When NBA Players Attack
No, I'm not talking about this crazy photo that appears as if Ira Newble is karate kicking Mike Dunleavy Jr., I'm talking about that fight that has everyone talking. Lesson number one: Don't fuck with David Stern. Just a few thoughts on this matter since everyone and their mother will be weighing in on the subject:
- Artest had to be suspended for the season(Eric Cantona anyone?), even if, in my opinion, what Stephen Jackson did was much worse. Artest was provoked, Jackson was not. Atrest fucked up because he went after the wrong guy in the stands (although it appeared he did not punch him). But Jackson came out of nowhere and started trying to kick everyone's ass and really turned the notch up on the whole thing.
- I've always thought Jermaine "JO" O'Neal was a punk ass bitch and him cold cocking a guy half his size while he was down on his knees comfirms my suspicions. What a little bitch. Mike Wilbon is reporting things could get worse for JO, since sources say he punched a cop during the fracass.
- The fans of Dtown are just as much to blame here. Running onto the court is not acceptable.
- I was very surprised that Stern will make Jackson, Artest and JO serve their suspensions at the same time, basically stripping an already injury depleted Pacers team of their top 3 scorers and handing the division to Detroit(who haven't exactly been lighting it up lately). But the league cannot stand for players wandering into the stands and attacking ticket holders, no matter how out of line they may be.
- The Pistons got off easy, only losing Big Ben for 6 games. I would have liked to have seen them stop beer sales for the rest of the year or something to hurt the franchise financially and teach the fans a lesson.
I would love to hear my peeps from Deeeetroit weigh in with their thoughts.
But the best news to come out of all of this? The Celtics play the Pacers on Tuesday!
Waiting for the Sports Guy to weigh in. Last week TSG reviewed the upcoming Red Sox Championship DVD as well as the Celtics Dynasty DVD, both of which will be on my Xmas list. He gave the Red Sox DVD a 33 out of 10.
Liam forced to cough up 35,000 pounds in damages for that fight in Germany when he got his ass handed to him.
It's official. The Expos are now the Washington Nationals. Me likey.
good idea on the beer sale ban. who wants to buy $8 beers anyway? no thanks. i'd also like to see red wings' players & kid rock banned from the palace. unrelated, yes, but still. i don't fully agree w/ you re: fans on the court though--3 large athletes were in the stands throwing punches at the fans. not sure if i'd want to be around that either.
Re: The Washington Nationals. Good, old school name. Here's hoping their post-Montreal life is a long and winning one. And that people show up to their games.
That punch O'Neal delivered (the flying, legs splayed, crack to the jaw) was the most awesomest thing I ever seen on the TV tube. I don't feel the least bit sorry for that fan and I actually took great joy in his foolishness. My second favorite moment was just a few seconds earlier when his buddy came running on to the court, fist poised to take a cheap shot at Artest, then seeing the look on his face when Artest turned around and the dope realized he had just made the worst mistake of his life. Then Artest punched him anyway. Hi-larious.
Oh, and Washington Nationals? Snooze. Why not the Washington Americans? Or how about the Washington Baseball Playing Guys? At least then the name would actually mean something.
Cop punching revealed! Nice scoop, Rage Kage.
Beer sales!! Hah! Yeah right, the guy who threw the cup and started the riot is a multi-offense fellon, I don't think beer sales affect that guy being a nut.
Thousands of sporting events, concerts and like events have alcohol sales and basically nothing happens ever... alcohol numbs as many assholes as it creates.
There is no need to pass judgement on Pistons fans as a whole, plenty of the offenders will be showing up in an Oakland county court -- as they should, no reason to take away recess 4rth grade style from the whole class as it were. Far more people get hurt from drinking in bars than at sporting events and I doubt anyone wants to close those, lets not blow this out of proportion and pretend we need to hold everyone to some inflated idea of justice.
Regular justice should work here, it was all on video tape and in front of thousands of witnesses.
You hit people, you get arrested, you face punishment including jail, that's the common sense of assault law. Self defense law says you answer force with like force, someone tries to kill you, you can in fact kill them instead, someone hits you with half a beer in a plastic cup, you cannot beat the crap out of them. Speaking with an ex-Oakland County cop, I think we'll be seeing some short jail terms for players and fans and some big ass fines.