Posted on 11/20/2004 12:52:37 PM PST by everitt12
NEW YORK Nov 20, 2004 The NBA suspended four players indefinitely Saturday for their roles in one of the worst-ever brawls in the league, a fight with fans that commissioner David Stern called "shocking, repulsive and inexcusable." Indiana's Ron Artest, Jermaine O'Neal and Stephen Jackson and Detroit's Ben Wallace were suspended, the NBA said Saturday.
Police in Auburn Hills, Mich., were investigating, but did not comment on who might be charged.
Artest and Jackson lunged into the stands and fought with fans in the final minute of their game against the Detroit Pistons on Friday night, and the brawl forced an early end to the Pacers' 97-82 win.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
O-tay!
Billy Paltz is smiling somewhere.
Man, I remember the Jerry West days. Compared to that, this is a freaking MAD HOUSE.
They showed that game on ESPN Classics this morning too!
Biggest shocker since Kermit Washington's PUNCH! to Rudy T.
I saw the fight replayed (with analysis) on ESPN at the Bellagio's lounge by the poker room late last eve. It was far more outrageous than I expected based on the chatter I had heard. Kick out the thugs for life, no question.
Probably stress from being pelted with beer bottles and chairs.
This is garbage and the NBA is a thug sport.
If you or I did this we would get 3 years in jail for assault & battery.
Certain sports like soccer and basketball are so boring to watch that a melee involving the fans is the only way to perk them up.
I expect to see a dramatic increase of signs at NBA games saying "Let's get ready to RUM-BLE!!!!!"
Look those fans were OUt OF CONTROL.
The suspensions are reasonable, but their seasons should not be determined by out of control detroit fans. Many of them should have been arrested from what I saw. And the security there was pathetic.
This is horrendous, and I have watched my last NBA game unless this is handled differently by Stern. Players must be able to defend themselves when assaulted by fans. They are now sitting ducks. Drunk, hoodlum fans can do whatever they want to opposing players with no recourse. Stern should be removed for this decision. The fans now run the sport. :45 second left on the clock, and your team is losing, create chaos, and the game will be called off. Great decision, Stern, you jackass.
Artest is just looking for the month off he wants to promote his rap album.
Yes, the suspensions were reasonable, but there should be some arrests of fans, and the NBA should refuse indefinitely to hold any more games in Detroit until the Pistons come up with a solid security plan to prevent such dangerous behavior by the fans. If the Pistons forfeit some home games (and lose the revenue), then perhaps they'll discipline unruly fans and provide sufficient security for the players.
"Artest has been suspended several times by the NBA. Earlier this month, he was benched for two games for asking for time off because of a busy schedule that included promoting a soon-to-be released rap album."
Now it makes sense. Just another dumb gangsta wanna-be.
They'll be back in a week.
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