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Post by Vball818 on Nov 20, 2004 18:39:53 GMT -5
Wasn't it just downright stupid and idiotic how the Pacers, Pistons and the fans were last night in Detroit? On top of that I couldn't believe how the Piston fans were throwing their crap(okay - it wasn't crap) at the Pacers coaches and players. Since that melee was broadcasted all over the late night news and most likely seen by the local d.a.'s would they go after the fans who not only started the fight but also for throwing their junk food and beer at the Pacer players and coaches as well?
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Post by 808 on Nov 21, 2004 19:23:14 GMT -5
I think I heard on the radio this afternoon that Artest has been suspended for the remainder of the season. Harshest penalties handed down ever. Other players -- Bender? -- suspended something like 25 games. Wow! I'm sure they'll appeal, but the whole incident is just dumb.
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Post by BonJoeV on Nov 21, 2004 19:41:37 GMT -5
"Basketbrawl"... how appropriate. I caught it live on TV at a restaurant. There were TV's on throughout the restaurant. Everyone stopped their meal and conversation to watch and comment.
Until a fan threw a cup at Artest lying on the scorer's table, it was just another NBA hard foul and subsequent shoving match. It was totally classless of the fan to throw the cup. He should be arrested and prosecuted for starting a riot.
Players should stay on the floor and fans should stay in the stands. It's as simple as that.
Whoever was evolved in fighting, throwing, etc. should be prosecuted. I also think there should be some heavy fines and penalties against the Pistons franchise for their part in the extent of this fiasco.
Their fans should be made to watch the games without alcohol for the rest of the year.
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Post by chancelucky on Nov 21, 2004 21:26:31 GMT -5
If they're that anxious to fight, these guys should enlist and go to Iraq.
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Post by 7thWoman on Nov 22, 2004 18:26:22 GMT -5
I heard a radio DJ comment this morning that since the NHL is in the middle of a lockout, the NBA decided to step up and cover the brawling front for them.  I know it's not the sort of thing people are used to seeing at a basketball game, but there's a lot of other sports fans and players out there who have been through much worse when it comes to "riots", especially in soccer. Cutting alcohol is not the answer, there's too much money made from alcohol sales. And I think a clever defense attourney would get any penalties a DA could push for knocked down to a slap on the wrist. I don't think there is an answer, maybe a steel cage around the court. Come to think of it, maybe NBA players just need to embrace having concessions thrown at them like professional wrestlers have... |
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Post by Vball818 on Nov 22, 2004 18:55:09 GMT -5
I've heard and read the fines and suspensions for the players that were involved in this past Friday's mess and just what I expected there were going to be a huge number of people opposing NBA Commissioner Stern's sacntions. Some of the fans at Staples Center(downtown L.A.)that were interviewed for the local news out disagreed with Stern and few agreed with Stern although they didn't approve of the actions of the players and fans. I laughed when I heard last night on TV and today on sports talk radio that the financial fines are too stiff and that the players will be out of money. Out of money?!  I'm being calloused here - most of these NBA players are not making $6.75 an hour and certainly not one step closer to living out on the streets, with the money they make(I sorta do know what I'm talking about because I dated a person who's a sport/entertanment CPA-attorny) they're not broke and if they were smart with handling their money they would have enough in their reserves to pay any amount of fines the NBA impose on them. I certainly do not think the fines are outrageous, but if you do I wouldn't mind reading on why you think they are. |
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Post by Vball818 on Nov 22, 2004 18:59:54 GMT -5
"Basketbrawl"... how appropriate. I caught it live on TV at a restaurant. There were TV's on throughout the restaurant. Everyone stopped their meal and conversation to watch and comment. Until a fan threw a cup at Artest lying on the scorer's table, it was just another NBA hard foul and subsequent shoving match. It was totally classless of the fan to throw the cup. He should be arrested and prosecuted for starting a riot. Players should stay on the floor and fans should stay in the stands. It's as simple as that. Whoever was evolved in fighting, throwing, etc. should be prosecuted. I also think there should be some heavy fines and penalties against the Pistons franchise for their part in the extent of this fiasco. Their fans should be made to watch the games without alcohol for the rest of the year. I agree with you...Artest(Pacer bball player) was just lying on the table and for that Piston fan to throw his/her(well, let's just say it was a male) to do that was extremely stupid. I wonder if the guy that Artest attacked was the one who threw the beverage at him? All day I kept waiting for someone to say that on the radio. While you were watching the players and fans "bonding" on TV it must've been a bit odd for the customers and workers to stop whatever they're doing and watching the ugly scene going on. I'm sure that was the topic throughout the dinner. Hope no one lost their appetite. |
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Post by sonofbarcelonabob on Nov 22, 2004 19:22:47 GMT -5
Stern is the worst kind of dork - the egomaniacal nerd dork.
Shoot, if Artest was gonna get suspended for the entire season, he should have picked a fight with Stern and knocked him silly instead of going after some beer-drinking, hairy-backed, chain-farting, construction worker fan.
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Post by bigfan on Nov 22, 2004 22:01:25 GMT -5
I love WVB, we do not have these kind of PROBLEMS.
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Post by Gorf on Nov 22, 2004 23:35:09 GMT -5
The person that Artest originally attacked is supposed to have not been the one that threw the cup of whatever at Artest.
Jackson ought to have been suspended more games than Artest since he went into the stands unprovoked and didn't even try to pull anyone off of Artest.
My theory is that Shaq (or someone somehow related to the Heat) caused this incident to happen.
With the Pistons and Pacers both likely to be "scrod" for a while with the lineup changes from suspensions and such the Heat are the team that had the most to gain from having the two teams ranked above them in the east get whacked by the Stern.
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Post by palo on Nov 24, 2004 10:33:10 GMT -5
From the video I've seen Artest attacked the wrong person. It was an ugly incident, but I think the year long suspension was so strict because of Artest's history. I can't really fault the guy for wanting to knock out the idiot who threw garbage at him. Had this same incident happened in a bar everyone would expect the instigator to get his beating. Hopefully the guy who threw the cup will go to jail for a few days. He is denying that he threw it, but they have him on tape. He has three DUI convictions and other arrests. He and the person who threw a chair need to go to jail. But in our society he'll probably end up winning a lawsuit against the players and being rewarded for his unruly behavior. Its a sad day for sports.  Guess I'll just watch the games on TV. |
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Post by VBCOACH on Nov 24, 2004 12:57:41 GMT -5
Cutting alcohol is not the answer Actually, cutting alcohol IS the answer. You want to cut violence and irrsponsible behavior, you cut alcohol. If you put money above responsible behavior and criminal acts, you don't. |
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Post by Gorf on Nov 24, 2004 13:07:40 GMT -5
From the video I've seen Artest attacked the wrong person. It was an ugly incident, but I think the year long suspension was so strict because of Artest's history. I can't really fault the guy for wanting to knock out the idiot who threw garbage at him. Had this same incident happened in a bar everyone would expect the instigator to get his beating. Artest flew right by the guy they identified as the one that threw the cup. That guy then pulled Artest off of the other guy as if he was trying to break up the fight and the camera caught him "sucker punching" Artest to the back / side of his head. Jackson OTOH absolutely attacked the wrong person(s) because he went into the stands and started fighting without being provoked OR attempting to defend Artest. In the interviews I saw he didn't deny throwing the cup he said things like "it was totally chaotic and happened so fast I really don't remember". When the interviewer interjected "video tape shows you throwing the cup and sucker punching Artest from behind" he said "Is that what it shows? I really don't remember."  I generally prefer to watch the games on TV anyhow. You have to pay too much just to sit in nosebleed section seats (where the players look about the same size as they do on TV anyhow) and you get the added bonus of fighting through heavy traffic to get to the games AND to leave the games. |
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Post by 7thWoman on Nov 24, 2004 19:27:18 GMT -5
You want to cut violence and irrsponsible behavior, you cut alcohol. You think there's going to be no violence or irresponsible behavior without alcohol? Exactly, you don't. You issue fines and suspensions, you lambast players and fans for acting irresponsibly, you put all blame on them, and then you pretend you've done everything you could and absolve yourself of all blame. In effect, you've done nothing, but you argue that you are taking steps to alleviate the problem. |
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Post by bigfan on Nov 24, 2004 22:50:09 GMT -5
We beginning to see the end of the NBA. They will have a lockout next year when the current contract is up. People are tired of the players. The Olympic team was reviled, the NBA has a terrible image problem.
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I'm being calloused here - most of these NBA players are not making $6.75 an hour and certainly not one step closer to living out on the streets, with the money they make(I sorta do know what I'm talking about because I dated a person who's a sport/entertanment CPA-attorny) they're not broke and if they were smart with handling their money they would have enough in their reserves to pay any amount of fines the NBA impose on them. I certainly do not think the fines are outrageous, but if you do I wouldn't mind reading on why you think they are.
Guess I'll just watch the games on TV.