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.''
They should be banned for life. just like the guy from the rangers should be banned for life for throwing the chair into the stands... These fools get paid way to much to throw temper tantrums like a little kid.
Lawsuits to follow.
Let's see how long it takes for the players' union to protest this.
Ron Artest can now start promoting his rap-album and not worry about missing any games.
Raw Data: Statement From NBA Commissioner
Saturday, November 20, 2004
The following is a statement from NBA commissioner David Stern concerning the altercation during the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers game Friday night at the Palace of Auburn Hills.
"The events at last night's game were shocking, repulsive and inexcusable -- a humiliation for everyone associated with the NBA. This demonstrates why our players must not enter the stands whatever the provocation or poisonous behavior of people attending the games. Our investigation is ongoing and I expect it to be completed by tomorrow evening.
The NBA has taken the following actions, effective immediately:
1. Indiana players Ron Artest, Stephen Jackson and Jermaine O'Neal are suspended indefinitely, the length to be determined upon completion of the investigation.
2. Detroit player Ben Wallace is suspended indefinitely, the length to be determined upon completion of the investigation.
3. Review of rules and procedures relating to altercations and security have been undertaken so that fans can continue to attend our games unthreatened by events such as the ones that occurred last night."
Tough day in Michigan....(see MSU, UM, etc....)
Does this mean there's hope for the Celtics in the East? (ya riiight!)
This is a start. It's good that there is no time limit given.
Which comes first, the lawsuits or the arrests?
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 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.
Is there a link to a video of this incident?
So far, I have heard no one and have seen no quotes, of anyone associated with sports condemn the actions of the Artest, Jackson and O'Neal.
One of the four ESPN guys in the original coverage stated later that night that Artest was justified in attacking the fan!
No one from the SacBee or the Kings criticized the players actions.
What did Wallace do that matched the other three?
Thanks for reminding us. I had forgotten.
espn, 10 times an hour 240 times a day it seems.
It looks like we're going to play in the toilet bowl(none) this year. :( Unless things change REAL fast.
"They should be banned for life."
Jackson and Artest yes, but not Wallace and O'neal.
Wallace should get a 10 game suspension and O'neal should get a 20 game suspension.
Wallace didn't mix it up with any fans and O'neal never really punched anyone but he did go into the stands. Jackson and Artest's actions on the other hand were criminal, they should be arested and banned for life.
I am shocked and outraged that these players were indefinitely suspended. Given their horrible behavior, they should definitely have been suspended, in my opinion. This kind of indecision on the part of the NBA sends a terrible message to our . . .
What? "Indefinitely" means without determined limit? Never mind.
Artest attacked the wrong fan.
The guy in the cap threw the beer. He also was the same guy who punched him in the head later.
Just a little bit of hyperbole here. Early baseball was just as bad or worse.
Wallace got fouled pretty bad. Artast deserverd alot more than a neck shove from him.
That said.
Those fans getting beat on by NBA players will be retiring early with major bling bling.
I would guess that when they finalize their decisions, his suspension will be short. The other guys should be booted! Time will tell.
Here's the best at 81MB.
http://www.shockpoint.com/video.html
I agree I should have clarified that especially Artest should be banned but jackson also... those were the two that I saw this morning when I turned ESPN on and they were running the clip ad nasuem...
Actually all of the guy on the ESPN roundtable said the players were justified. They are all former players though and they were just sucking up to NBA players last night. If they spoke out against the indiana thugs they'd have a hard time getting interview with NBA players in the future.
I thought it was Artest that cold-cocked the fan on his knees on the floor of the arena but my paper said it was O'Neal.
"3. Review of rules and procedures relating to altercations and security have been undertaken so that fans can continue to attend our games unthreatened by events such as the ones that occurred last night."
Two ways to remain unthreatened would be to refrain from hurling objects at the players and to avoid going onto the basketball court.
They call basketball players "cagers" because early on in the history of the game -- due to violence between fans and the players -- the court was enclosed in a chain-link "cage." The fans were physically separated from the players by the fence, and the players could only exit to the locker room.
Looks like some traditions should have been maintained.
Artest and the fan was going at it and both went down. Fan was getting up, and O'Neal ran over and decked him.
I think was both.
Just shut down the NBA and get it over with. That was an ugly, demoralizing scene last night. Add this to the stabbing at the Vibe awards in Santa Monica last week, and I have to say there is an element of society that is becoming increasingly violent and needs to be brought under control.
Threw the first punch and incited the crowd; then he ran down to the other fight and joined in, it looks like.
Yup. Just go to ESPN. They must have played a number of different video angles a hundreds times today. And now FoxNews has played it numerous times since the suspension announcement.
I've seen little kids with more self control than some of todays spoiled rotten NBA "stars".
The one bozo wanted time off to promote his Rap music. Now he got.
It's just like hockey; nothing will happen.
One can only hope this is the beginning of the end of the NBA.
I saw a lady being attended to lying on the floor. I don't think she hurled anything except mayber her dinner.
There are a lot of little kids that have more intelligence then some of the NBA players...
It was O'Neal. Artest swung at the guy, but got tackled by another fan. The guy went down as well, some coach then jumped on him. The guy started to get up, and O'Neal absolutely decked him, right in the face. The fan stayed down after that, O'Neal is lucky he didn't kill the guy or something.
The one guy, with the moustache, that kept saying "I just talked to Shag," "I just talked to so and so," well, he was on MSNBC today around lunchtime.
He has changed his tune, big time. "After thinking it over," he says.
I know it was Artest that hit him first as both were standing. Then when the guy got to his knees waving the towel or shirt some one cold-cocked him. I thought Artest but the paper said O'Neal. I believe you are confirming that O'Neal was the second one. Thank you.
Sad day for the children that had to witness this. I hope Bill Cosby goes after these guys!
Ben Wallace has an IQ of about 50. What a thug.
John
I see that no one is interested in the fans being punished as well? I'm not going to defend Artest's actions, which were out of line, but this was not a case on unprovoked violence. The scumbag in the hat not only through the beer, but then steered Artest past him onto to his buddy, then punched him in the back of the head. Cap-boy is a coward and his actions were as bad as any of the players. Also, what of the big dude with the credentials around his neck rabbit punching as well. And what about the other dope who confronted Artest as he was leaving? He took two in the face and went down. Idiots all, including the players.
Shows what kind of goobers are attending your typical NBA game. Drunks watching thugs play a narcissitic brand of what used to be a great sport.
Weak. It's meant to sound tough when it really isn't.
If I were Stern:
Artest: Two month suspension without pay.
Jackson: One month suspension without pay served when Artest's suspension is finished.
O'Neal: One month suspension without pay served when Jackson's suspension is finsihed.
Ben Wallace: One month suspension without pay.
Larry Brown: Fined for postgame comments.
Pistons: Fined for hiring inadequate security.
All tapes handed over to identify and prosecute fans involved in the melee. Revocation of season tickets possible if warranted.
Instead, expect it to all be wiped away in time for the Christmas Day rematch on ABC.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.