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NBA indefinitely suspends Artest, O'Neal, Jackson, (Ben) Wallace
AP ^ | 11-20-04

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.''


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events; US: Indiana; US: Michigan
KEYWORDS: artest; cbs; greganthony; jackson; nba; oneal; pacers; pistons; wallace
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To: John W
Two ways to remain unthreatened would be to refrain from hurling objects at the players and to avoid going onto the basketball court.

I saw a lady being attended to lying on the floor. I don't think she hurled anything except mayber her dinner.

41 posted on 11/20/2004 11:58:25 AM PST by WildTurkey
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To: Bullish

There are a lot of little kids that have more intelligence then some of the NBA players...


42 posted on 11/20/2004 11:58:34 AM PST by Americanwolf (Freedom... Protected by the brave so the meek and lazy don't have to get off the sofa.)
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To: WildTurkey

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.


43 posted on 11/20/2004 11:59:29 AM PST by Mr.Clark (From the darkness....I shall come)
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To: Private_Sector_Does_It_Better
Actually all of the guy on the ESPN roundtable said the players were justified.

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.

44 posted on 11/20/2004 11:59:49 AM PST by Howlin (I love the smell of mandate in the morning.)
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To: idkfa
I think was both.

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.

45 posted on 11/20/2004 12:00:25 PM PST by WildTurkey
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To: Dan from Michigan
I noticed the same thing. He really couldn't tell who he was going after- he was pissed and he want after SOMEONE. That alone is inexcusable. There is NO justification in that. And "defending youself" from a thrown beer" is hunting a person down and pummeling hime in the face?

Sad day for the children that had to witness this. I hope Bill Cosby goes after these guys!

46 posted on 11/20/2004 12:00:54 PM PST by admiralsn (If you want to make God laugh, tell him your future plans. (Or vote democrat.))
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To: WildTurkey
Artest punched the fan and then another Pacer came in and punched the fan a second time. I thought the second Pacer was Jackson, but I could have been O'neal. Even if it was O'neal, it's a different thing punching a fan that comes on the floor as opposed to going up in the stands after a fan.
47 posted on 11/20/2004 12:01:47 PM PST by Private_Sector_Does_It_Better (The UN did such a fine job with "Oil for Food" in Iraq, let's let them run the whole country!)
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To: Dan from Michigan

Ben Wallace has an IQ of about 50. What a thug.

John


48 posted on 11/20/2004 12:02:03 PM PST by jrfaug06
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To: Private_Sector_Does_It_Better

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.


49 posted on 11/20/2004 12:02:07 PM PST by usafsk ((Know what you're talking about before you dance the QWERTY waltz))
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To: Dan from Michigan

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.


50 posted on 11/20/2004 12:02:17 PM PST by Tall_Texan (Let's REALLY Split The Country! (http://righteverytime3.blogspot.com))
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To: Howlin

Was it the loudmouth guy with the annoying voice? Stephen A Smith?


51 posted on 11/20/2004 12:02:36 PM PST by Dan from Michigan ("...don't you fill me up with your rules, cause everybody knows that smoking ain't allowed in (bars))
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To: Mr.Clark
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.

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.

52 posted on 11/20/2004 12:03:06 PM PST by WildTurkey
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To: WildTurkey

"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.


53 posted on 11/20/2004 12:03:06 PM PST by jocon307 (Jihad is world wide. Jihad is serious business. We ignore global jihad at our peril.)
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To: REDWOOD99

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.


54 posted on 11/20/2004 12:03:25 PM PST by Excuse_My_Bellicosity (Gun-control is leftist mind-control.)
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To: Michael.SF.
Ron Artest, Jermaine O'Neal and Stephen Jackson

Now they're free to go into more lucrative ventures..
drug dealin' comes to mind.

55 posted on 11/20/2004 12:03:35 PM PST by evad (The existence of Israel would not pass JF'nK's Global Test)
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To: Private_Sector_Does_It_Better

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!


56 posted on 11/20/2004 12:04:07 PM PST by mrbillxx (Conservatives Think. Liberals Feel.)
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To: Private_Sector_Does_It_Better
Wallace didn't mix it up with any fans and O'neal never really punched anyone but he did go into the stands. Jackson and Artest's actions on the other hand were criminal, they should be arrested and banned for life.

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!

57 posted on 11/20/2004 12:04:09 PM PST by normy (Don't hit at all if it is honorably possible to avoid hitting; but never hit soft.)
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To: Private_Sector_Does_It_Better; WildTurkey

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!


58 posted on 11/20/2004 12:04:10 PM PST by Howlin (I love the smell of mandate in the morning.)
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To: Dan from Michigan

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.


59 posted on 11/20/2004 12:04:19 PM PST by b4its2late (Liberals are good examples of why some animals eat their young.)
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To: Dan from Michigan

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.


60 posted on 11/20/2004 12:04:55 PM PST by stefanbc (Have a nice left-wing suicide : hate to be ya)
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