Pacers vs Pistons and there fans.

junYUN · #1 11-20-04, 10:26 PM

albeit the fan shouldn't have thrown the cup...the players should never EVER EVER rush the stands under ANY circumstances. security could have easily been pointed to the guy that threw the cup, and tossed him out. there is absolutely no excuse for rushing the stands. i really will be suprised if artest and jackson aren't suspended for AT LEAST 20 games.

As for O'Neil, he did stay on the court, however the guy he laid into was being grabbed by security guards, and O'Neil came completely out of left field and rocked that guy. his penalty should not be as stiff as jackson and artest, but he should definatly get punished harshly.

as for big ben, a couple game suspension and a fine should do. although he started the fight, he didn't make the pacers rush the crowd, he simply pushed another player (happens often in the NBA) and the usual course of action is not too harsh, but a couple games and a fine is just enough to do the trick.

as for the fans, i do agree they were WAY way WAY out of line. throwing things at the court, coming onto the court, all that is ridiculous and is dissapointing. i do think videos should be reviewed, and some of the fans that are seen punching players from behind should definatly be subject to some sort of prosecution or punishment.

all in all a very nasty black spot for the NBA.

Chutups · #2 11-21-04, 03:31 AM

I think the players could have handled it better, but the fans need boundries also, you don't go throwing beers at players You can yell at them or say whatever verbally, but when you start throwing stuff that's getting physical. I know it was only a plastic cup, but I know if someone throw a beer in my face while I was on the job, I probobly would have reacted the same way.

Kidd7138 · #3 11-21-04, 09:39 PM

Looks like Ron Artest is gonna get all the time he wants to promote his album. The NBA handed out the suspensions today, Artest is gone for the season, Jackson is suspended for 30 games, O'Neal for 25, and Ben Wallace for 6.

jillaj · #4 11-22-04, 12:01 AM

They got about what i expected. I think Wallace got a longer suspension than normal. However considering what happened it was probably deserved. This cripples the Pacers for the year. Shame that a potential championship season ends like this so early.

Aequitas58 · #5 11-22-04, 01:59 AM

Too bad. Their conduct was reprehensible. Go Sixers - the East just got easier.

bigjohnstud2o · #6 11-22-04, 03:07 AM

Im a Bulls fan so this is unbiased. I think wallace should have got the same suspension but a HEFTY fine. All should recieve hefty fines. Artest has to the tune of about 9mil. J.O. about 4 and 1/2mil. Jackson about 3.8mil. Since the suspensions are w/o pay. I believe this is what has to happen for these players to take things seriously. These 10k-50k fines are nothing. Hit em with a mil and they will start being more careful.

GeoffM · #7 11-22-04, 08:05 AM

Well, I won't argue for Artest too much because quite frankly I don't think he cares, but the NBA has got to let the players defend themselves. If Artest doesn't go into the stands there is no guarantee this would not have happened anyway, the beer that was thrown may have started a riot anyway. But to also suspend O'Neal and Jackson for so many games, the NBA is basically saying that you aren't allowed to stick up for your teammates. I think it is complete nonsense that Stern would suspend these players when they were simply trying to defend Artest, who got himself in a very dangerous situation. The league now not only stands to be sued by some fans, they also may have some legal action from those players involved.

But how much can fans really sue for? In my mind, you step on the court, you are somewhere you aren't suppose to be and the players have the right to fend you off. That Piston fan had no right throwing the beer and could get sued himself, as can the one that stepped on the court with his hands raised (what was he thinking?

)

And whoever said Wallace doesn't deserve more than 6 games, huh? It is quite possible that had it not been for his retaliation push to the face of Artest, this whole thing never would have started. Granted the foul was uncalled for by Artest, but cooler heads have to prevail, that is what the NBA is trying to accomplish by this. To give one of the players that basically started this whole mess 6 games is a slap on the wrist and the Pacers must be very pissed right now, as would I.

I would expect the suspensions to be lightened, at least to O'Neal and Jackson. I thought Artest and Wallace deserved the long suspensions. And what happened to teams being held responsible for their fans in the stands?

junYUN · #8 11-22-04, 01:56 PM

artest only makes about 6.3m a year, so he's only out i believe in the neighborhood of 5.7-5.9. J.O. is in upwards of 5 or 6. jackson is only about 1.2-1.4.

i really think stephen jackson should ahve been penalized as much as artest though, he went flying into the fans throwing punches without having anything thrown at him. he was also TRYING to start a fight on the court after artest was pushed.