Posted on 11/21/2004 4:05:38 PM PST by El Conservador
The vicious Todd Bertuzzi hit in Hockey, as an act of vile violence, alone, was about 100 times worse than every single thing combinedthat happened at that Pistons game. Is he from the ghetto rap culture?
You're mistaken when you say that it doesn't bother people if the athlete who gets into a fight isn't a "street rap ghetto thug". Bill Laimbeer of the Pistons (a white guy) was one of the most hated players in the NBA during his playing days because he was always getting into scuffles with other players. As far as hockey goes, fighting has been ingrained in that sport ever since its origin. That doesn't make it right, it just means that the fans have come to accept hockey as a rough sport. Every sport has it's own set of rules governing how they deal with disciplinary problems involving their players. How baseball, football, or hockey decides to disipline their players has no bearing on how basketball chooses to discipline its players.
Amazing how so many can arm-chair quarterback this riot. Artest had every right to defend himself. He was assaulted and took appropriate actions.
Please, the man was hit with a "cup" of beer, he had no right to run into the crowd. He is a "profeesional" and should be able to restrain himself. Besides, the guy he attacked, wasn't even the guy who threw the beer, can you say, "cha-ching"...la
I can't say I disagree with the suspensions (actually, I think Jackson and Artest should have gotten the same length of suspension), but you make a valid point. If I were a Detroit fan involved in this incident, I'd be absolutely gloating right now, since we come out of this with the best possible outcome. The Pacers kicked our butts on the court, but we the fans were able to provoke the Pacers into some extremely self-destructive behavior that ruins their team for the season. Congrats on a job well done! When does San Antonio come into town?
I care not what the NBA does ...... Where the hell are the criminal charges against these thugs disguised as basketball players ?!!!!!!!
Why are you letting Steven Jackson off the hook? I thought he deserved the same length of suspension as whatever Artest got.
My question exactly.
Yes, he was in a vulnerable position, lieing on his back, and had just been in an emotionally upsetting altercation with Wallace. It is perfectly understandable why he would want to give the "what for" to whoever the idiot was that through the beverage at him. In my opinion, Artest was justified. The fan's behavior was monstrous.
through = threw
"Hey did you hear? I went to a Basketball game and a Music Awards Ceremony broke out?"
Now that's funny. And deep. And sad. Deeply, sadly funny.
These men have absolutely no clue and are coddled, excused and protected. I could care less about any of them, but I am extremely worried about the young kids who look up to them. They're disgusting examples of manhood. They're weak, spoiled and selfish. NOT what we want our boys to emulate. They're role models whether they like it or not and if they willingly take the money and adulation, they need to take the responsibility for their actions.
I am throughly grossed out by their behavior and thank God my kids are not impressed by thugs like this.
"Arrest and prosecution. Denial of access to future games.
Full rights of prosecution of whoever may have assaulted him."
Agree with you totally especially denying access to future games!
2. Ben Wallace did not go into the stands.
Artest, OTOH, has been a volcano ready to erupt at any time. He needs help. The mistake most people who side with the Pacers are making is that they are looking at this one game only.
I propose that the lawyer in you is trying to look at this one incident only and not allow Artest's previous behavior to influence your take on this.
Let me appeal to the physician in you. Artest has a hx of volatile behavior: flagrant fouls, suspensions, throwing a TV. He also has a hx of just plain bizarre behavior: applying for a job at Circuit City before the draft (supposedly to get the discount), asking for a month off (this season to promote a rap/r&b album), and making all kinds of strange public statements regarding his own play.
In fact, at that game, he asked a reporter (I think Jim Gray) if the reporter thought that Artest was getting fouled and the refs weren't calling anything. That is a no-no in the NBA or other pro sports and Artest knows it. So is going into the stands. Every player knows to NEVER go into the stands.
He has big problems IMO. The Pacers organization have let him get away with a lot and have ignored clear signs that he needs help. It was only a matter of time before he erupted again.
Right. His ego was bruised because Wallace dissed him on the court and he was too chicken to do anything against Wallace so to uphold his rap-ego he jumped on an innocent fan. The Man!
Funny that he didn't go after Wallace when Wallace tossed an item at him. I guess The Man isn't The Man after all. Just a punk.
Ten years ago, Vernon Maxwell, entered the stands and pummelled a fan. The fan was verbally taunting Maxwell. The fan did not throw any objects at Maxwell.
The NBA suspended Maxwell for only 10 games.
Now, considering Artest's past, one can reasonably contend that Artest deserved to be suspended for a considerable time. But, one can also reasonably contend that Artest did not deserve 73 games.
The NBA's own precedent is why a good chance exists that an independent arbitrator will reduce the suspension of Artest. I think that the time will be reduced to about 40 days.
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.