Fight!

[Chaz]

You can say that being safely at home and not on the court being surrounded by thousands of angry fans.

Let me come to your job right after a fight or something else hostile just happend that your were involved in. And then throw a cup filled with water in your face infront of your co-workers, and let see if you go and get security on me, or if your emotions tell you to defend youself and attack me.

The only reason this is even an issue for some of you guys, is because these guys are in the spotlight.

Fights like these happen alot in smaller venues like Highschool and no name leagues.

These guys are still human, even if they make way more money than me and you.

I can't believe this, really. This is not at my job. This was at a PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL GAME.

You really think it is completely justified and even expected and proper for players to go into the stands to exact revenge if they get hit with a plastic cup?

Challege the guy to a fight outside, call security and have him arrested. If you really think Artest is all broken up over the Wallace incident you are wrong. This is Artest's game. Get in people's heads and make them retaliate then lounge on the scorers table and laugh at how many games Wallace will be suspended for.

There is no reason to go into the stands and attack whoever because you were struck with a plastic cup.

 

[schutd]

Ive already had enough of this from a coverage standpoint. Crap like this happens, repeatedly, becasue the media makes such a HUGE deal about it.

But my perspective.

Artest was controlled in the beginning. He was going to take some satisfaction in watching Wallace get thrown out for shoving him. SO he egotistically laid on the table, to make a spectacle of himself, and have some sort of aire of superiority about him. He's and idiot for that. Hes a BIGGER idiot for going into the stands. Theres NO EXCUSE for it. If he had stayed on the floor or gone to the bench, he wouldnt have had easy access to the fans, so him putting himself on that table definitely contributed to the situation, and he should be sat for a long long long time.

Stephen Jackson should be sat for a long long long time too. He's a fool. I agree that he's gotta go get Artest, but he should be smart about it. Hes no street brawler, in fact, none of these guys no how to fight. Totally out of control. Im a wimp and could probably get a better shot in on any of them, because they fly around totally out of control.

Ben Wallace is a turd. He got a normal hard foul, trying to dunk, down by 15 with under a minute left. Without getting into the bullsh*t posturing involved in THAT whole scenario, he was just reacting to the foul cause his team got pummeled that night. 2 or 3 games for him.

The guy who ran at artest on the court? Not some innocent fat kid or a ball boy. He reared back on Artest and Artest hit him before he could do anything else. That part of it? Artest was defending himself. O'Neal? He sucker punched the hell out of that guy AFTER the situation was over. O' Neal? 10 games.

Any fan found on tape to have been trowing anything being it punches soda beer popcorn or chips? Banned from that stadium for life.

People need to be held accountable for their action, regardless of the situation.

 

[D-Dogg]

It's totally different to disrespect someone verbally, but you cross the line when you try and harm someone

Sure, I basically agree. Ideally, people would be able to walk away even from physical attacks, but that's not realistic.

However, we're talking about a plastic beer cup here. That's not going to hurt anyone; it can't be considered a real physical assault. The first legitimate physical attack came from Artest. That's the problem. If Artest had found the cup-throwing fan and spat on him, I would have thought that was fine. (Well, not exactly fine, but you know what I mean.)

And what if that "One beer thown" would've hit Ron Artest in the eye or something and he was forced to miss the rest of the season, or even worse, suffer permanent eye damage?

Come on. That's about as likely as the scoreboard malfunctioning and shooting a deadly laser beam at someone.

An NFL referee threw a penalty flag at a Browns player a few years ago, and the player lost sight in his eye for some time and was out of football. He's back now...but this was a penalty flag.

The fan threw the cup with intent to harm, and THAT is assault. Those cups also aren't dixie cups like we get at SDS...they are a thicker, harder plastic.

 

[Chaz]

I agree completely schutd.



NBA moves on with the suspensions.

NBA Suspends 3 Pacers, 1 Piston for Brawl
By LARRY LAGE, AP Sports Writer

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."

 

[Cheesebeef]

Does it make it any better that there was probally ice with the beer inside the plastic container?

who the hell drinks beer with ice in it?

 

[Cheesebeef]

I always just called the danger from having beer poured on me "college".

that's classic - the same could be said for Cubs fan sitting in the bleachers.

 

[100%CardsFan]

The average person in that situation would react the same way Artest did.

That's probably true, but it's irrelevant.

The "average" person, if armed with a gun, might shoot someone dead in a heated argument after a fender-bender. We hear reports of that happening all the time. Does that make the behavior acceptable?

Absolutely ridiculous. You shouldn't even be posting.

Let me guess -- if we were in the same room right now, you'd be beating me up, right? Is that what an average person would do?

This has got to be the stupidest thing I have ever heard... Average people do carry guns...I do. I havent shot anyone unless a gun or a threat against my life is there. and no if we were in the same room we would have the same arguement we are having now....with words unless you threw a beer at me.

 

[Dr. Dumas]

So are you saying that if I walked up to you and spit in your face you would say.."Hey its only siliva and it didnt hurt" and you would do nothing??? If so ...then you have a vagina. Give me a break. it was a matter of disrespect it doesnt matter if it hurts or not. Some people dont take getting disrespected. I agree with what he did. Any one pro athlete, rapper, movie star, etc are all people and you should do the same thing as you would if you met them in the street.

Wow-you are going to call someone a girl if they don't agree with your stance. You said that you agree with what Artest did, and that you would do the same. Do you think that it is justified to throw a punch even if you are not 100% sure if who you are hitting threw the cup?

If your boss disrespected you at work, would you throw a right-hook his way?

 

[Joe Mama]

Thats exactly what im saying

People are saying it was "harmless"

But come on already

It was a filled container(most likely with ice inside making it heavier) and it was thrown from far away with some velocity behind it, and it hit Artest in the head while he was lying down with his face up in the air.

It's not far fetched to say that it could've been very dangerous, and Artest should'nt have felt threatened.

You seem to be really missing the point. First of all the only velocity that cup had was a result of gravity because it was lofted at him. Secondly, it was a half-full (I'm looking at this positively) plastic cup of beer that hit him in the chest. Yes, it could have been dangerous IF it had hit him in the eye, but it didn't. That leads me to the most important part of this...

He just went into defense mode, and atleast he didnt go totally crazy and kill the guy that he thought threw it.(Just grabbed him and scared the sh*t out of him)

Ron Artest did not go into defense mode. He went into attack mode. Defense mode would have you covering your head and moving away from the fans into the middle of the court or into the locker room. Attack mode sends you up into the crowd attacking people and looking for the person who threw that dangerous cup of beer at you.

Then what would our conversation on here be about? Artest being maimed by some crazy fan?

Please explain to us how going up into the stands after the fans would have prevented that from happening.


In fact only an idiot would argue that Ron Artest put himself in less danger I going into the crowd. That was the absolute stupidest thing he could have done if he was trying to protect himself.

And what if that "One beer thown" would've hit Ron Artest in the eye or something and he was forced to miss the rest of the season, or even worse, suffer permanent eye damage?

Come on. That's about as likely as the scoreboard malfunctioning and shooting a deadly laser beam at someone.

Well, I do think the fan should be charged for throwing the cup of beer at Ron Artest. People do get their eyes injured all the time from stupid actions like this. That said, I'm still laughing at the deadly laser beam comparison. That's hysterical. I might not think it is a good comparison, but it sure was funny.


Joe Mama

 

[JCSunsfan]

My solution. End the NHL lockout.

Bored Red Wings fans + Pistons Game + Beer + Ron Artest = Riot (every time).

Its just a mathematical certainty.

And you thought the high glass at all the NHL rinks was to protect the fans.

 

[D-Dogg]

Someone said it best...you can't spell Detriot without a R-I-O-T.

 

[NickelBack]

Meanwhile, the Pacers lose at home tonight at home to an inferior Orlando team......Guess they really made their point last night!

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Meanwhile, the Pacers lose at home tonight at home to an inferior Orlando team......Guess they really made their point last night!

Wow, they only had 6 players for the game. And one of them only got 15 minutes of pt. Fred Jones was their best player available!

The fact they only lost by 3 in just incredible. BTW, go grant hill!

 

[elindholm]

Given the group of players that the Pacers were actually able to dress, I'm not so sure at all that the Magic were an inferior squad.

(Edit: Oops, Andy beat me to it, oh well.)

 

[arthurracoon]

Wow...I just saw the fight...ouch...thats gotta hurt.

-Artest was wrong to foul that late in a decided game (If Wallace had gotten injured, we would be calling Ron Artest, Danny Fortson.)

-Wallace was wrong to retailate against Artest

-Artest was wrong to lie down on the table with a smile on his face (because they were on the road, especially at Detroit)

-The Fan was wrong to throw the beer at Artest

-Artest was wrong to run up into the stands

-Steven Jackson was wrong to run into the stands

-The Fan was wrong for running onto the court

-Artest and ONeal were wrong for punching the fan

-Everyone involved directly in the violence were responsible.

and...man...as a fan...thats gotta HURT!


And a note to Artest, if you really wanted to go into the crowd to fight someone, take on someone YOUR OWN size please. Dont pick some tiny skinny guy or some big lumbering guy.

 

[NickelBack]

Given the group of players that the Pacers were actually able to dress, I'm not so sure at all that the Magic were an inferior squad.

The Magic are much inferior to the Pacers. The Pacers lost in front of their own fans tonight because of their actions last night.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

I was staring at both comments before your reply confused as hell.

 

[NickelBack]

Whatever you say!

Ooops! Corection made!

 

[Cheesebeef]

has this occurred to anyone else here? I know some people are gonna say I'm nuts - but what has Artest been talking about ALL SEASON LONG - even in interviews at halftimes of games he's playing - his Rap album. Part of me is starting to think Artest KNEW EXACTLY what he was doing last night. He didn't EXPLODE up when the beer hit him. In fact he's rather calm and calculating about what he's doing - if you're not following me - what is one of the key things that drives the rap society? This inane concept of so-called "street cred" - hell - we even saw yesterday Gee and 100% talking about how much more respect they have for Artest - not leting anyone "disrespect" him and nonsense such as that which is inherently necessary in our biggest rap stars.

I actually think Artest knew exactly what he was doing - he's wanted time off - he's made it pretty well known how buck wild crazy he is - not shying away from it and now - at the first HINT of an opportunity to gain INSTANT "street cred" he incites a riot. I didn't see Yankees or Red Sox run into the stands when people sdtarting throw crap out there in Game 6 - Antoine Walker didn't go into the stands in a similar situation last year - but none of them were busy worrying about promoting their stupid freaking rap album which wouldn't even exist if not for playing basketball.

The really sad thing - is this - apparebtly by doing what he did - based on the responses from Gee and 100%, it seems he actually ACCOMPLISHED his goal.

Call me crazy - but it wasn't red that Artest saw in his eyes when that cup hit him - it was GREEN.

 

[D-Dogg]

Call me crazy -

Crazy.



I think you are like Samson now...instead of without your hair you lose your strength--you lose your hair and you lose all rational thought.

I keed, I keed.

 

[KingofCards]

Sorry to say but I would never throw things down at the players, (besides words), but if all of a sudden some St. Louis Rams player came into the North End Zone and started attacking some fan I would be the first person to attack the player.

 

[NickelBack]

We'll see how long they get suspended for...

Guess we know now, don't we!

 

[Brian in Mesa]

You don't think I was being a jerk there do you? I always just thought that Jesus teachings were kind of about being bigger than the problem in front of you. Hope you didn't take offense to that.

Nah, you weren't being a jerk at all.

Just remember, Jesus flipped over tables when he felt the temple was being misused.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Nah, you weren't being a jerk at all.

Just remember, Jesus flipped over tables when he felt the temple was being misused.

cool - how 'bout THOSE CARDS?! As Jesus would say - Oye Gevault! See you at halftime next week - I'm bringing my cheese mojo - WITH NO RED SHIRT!

 

[Brian in Mesa]

cool - how 'bout THOSE CARDS?! As Jesus would say - Oye Gevault! See you at halftime next week - I'm bringing my cheese mojo - WITH NO RED SHIRT!

Ridiculous!! (the game)

See you at the half, cheese!!

BIM