this was the craziest thing I've ever seen! Now EA Sports will have to come out with another game, called NBA Basketbrawl! http://espn.go.com/
I totally disagree with most of you guys. This is totally Artest's fault! He was scared of Big Ben then jumps into the crowd to take on a small white guy who did not even throw the beer. He is a punk. Also I think that the small guy on the floor stood up to Artest by going after him after being hit right in the face. That guy did not even provoke Artest, and Artest threw the first punch not the young guy. Artest did not even knock the guy down. I also do not see how you call a J. O'Neal cheap shot an ass whipping, it was a hell of punch but a pure cheap shot. I think it proves the kinds of thugs that these guys are. If I was in charge of the investigation about 5 Pacers would be in jail right now.
ESPN had great coverage of the whole thing. They showed it just as it happened, with the tv commentators, in shock, describing the action. Then, they showed slo-mo and stop action with arrows pointing out things to look for. Many of the Pistons fans behaved horribly. NEVERTHELESS, Artest should be suspended for the rest of the season, IMO. There is no excuse to go into the stands to attack fans - especially a fan who threw a plastic cup that was virtually empty and hit him in the chest with it while he was laying on the scorers' table. It didn't appear that there was any way he could even know who threw it! Having said that, there is no way Artest will get that severe a punishment, as the players union won't allow it. Every fan who can be identified who threw something should also be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. And what about Wallace, who started the whole thing? That was a pretty hard shove to the neck region. He should get several games off, but will likely be suspended only two. That was, indeed, a very, very, sad and ugly scene. Did you all see the elderly lady laid out on the floor? And the little kids crying with fearful looks on their faces? Shame, shame, shame. The NBA has become virtually unwatchable to me. I hardly even watch my hometown team, the Rockets. I haven't attended a game in a few years. Though it has some of the absolute best athletes in the world, the league is full of thugs and tatooed morons. Since kids started entering the league at younger and younger ages, it has just gotten much worse. They are immature and never get a chance to grow up any in the "real world."
I saw the whole thing covered in slow motion also, It looks like Ron Artest will get the time off he wanted than some. I agree with you, there is no way Artest should play in the NBA again this year. Ben Wallace should also be suspended a few games for his actions. I like to watch a basketball game every now and then, NBA included but I also think the league is full of thugs and tatooed morans. :dis:
If Artest stays out of the stands, this wouldn't even be a story. I agree with the earlier post that pointed out that Artest ran away from an enraged Ben Wallace but acted like a bad ass when some little white guy threw a cup at him.
Why should he have to stand there and get punched by Ben Wallace because he commited a foul that wasn't even that dirty? People are talking about Artest having the temper problem here, but Wallace attacked Artest on a foul that is commited about 5 times every game. Pretty low quality video: http://media.holla-front.com/nbafight.wmv But you can turn on Sportscenter any time today and see it about 1000 times.
It's a sad state of our times, but I honestly believe that ONE DAY something like this will happen and someone will reach in that back pocket and then POP A CAP on one of these guys. A lot of these PROS even carry a pistol with them in bars etc. :bncry:
