Originally posted by ESC: In any case, whether it be bias or if they're just looking to sensationalize, the media coverage tweaked a lot of details from what the tapes show to emphasize their points.
Oh?? How?? Unless George Lucas was involved, I think what happened is pretty damn clear. I'm usually the first to criticize the media, and often ESPN, but their coverage was right on the money tonight.
This was something instigated by a few (whoever threw the first drink), escalated by players involved (Artest Jackson jumping into the stands), and perpetuated by many in the remaining crowd when things got out of hand. The so-called fans involved in this DESERVE to be lambasted, but the city is unfairly being lumped together. Just look at the reactions in this thread based on the poster's location. If you don't believe there is a national media bias against Detroit, it's because you live outside of this area where said bias is the norm. Where is the outrage when fan throwing incidents happen in other cities?
Some details of the ESPN coverage I didn't agree with:
-Artest was clearly hit by a plastic drink cup, even though they referred to it as a cup "possibly bottle".
-Artest was definitely trying to get a rise out of the crowd, not "trying to regain his cool", when he was lying on the scorers table and putting on a pair of headphones from the tv booth.
-Jackson is an idiot, he ran out there to go deck someone. He'd been itching to fight on the court but found no takers, yet he is "looking after his teammate"
-The idiot that ran on the court got what he deserved from Artest, but when he was just getting up when he got sucker punched by JON who wasn't even involved.
-Watch the tape, Jones runs back with a dustpan ready to hurl into the crowd, but caught some sense and didn't do it.
Atheletes certainly have a right to defend themselves. Now who is a bigger threat to Artest last night: 6'8", 245lb (who was overreacting) enraged Ben Wallace, or 5'5" bespectacled Harry Potter heckler who wasn't even the one who threw the drink. Obviously Wallace is the bigger threat to Artest's safety which is why he backed off. Why can he demonstrate restraint from defending himself after getting punched in the throat, but getting soaked with a drink becomes a license to seek out a random fan target.
There is a right to self defence, but these guys are suppose to be professionals. Like it or not they are held to higher expectations of behaviour when they are working. Blame goes all the way around for last night, every single INDIVIDUAL involved, but it will be the organizations they represent that face the repecussions (that seems to be the norm). Sadly this could have been avoided if anyone was willing to "be the bigger man" instead of "acting like the tougher man".
