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.''
It was one cup and it wasn't full. It took three thugs to defend against a half-empty cup?
Bling Bling BLING.
Foul was called.
I agree... seemed Artest was playing fairly cool laying there on the table till he got hit in the face. No sympathy from for that crowd. They had time to back away from the scene if they didn't want to play.
Yes it was a hard foul so Wallace smacked him. Artest completely fine with the big mans actions, but when the nerd threw a half full cup at him he went ape shit.
I had the feeling last night he was taking the NBA side -- and today he acted like he may have heard from somebody at the NBA about David Stern's statement and was trying to get out in front of the parage, if you know what I mean. And it was before the annoucements.
Yes. But the game was called so it wasn't enforced.
That's what happens in brawls. You throw a cup at someone, you're now a participant.
That was Steven A. Smith--he was on with Tony Snow. He was all on the players side last night. He was the one who kept name-dropping Shaq and other players he talked to.
Now, today, he thought it over (when his NBA buddies aren't around) and decides that it WASN'T a good idea to go in stands. This guy is a self promoter. Take what he says with whatever way the wind blows the salt.
I have a feeling that Artest is a very happy man today! He got the time off that he wanted to promote his CD. The only way this guy will truly be punished, is if there was some way that his CD couldn't come out during his suspension, but since it is a private business venture, there are no NBA strings to pull. Surely he didn't go into stands on purpose to get suspended, did he? Nah, that would require a train of thought!!!
If you hand out too severe a punishment, you might as well be telling the Pacers not to play this season. Stern won't do that. The Pacers are actually one of the weakest franchises in the league money-wise. He'd be killing off the franchise if he suspended three key players for all or most of the season.
As for Ben Wallace, I think one part of his actions that is being overlooked in the discussion is his yelling and throwing a towel at the Pacers just before the fans started throwing things at them. He incited the crowd, IMO, and the worst of this might not have happened if he hadn't done that. That's why he deserves a punishment as severe as Jackson and O'Neal.
er... No sympathy from ME for that crowd.
Thank you; I knew I saw him somewhere and just couldn't remember!
ESPN showing State troopers trying to break up big fight on the field at South Carolina / Clemson game.
Dare I say somthing about the incredibly disgusting moral values embraced, taught and advocated by the inner city culture of America today...
Gangsta Bump
Artest acted with class during the altercation with Wallace, but he was the first player to go in the stands after he got hit with a paper cup. His act of going after a fan he thought threw it was what esclated if from a run of the mill NBA slap fight to a riot.
Artest should be banned for life.
I did see the punch you refered to, but I thought it was Jackson that hit the fan on the floor, but I certainly could have been O'neal. I'm not sure.
He didn't get hit in the face.
On the video from the Detroit TV station, you can see a different angle than ESPN had; he definitely was prancing around, inciting the crowd; and as soon as Artest went into the stands, he ran right over there.
He saw the look in Wallace's eyes. It wasn't class that had him backing away.
Pray for W and Our Troops
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