Tom, I get where you're coming from, and I agree that they should be suspended, at least 10 games. And I get that as a professional athlete, cooler heads must prevail.

But c'mon, if someone just chucks you with a water bottle, I know most people would blow up at some of the things that fans SAY to opposing players.

Everyone's at fault here, not the players. But I hope the league doesn't come down too hard on the players and takes the actions of some classless fans into account.

man, but those soccer fans are nuts..killin players and stuff because they made a mistake. come on now.

american fans have nothing on those loons.

From ESPN.com
 

It appears the Indiana Pacers will pay a heavy price for Friday's embarrassing melee.


Ron Artest has been suspended for the season, while teammates Stephen Jackson received a 30-game suspension, and Jermaine O'Neal, a 25-game suspension, ESPN.com's Marc Stein and Insider Chad Ford have learned.


"The penalties issued today deal only with one aspect of this incident -- that of player misconduct. The actions of the players involved wildly exceeded the professionalism and self control that should rarely be accepted from NBA players," commissioner David Stern said in a statement Sunday.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1928540

Well, he will have plenty of time to promote his rap CD :rolleyes:. He deserved this. Hopefully, he'll have time to think about his actions in the past. Maybe, some anger management classes??

Re: From ESPN.com
 

Wow...season for Artest, 25 for O'Neal? Seems a bit in excess to me.

Anyone know how the appeal process works in the NBA? I know in MLB that players don't serve the suspension until the process is over, and 99% of the time suspensions are reduced. I could see appeals coming if the NBA is anything like that.

Either way, I see Billy Hunter and the player's union filing grievences ASAP.

Re: Re: From ESPN.com
 

The pacers season is totally over - insanity. They ruined the whole year, even for the players who didn't do anything.

I get that artest gets the full season, b/c of his history, but c'mon now, 30 games? Zero for rip hamilton?

It's a 'statement' - but is it the right one?

And kudos to the Palace for prosecuting those who hit the athletes in the same manner the athletes are being investigated - that's good stuff.

Re: Re: Re: From ESPN.com
 

From the Pacer's web page...:(
http://aol.nba.com/media/pacers/artest_400_preview.jpg

I'm looking for the appeal info.

I mean....at least Artest gets to take off this season like he was wanting to....he can finally get around to promoting his rap album...

I think the penalty is perfect...though maybe it should be accompanied by a 'you do this $#!+ again & you're banned'

Didn't O'Neal punch the fatso that came into the court? If so, he shouldn't be suspended. The fatso was trespassing and he deserved everything he got. I would punch him too, remember what happen to Monica Seles.

hopefully they will follow up and prosecute the civilians involved in this mess. how stupid.

True...you never know what a fan has on them. It has to be unnerving seeing a bunch of the opposition's fans charging the court towards you.

Re: Re: Re: From ESPN.com
 

Did Hamilton hit any Pacers? He didn't hit any fans if I recall.

Neither did Ben and he's still getting 6 games (I know he pushed Artest hard, but if all the other hoopla hadn't happened he probably would have only been fined and maybe got 1 game).

Re: Re: Re: Re: From ESPN.com
 

Hamilton's would be for 'leaving the court of play' - he wasn't throwing haymakers at all, that's not what I was implying in the least (Collin can explain why Rip might be a touch too "mellow" to roll blows into the stands, but that's a different joke all together) . . . Wallace getting six games is pretty transparent, as it's a bit of a 'consolation' for the pacers season being killed (as well as a sort of 'instigation' penalty), which I don't necessarily agree with but at least there's rhyme or reason to it.

The "peacemaker" stuff, w/ Hamilton and Fred Jones not getting any days but Reggie Miller getting docked one (as well as some other, random players) makes no sense at all, from my end.

Since Artest and the other players are going to have some free time on their hands, maybe they should use their time to go around to kids basketball leagues, lecture on good sportsmanship and why it's wrong to fight. Whether they like it or not kids look to sports stars as role models.
A couple of coaches who were interviewed on ABC and NBC were concerned that younger kids, elementary/ middle school age, may try to copy this behavior.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: From ESPN.com
 

Were hamilton and Fred Jones on the court, actually in the game at the time of the fight? I believe Miller, D Coleman and the others got their suspensions for coming off the bench, which is a mandatory one game suspension from the league.

They all got what they deserved. Sure, the Detroit fans are thugs, but if you're a pro player you have no reason to EVER enter the stands, regardless of what's being thrown at you. Ask all the players that have ever played in Philly and been the targets of snowballs and batteries. The same for players that used to play in the old Browns stadium that would get pelted with dog bones and other things of debris. You've got to suck it up, you're getting paid a lot of money, deal with it.

That being said, video should be used and any fan caught throwing anything should be suspended from owning any Pistons season tickets for the rest of their lives and blackballed from any professional sporting even in Detriot.

ETA: Wrigley, while i understand the point of your suggestion, i wouldn't want my child anywhere near Artest with that guy speaking from an advisorary standpoint. The guy's a freakin nutjob, straight up.

KS 361

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: From ESPN.com
 

They are using video to criminally prosecute and have already said that season ticket holders would lose their seats.

Re: From ESPN.com
 

Soror, Ron Ron definitely falls into the azzclown category. I hope that he does get some anger management classes. He's a talent and needs to get his mess under control.
I would have liked to see Big Ben get more than six games, because he was the instigator, according to some. But the Pacers' season is down the toilet. Wonder if Reggie Miller will finally hang it up.

Re: Re: From ESPN.com
 

I don't see Reggie sticking around after this season. I'm also not sure if Artest comes back next year...maybe the Knicks will still take him. They were after him last year/last summer.

Big Ben definitely got off easy...only six games? I don't think he hit any fans, but by the same token he was part of the whole mess that started the fight.

You know, you're really starting to piss me off too here. Not all Detroit fans are from Detroit moron. There are many fans from ALL over Michigan, from Detroit to Lansing, to Travsrse City. They come from everywhere to see sports events. Stop making Detroit look like the bad guy here.

Re: Re: Re: From ESPN.com
 

The possibility of Isiah Thomas taking on Ron Artest, a NY native, is interesting. But RA's going to have to control himself in that media market.

Yeah, Ben may not have smacked the fans, but he was part of the on-court melee.

OK...well after reading this I have a few things to say...some people might not like what I say, but I really don't care.

Well...first of all...Artest is suspended for the rest of the season and I think he deserves it. First of all...he didn't need to go into the stands and hit the guy that threw the cup. He should have just let it go. And second of all...he went after the WRONG guy. The guy that he hit and took down was not even the guy that threw the cup. So therefore he deserves to get suspended for the whole game. And as for the rest of the players that got suspended, they deserve it too. The should not have gone up into the stands at all. Everyone knows that when something goes wrong at a game, the fans get mad. They took it way to far out of line, they did not need to go into the stands after fans. I am sure their fans get angry too.

Now Ben Wallace on the other hand...sure he pushed Artest but he doesn't deserve to get suspended for anything else. He did not hit any fans and he was not involved in the fight with the fans at all. All he did was push Artest after he fowled him...which I would have done too. Artest did not need to foul Ben the way he did with one minute left in the game and the Pacers up by 12. It was no accident either, that was intentional. So Ben just reacted like almost anyone else would. He didn't do anything to fans or other players after that. So he got what he deserves.

And to the person that is talking all the shit about Detroit...you should probably quit. You don't live here and from the way you are talking, you have never been here. So until you are here or know what Detroit is really like, I suggest you stop running your mouth. Like Sunny said...Detroit fans are not just from Detroit smart ass! That took a damn rocket scientist to figure out. And even if they were, Detroit is not a bad place. Of course you only see some things from here, you only see what is on the news, and that is like not even 1% of what really goes on in Detroit. There are plenty of events and other things that go on without any drama. And besides, the whole thing at the Palace would not have got out of hand if ARTEST would not have gone up into the stands to beat on the fans. So you see...you can not put this all on Detroit...because a lot of it was because of the Pacers. So don't call us hoodlems unless you know what you are talking about. Which you don't!

That is all I have to say for now...I am sure I will think of more later and I will post it. Until then...buh-bye

you know, I agree that they players should be suspended. However, I hope those fans got the shit kicked out of them. Playing basketball is their job, their career...how would you like it if someone were throwing beer on you wile you were working. I know it's not really the some thing...but I mean it is.


Also...I know everyone is talking about the players getting sued. BUT, the fans are the ones that started it. The players were being harrassed. The fans may not have thrown the first punch but I mean they were the cause. I am not a lawyer, so I don't know how this works. Any chance these fans are responsible for their actions as well. I mean...I don't think they should be rewarded for this.

Big Ben also egged on Artest...he couldn't walk away free and easy after his role in everything.

Artest dealing with the NY media would be entertaining, to say the least. It would give him a good outlet for his music career though, and well, isn't that what counts most?

Bwahahaha about the music career. :p

OMG! It was hilarious! That guy's stupid ass deserved to get knocked out. Who did he think he was. And if O'Neal hadn't slipped they'd still be pickin up peices of his face.

Man, get off of it. I never said Detroit fans are hoodlums.

Also.. yes players get harrassed in every sport...but for you to basically say that players getting things thrown at them is PART OF THE SPORT? That is a ridiculous statement.

I've made it perfectly clear that I'm referring only to Detroit sports fans, not the city as a whole, and that there are a minority that give me that impression/opinion.

I'm not pissing on the city of Detroit here, but the fans deserve as much fault as the players. Some fans got unlucky and were caught in a melee, but I'm sure they'll be compensated (whether fairly or not is up for discussion), but others deserved any ass kicking that was doled out.

Are you talking about the ballboy?

I don't know whoever that guy was that waltzed onto the court when he wasn't supposed to be there.

I do agree with the last part.


FYI (not directed at you): The guy who threw the cup was not from Detroit, but a big baller from West Bloomfield. I highly doubt I'd call someone from West Bloomfield ghetto, thuggish, or a hoodlum.

Hottytoddy: Way to respect a sister. My comment before wasn't directed at you, hence the reason why I started a new paragraph. And I never said that throwing shit at a player was ok. Neither is taunting but it happens in every sport.

Fans should stick to marshmellows, like us Michigan fans. They are harmless, and if caught make an excellent treat during the game, and are easy to smuggle in.

I'm joking.

OK well my post was quoted. I wasn't trying to disrespect you. So please specify who you are talking to.

The NBA needs to come up with something that will help keep the players more seperated from the fans.. I know players are taunted a lot. When my boyfriend and I went to a Cubs game he & his friend were yelling things at a Florida player...but they were all joke comments like "Get a haircut- you have the money. It's ok though I'll still keep you on my fantasy team" But they weren't throwing things. Ad the guy they were yelling things at was laughing. I'm just saying if I had been Artest and someone had thrown something at me I may have had a hard time just sitting there and pretending it didn't happen...and I'm not even an angry person. I don't think that these fans should be able to sue the players involved. They were begging for it. They were taunting him to get a reaction. And they got one.

a punch can only go so far from the cheap seats.

The fans are getting sued. The ones that punched the players are in trouble too. It is not just the players getting sued, its the fans too

That is not even cool to call the "Detroit Fans" hoodlems. You are in the wrong there! Because I am a Detroit Fan, and I am far from a hoodlem. You can't make an assumption because a FEW people fuck up at a FEW games and make some stupid mistakes. So like Sunny is saying, and everyone else is saying, stop calling the fans hoodlems and making that assumption when you know nothing!

see that is where you are wrong. The players have every right to sue. The guy that got hit by Artest did not even throw the cup of beer at Artest, and he was only 19 years old. And how about the old lady that got pushed onto the court by the fight, and then got piled on like she was the QB in a football game? Now I can understand the fans that were thwoing punches at the players, they shouldn't be able to sue, and they aren't...they are getting sued. But the innocent people should have every right to sue. So you are so wrong when you say the fans have no right to sue!

Opinions are like @ssholes, everyone has one.
Just because someone's isn't the same as yours doesn't mean they're wrong. They're entitled to have an opinion.
Name calling and cursing do no help boost the credibility of your opinion.

Updates:

They will be charging anybody they can identify who threw cups or punches with assault and battery (a misdemeanor). They are charging the man who threw the chair with felonious assault. Not to mention, they are showing them on TV over and over, publicly announcing some names (resulting in media parking on their doorsteps) and asking people to identify certain participants so that they can charge them.

The one guy they've identified, John Green, from West Bloomfield, who lobbed the cup of beer at Artest is a season ticket holder and has quite a record:
2003 -- Operating under the influence of liquor/operating while visibly impaired (second offense)

1989 -- Assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder

1989 -- Escape from prison

1986 -- Carrying concealed weapons

1986 -- Uttering and publishing, which is using a false, forged, altered or counterfeit record, deed or instrument to injure or defraud.

Despite all this, he lives in the wealthiest community in Michigan. Go figure.

Also, from Auburn Hills police:

Gorcyca said the investigation will begin with Green, but the prosecutor's office is expected to announce charges against 25 to 50 other fans who participated in the fight at The Palace.

Gorcyca said anyone who threw a cup or a punch -- including players and fans -- could face criminal charges.

"The throwing of an object and striking someone constitutes an assault," said Gorcyca.