of Indiana and Ben Wallace of Detroit on Saturday for taking part in one of the ugliest brawls in U.S. sports history.
The suspensions were indefinite, and the league was still investigating Friday night's melee, which commissioner David Stern called ``shocking, repulsive and inexcusable -- a humiliation for everyone associated with the NBA.''
The league 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.''
I saw a lady being attended to lying on the floor. I don't think she hurled anything except mayber her dinner.
There are a lot of little kids that have more intelligence then some of the NBA players...
It was O'Neal. Artest swung at the guy, but got tackled by another fan. The guy went down as well, some coach then jumped on him. The guy started to get up, and O'Neal absolutely decked him, right in the face. The fan stayed down after that, O'Neal is lucky he didn't kill the guy or something.
The one guy, with the moustache, that kept saying "I just talked to Shag," "I just talked to so and so," well, he was on MSNBC today around lunchtime.
He has changed his tune, big time. "After thinking it over," he says.
I know it was Artest that hit him first as both were standing. Then when the guy got to his knees waving the towel or shirt some one cold-cocked him. I thought Artest but the paper said O'Neal. I believe you are confirming that O'Neal was the second one. Thank you.
Sad day for the children that had to witness this. I hope Bill Cosby goes after these guys!
Ben Wallace has an IQ of about 50. What a thug.
John
I see that no one is interested in the fans being punished as well? I'm not going to defend Artest's actions, which were out of line, but this was not a case on unprovoked violence. The scumbag in the hat not only through the beer, but then steered Artest past him onto to his buddy, then punched him in the back of the head. Cap-boy is a coward and his actions were as bad as any of the players. Also, what of the big dude with the credentials around his neck rabbit punching as well. And what about the other dope who confronted Artest as he was leaving? He took two in the face and went down. Idiots all, including the players.
Shows what kind of goobers are attending your typical NBA game. Drunks watching thugs play a narcissitic brand of what used to be a great sport.
Weak. It's meant to sound tough when it really isn't.
If I were Stern:
Artest: Two month suspension without pay.
Jackson: One month suspension without pay served when Artest's suspension is finished.
O'Neal: One month suspension without pay served when Jackson's suspension is finsihed.
Ben Wallace: One month suspension without pay.
Larry Brown: Fined for postgame comments.
Pistons: Fined for hiring inadequate security.
All tapes handed over to identify and prosecute fans involved in the melee. Revocation of season tickets possible if warranted.
Instead, expect it to all be wiped away in time for the Christmas Day rematch on ABC.
Was it the loudmouth guy with the annoying voice? Stephen A Smith?
Thank you. AP reported that O'Neal hit him as the guy was attacking O'Neal. I thought he was down. This fan has some mighty valuable video. I saw that the cops were in the ESPN coverage trailer after the fights.
"No one from the SacBee or the Kings criticized the players actions."
Well, I heard one guy, I think he was a Detroit sports reporter, interviewed on ESPN, he was very condemnatory about the entire incident. Sorry I can't tell you who he is.
No joke. The players union comes to the defense of ballplayers who kill people in DUI accidents, so I fully expet them to cry self-defense on behalf of the bozo ballplayers that took their beef into the stands. They're just as bad as the moron fans throwing beer and food.
Now they're free to go into more lucrative ventures..
drug dealin' comes to mind.
Funny that one of the panel is Greg Anthony. He's a thug himself. He was involved in a brawl here in Phoenix some years back.
He was in street clothes and left the bench and sucker-punched Kevin Johnson.
Hardly one to be talking about who's right and wrong!
You must have missed it, but Jermain O'Neil ran a good few steps on the floor and punched some guy who was looking the other way in the jaw/neck area knocking him to the floor.
I will tell you I am fed up with the so called experts saying the fans were more responsible. I would say every fan who was bumped elbowed or pushed while Artest went after that guy had every right to stomp him. Stephen Jackson should be banned for life and sued and O'Neil should also be banned for life and sued. I thought Artest acted the most reasonable of the whole bunch and he acted like an ass.
If Artest is such a bad ass( not that you said he was, just a point) why did he take the punch from Wallace and start clowning but a weak nerd throws a dixie cup at him and he chases him into the stands? Wallace should just serve whatever the regular suspension is for his punch/slap of Artest.
Go Mavs!
Artest came out of the stand and when he saw the fan, took an immediate "fight" position and then coldcocked him; the second fan on the floor came to the defense of the guy Artest hit, then some guy in a brownish suit hit THAT guy before O'Neal came flying from nowhere and hit the second guy again!
I think the league will be sending them a message. It might not be a lifetime ban, but they should be sacked without pay for a long time.
Lawsuits and criminal charges next. Yep, ban these violent clowns and send a message about their place: entertainers on the court, criminals in the stands.
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