BASKETBALL MELEE

[Soulpieced]

I would have posted earlier but I had to see the commentary. This is gonna hit national news tonight. If you don't know what I'm talking about, flip on ESPN or ESPN News, and check your local news stations at 11:00 Eastern.

Talk about shit hitting the fan.

[Mistomeer]

That shit was awesome.

[Drew]

wow that was crazy. I wonder if anyone will get charged.

[Methais]

Someone gimme a video link the news is showing high school football as if anyone gives a fuck.

[Edited on 11-20-2004 by Methais]

[Edited on 11-20-2004 by HarmNone]

[Edited again to state that these boards are getting fucking stupid with their new lame ass rules and becoming more Simu-like everyday. A year ago this bullshit would have been unheard of on this forum. Now it's just getting "Another word for happy."]

[Edited on 11-20-2004 by Methais]

[ThisOtherKingdom]

Looks like Ron Artest needed a way to promote his rap album.

[Tsa`ah]

ESPN doesn't have video up that I can see, but there are plenty of pictures and an article already.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=241119008
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/photos?gameId=241119008

[Carl Spackler]

Ron Artest had nothing to do with instigating the brawl itself, he had calmed down after his altercation with Wallace and was actually talking to reporters with a headset on and a fan threw a beer at him, so he went after the fan.

[ThisOtherKingdom]

Originally posted by Carl Spackler
Ron Artest had nothing to do with instigating the brawl itself, he had calmed down after his altercation with Wallace and was actually talking to reporters with a headset on and a fan threw a beer at him, so he went after the fan.

It doesn't matter. He's a professional, he should be big enough to ignore it. It's not his job to go kick the shit out of the fan. He could be a man and have security remove the douchebag fan.

Both players and fans are getting out of hand, this type of thing is happening in every sport now.

[Syberus]

I'm... ashamed to live in Michigan right now.

[Fallen]

Yeah, our fans all got destroyed.

[Drektor]

Once fans got onto the floor and began fighting with players and officials, I feel professionalism takes a backseat to protecting yourself.

[Sean]

http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/motion/showcase/index?videos=1927343

[Methais]

HAHAHAHA that rocks. I'm glad those fans got the shit beat out of them.

Course now they'll probably sue the NBA for "Pain and Suffering cause I'm a pussy" even though they probably walked away with a small bruise or some shit.

[Drektor]

O'Neal had the punch of the night. That shit was sweet.

That one fan O'neal punched flat in the face must've been hitting the booze or something. From the video it looks like the shit didn't even faze him.

[Back]

Now watch they make the stadium dry.

[Carl Spackler]

Originally posted by ThisOtherKingdom

Originally posted by Carl Spackler
Ron Artest had nothing to do with instigating the brawl itself, he had calmed down after his altercation with Wallace and was actually talking to reporters with a headset on and a fan threw a beer at him, so he went after the fan.

It doesn't matter. He's a professional, he should be big enough to ignore it. It's not his job to go kick the shit out of the fan. He could be a man and have security remove the douchebag fan.

Both players and fans are getting out of hand, this type of thing is happening in every sport now.

Are you kidding me? Yes there is a line of professionalism, but there also is a line when someone must protect themselves. I don't know if you follow hockey or not but a few years back a fan was climbing the glass behind the penalty box to yell at Tie Domi, well the glass collapsed and he fell in, what do you expect Domi to do, stand there? Fuck no, he fed it to that asshole, and rightfully so.

It's a known rule at sporting events that you don't throw shit on the field or at the players, that opens the door for you to get your ass beat.

[Skeeter]

So you feel the vicious attack with a beer cup is enough to warrent aggravated assault?

Remind me not to go to bars with you, somone might accidentally spill a beer, then the shit would be ON!!!

[Iriscience]

That was fuckin awesome. But I think Artest should have fucked up that guy in the stands more.

[Hulkein]

Originally posted by Stanley Burrell
That one fan O'neal punched flat in the face must've been hitting the booze or something. From the video it looks like the shit didn't even faze him.

O'Neal's foot was splipping on the court, it took most of the power out of his punch. Still looked good though.

A couple of the players got hit good, Jones got fucked up from that big black fan, and the dude in blue at least hit Artest in the face for his friend.

Plus they all got soaked and got shit thrown at them.

<< I don't know if you follow hockey or not but a few years back a fan was climbing the glass behind the penalty box to yell at Tie Domi, well the glass collapsed and he fell in, what do you expect Domi to do, stand there? Fuck no, he fed it to that asshole, and rightfully so. >>

Haha, that guy who went in the penalty box lives like 5 minutes from me.

Artest shouldn't have a gonein the stands, there is a difference between fighting a fan on a court and going into the stands. He crossed the line. I wish him and Jackson got shanked non-fatally.

[Edited on 11-20-2004 by Hulkein]

[Carl Spackler]

Originally posted by Skeeter
So you feel the vicious attack with a beer cup is enough to warrent aggravated assault?

Remind me not to go to bars with you, somone might accidentally spill a beer, then the shit would be ON!!!

Yes as an athlete you're expected to deal with the verbal assault you will receive at an arena, but never are you expected to deal with someone physically attacking you.

[Mistomeer]

Originally posted by Skeeter
So you feel the vicious attack with a beer cup is enough to warrent aggravated assault?

Remind me not to go to bars with you, somone might accidentally spill a beer, then the shit would be ON!!!

If someone accidentally spills a beer on me, then it's no problem. If someone picks up their beer, and throws it at me, then it's on.

[Tsa`ah]

This is why we never thought plastic beer bottles were not a good idea ... but noooo ... no one ever listens to me.

[Carl Spackler]

I think plastic is great everywhere, I cut my foot pretty bad this summer on a bottle at the bar.

[Tsa`ah]

Stadiums haven't served in glass for a long long long time. The plastic cup is fine. Ya it sucks, but it takes true lush to get completely shit faced from stale beer in a plastic cup.

In sporting events, plastic cups make it to the floor and players from seasoned cup throwers. Your garden variety amateur doesn't have the skill to deliver a half empty cup of beer to center court from mid section seats.

With a plastic bottle, any moron can chuck the container from nose bleed and the velocity/impact potential can be very dangerous.

[Edited on 11-20-2004 by Tsa`ah]

[Carl Spackler]

Right, but this cup came from like 5 rows up. The guy in the blue shirt and hat was the one who actually threw it, but he ran out of the picture for a sec when Artest came in to the crowd, then got back in it after he'd been grabbed by a couple guys.

[Methais]

<<So you feel the vicious attack with a beer cup is enough to warrent aggravated assault?

Remind me not to go to bars with you, somone might accidentally spill a beer, then the shit would be ON!!!>>

Quit being a pussy.

[Tsa`ah]

Originally posted by Carl Spackler
Right, but this cup came from like 5 rows up. The guy in the blue shirt and hat was the one who actually threw it, but he ran out of the picture for a sec when Artest came in to the crowd, then got back in it after he'd been grabbed by a couple guys.

I'm not laying blame. I'm saying bottles in an arena are not a good idea. Refer to my previous post.

[Suppa Hobbit Mage]

They should permanently suspend all the players that went into the stands to fight.

A little beer to the face and a "professional" athlete attacks the people that pay to see the games. Get a thicker skin, or why go to a live event at all (from my perspective), because I may say "You suck" to the wrong NBA player who then decides to come swinging.

[Sean]

Originally posted by Suppa Hobbit Mage
They should permanently suspend all the players that went into the stands to fight.

A little beer to the face and a "professional" athlete attacks the people that pay to see the games. Get a thicker skin, or why go to a live event at all (from my perspective), because I may say "You suck" to the wrong NBA player who then decides to come swinging.

Where do you draw the line though of what sort of attack it takes before your allowed to respond?

[Hulkein]

You can't go in stands, period. Artest didn't even get the right guy.

He isn't a child, he should know going into the stands is going to make it worse.

[AnticorRifling]

BAM

http://www.clickondetroit.com/video/3935750/detail.html

[Suppa Hobbit Mage]

Originally posted by Tijay

Originally posted by Suppa Hobbit Mage
They should permanently suspend all the players that went into the stands to fight.

A little beer to the face and a "professional" athlete attacks the people that pay to see the games. Get a thicker skin, or why go to a live event at all (from my perspective), because I may say "You suck" to the wrong NBA player who then decides to come swinging.

Where do you draw the line though of what sort of attack it takes before your allowed to respond?

There is a reason fans are not allowed on the court ... same holds true for an athlete going into the stands.

Where do I draw the line? I draw it where the athlete charges a fan. There is security, there are police. An athlete never needs to go up there.

[Carl Spackler]

I saw not too long ago that they suspended Ben Wallace indefinitely as well as Artest,, Jackson and O'neal... what are these donkeys doing, Wallace had nothing to do with the brawl that occured on the court, he went after Artest, give him the usual 1-3 games.

[Hulkein]

Yeah I'd guess Wallace will only get like 2-4.

All I know is Ben and Rasheed Wallace would have done some serious damage if it was an all out team brawl. Rasheed shoved Jackson like a ragdoll when it started without even trying.

[AnticorRifling]

There goes my season. Anyone wanna buy some tickets for a Pacer's home game?

[Sean]

For anyone interested and too lazy to look it up themselves.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1927663

Associated Press

NEW YORK -- 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."

Artest, O'Neal and Jackson -- all of whom threw punches at fans during the fight at the end of Friday night's nationally televised Pacers-Pistons game -- were to begin serving their suspensions Saturday night, when the Pacers played a home game against Orlando.

Wallace's suspension will begin with the Pistons' next home game, Sunday night against the Charlotte Bobcats. Pistons spokesman Tom Wilson said Saturday that the team plans to use "playoff-level security" starting with that game, doubling the number of armed police and increasing arena security by about 25 percent, though he couldn't say how many police and security that would be.

"Our investigation is ongoing, and I expect it to be completed by tomorrow evening," Stern said in his statement.

The brawl was shocking, with Artest and Jackson bolting into the stands near center court and throwing punches at fans after debris was thrown at the players. Later, fans who came onto the court were punched in the face by Artest and O'Neal.

Wallace began the fracas by delivering a hard two-handed shove to Artest after Wallace was fouled on a drive to the basket with 45.9 seconds remaining. After the melee broke out, the referees called off the remainder of the game.

"This demonstrates why our players must not enter the stands, whatever the provocation or poisonous behavior of people attending the games," Stern said.

[Hulkein]

You could probably ebay the Christmas Day tickets against the Pistons for a nice price if you can't go.

[Keller]

My best friend and I went to games 2 and 3 of the eastern conference finals last year. He is from Michigan, I am from Indianapolis, so game 2 was at the Palace, game 3 at Conseco. While game three was a good time for both of us, I was physically assaulted at the Palace. I find this incident to be on par with the type of people who go to Detroit games. Sorry to be making such a generalization, but after I was assaulted during a game, as a fan, I'm just not surprised. What a land of douche-bag fans. Did the pacers players act with disregard for their professional position and do they deserve their punishment? Yes. Does every single fan at that game who can be seen on a recorded video to be throwing ANYTHING be charged with assault? Yes.

[Hulkein]

If you were wearing Pacers stuff to a Detroit playoff game in the Palace than you were asking for it.

It's just the way it is, being Eagles fans when me and my friends go to away games (Washington, Pittsburgh, Meadowlands) we expect it because when they come to our stadium they usually get assaulted, so they do their best to give us the same type of welcome.

Good for the Fans for throwing shit at Artest, O'Neal, and Jackson. Artest and Jackson deserved everything they got. Artest attacked an innocent fan.

[Edited on 11-20-2004 by Hulkein]

[Keller]

I think it was when Austin Croshere DUNKED over Ben Wallace and I was the only one in the area who jumped out of my seat and cheered. That's when it started.

And FUCK NO I should not expect (and thus accept) being assaulted for not being a fan of the team you're a fan of. That is such a horseshit principle I wont even begin to rip into it.

I was asking to see a great basketball game and I got to see one. I did not ask to get punched in the back of the head, no matter what I wore or who I cheered for.

If they want to heckle, that's all fair -- but physical violence is NOT acceptable/expected/etc.

[Hulkein]

I never said it was right, I just said if you were wearing tons of Pacer clothing to a playoff game, it's asking for it.

I agree, simply cheering normally isn't a reason to get punched.

[Tsa`ah]

I'm agreeing with Keller on this.

I've been to Bull's away games in Detroit, Indianapolis, and Cleveland wearing hat and jersey. Detroit was the only venue where physical incidents occurred.

Talking shit is one thing, getting physical over apparel is another issue entirely.

[Methais]

<<<The most recent example of an NBA player going into the stands and punching a fan came in February 1995, when Vernon Maxwell of the Houston Rockets pummeled a spectator in Portland. The league suspended him for 10 games and fined him $20,000.>>>

If for some reason someone happens to find a video link of this, please post it. I'd like to see this pummeling.

<< Among the harshest non-drug-related penalties in NBA history was a one-year suspension of Latrell Sprewell -- later reduced to 68 games -- for choking Golden State Warriors coach P.J. Carlesimo at practice.>>

That too :D

<<Artest was benched for two games this month for asking Pacers coach Rick Carlisle for time off because of a busy schedule that included promoting a rap album.

Artest was suspended twice by the NBA last season, once for leaving the bench during a fracas at a Pacers-Celtics playoff game; the other for elbowing Portland's Derek Anderson. During the 2002-03 season, Artest was suspended five times by the NBA and once by the Pacers for a total of 12 games.

Artest also once grabbed a television camera and smashed it to the ground after a loss to the Knicks two years ago.>>

Dude's been busy.

[Mistomeer]

Artest = PWNED

This is all because the NHL is on strike and all the anger is seeping into the other major sports.

[Soulpieced]

For those of you who didn't hear in regards to suspensions.

Ben Wallace: 6 games
O'neal: 25 games
Jackson: 30 games
Artest: Season.

[Sean]

Originally posted by Soulpieced
For those of you who didn't hear in regards to suspensions.

Ben Wallace: 6 games
O'neal: 25 games
Jackson: 30 games
Artest: Season.

Can't say I blame Anticor for not wanting to goto Pacers games this season now.

Luckily, the NBA players can't bring the streets to the game, or are incapable of it, because if Artest had one ounce of pugilistic skill in him, there'd be fucking dead fans piling up.

In conclusion, Ballers punch like pussies.

[Skeeter]

I guess Artest has plenty of time to promote that rap album now.

Anyone think he'll apply at Circuit City again?