Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Common Interests DETROIT PISTONS/INDIANA PACERS FIGHT

Well I took a break from Immunobio to read up a bit on some outside information regarding this fiasco, and here is what I have deducted, for those who care.

-Artest: why foul Wallace with 50 seconds left in the game when you've got a definitive victory?
Response: Wallace gives Artest a strong shove at the upper chest. Wallace's reaction is out of question a rejection from the game, had everything gone accordingly.
*Side note: Did you know that Wallace's older brother died a couple of days ago?
Wallace is a very passionate and emotional player. Wallace also has a clean history and usually isn't found in scuffles.

Argument: I see a lot of folks blaiming Wallace for triggering the melee. In the NBA there have been hundreds of incidences where a failure of a flagarant call leads a hot-headed player to shove or push a player, which is usually countered with an ejection or reversal-flagrant foul.

So what happens? Well, we see Wallace cursing and throwing a towel. Again, Wallace's actions are completely uncalled for, and should result in an ejection.

-Artest goes and lies on the officials booth as if he was getting a sun tan. He then puts on headphones while the hot-headed Wallace yells. Now Artest knows better than this. Instead he tries to intimidate the already fired up Wallace. So all transpires.

-The cup: A fan throws a plastic cup and it hits Artest in the chest. Upon further evaluation from another angle, I saw that the cup does not contain a high volume of liquid. Immediately, as a 'professional,' Artest should have walked to the Pacers side or gone into the locker room. But instead he leaps, and well, the rest is what you already know.

-I agree with those whom have pointed, you don't bite the hand that feeds you. Essentially, these fans who make 35-50k pay these boneheads their million dollar salaries (I believe artest is somewhere near 12mil).

Artest is a nutcase, plain and simple. "Give the man a break," you say? Well we've seen it before folks. Two years ago, in NY, he took a camera and smashed it on the ground. Not too long ago, he asked Carlisle off so that he could take a break for his rap album. This man does not show the integrity of a professional basketball player who wants to play.

-On a side note, I think most of you failed to see Jackson. That guy is crazy too. I saw him punch atleast 3/4 people in the stands. He wasn't charging up in the stands to pull Artest out, he was there to brawl.

So who sparked it? Well I don't think with the facts given Wallace did. Yes, he did start the fight between him and artest, but he cannot be held responsible for the entire fiasco. So if you ask me, the fan who threw the cup is responsible, along with Artest. I actually place more responsibility on Artest. These are payed professionals who make millions of dollars. If this sort of crap happened on And 1 street ball I could find it somewhat logical in scheme, but not on the NBA.


Conclusion:

1. Wallace-I'd say 5-10Gs and about 5 games
2. Jackson is more effed than anybody else-I see him getting the whole season and sued up the arse.
3. Artest-well let's just say he wanted some time off, well now he's going to get it-40+ games
4. O'Neal-20 games
5. I still can't believe Sheed didn't do anything. I thought he was going to go crazy. Instead he was a peacemaker, good call by him.
6. Worst interview larry brown has given, he was completely talking bs.
7. Piston-Pacer games will now be watched by all for the next 2/3 years.
8. XMAS-should be fun, next meeting of the two teams
9. Im sleepy, THE END

I am very embarassed at what happened. I've moved around a lot, but I call the Metro Detroit area my true "home". When the fight broke out I had ten guys in my room watching, and they asked where the game was at. When I said the Palace and explained where it is they started asking all these really negative questions about how people from Metro Detroit act, and how Detroit and the surrounding area is. I went and talked to a guy down the hall who lives in Grosse Point and he was just stunned. (BTW, he is a FORD, as in related to Henry FORD) Anyway, I was really dissappointed that the people acted like that. It was totally not acceptable that they threw stuff on the players as they left. Now they'll have to install plexi to keep the people off the court and the players out of the stands. It's too bad that a few people have to ruin it for everyone else.

I totally agree with ancient and dnewman.

svt4stv: While I think it's great that you are trying to help some understand the laws, remember that this happened in Detroit and every state will have its own laws. Most of what you said may be true, but in Texas there is no such thing as battery. Just assault. Whether it's spit in the face, a thrown cup or a punch to the face, it's still assault.

Carry on.

I agree %100 with you Dnewman. It didn't bother me as much that people were throwing there food at them anymore when they were leaving. They were just being treated like the trash they were. Artest has proven in the past that he is a ignorant thug, I wouldn't be surprised if he was banned for life.

On another note, anyone one catch the espn show this morning with John Saunders(who has been spouting B.S. latley)and the three journalists. Its on every Sunday. Anyways of course they were talking about the incident, and surprisingly I was very impressed with what they had to say, some of them even admitted they had changed there opinion after wacthing it a few times. Just about all agreed Artest was in the wrong. Don't remember his name, but the black man siting to the far left, made the most sense I have ever heard a journalist make in a long time. Wish I could have gotten his name. Much respect.

Antonio I must finaly say(After holding back for a while), I am surprised at your comments as of late. I met you in person and thought you seemed like a real cool down to earth guy. But recently your posts have not been making any sense. Something tramatic happen in your life to be on such a rampage latley? To each his own I guess. Hope you caught the espn show.

couple things i agree with:

this wouldn't have happened at all had ben wallace not reacted the way he did. it was a tough game but the foul wasn't that hard.

i completely sympathize with artest's actions after getting hit with the cup, being in the same position i probably would've wanted to react the same way. even though it's not acceptable to go after a fan, as chris rock would say...i can understand. now he has to pay the consequences and repercussions of letting his emotional state and ensuing lack of self control get the better of him.

artest should not have ran into the stands after he got hit with the cup. stephen jackson was wrong for instigating but right for backing up his teammate once shi+ got ugly. he could make the argument he was trying to protect his teammate. either way, even though they were provoked, they're both wrong for going into the stands. they can expect to get goat fukced by the league come suspension and fine time.

the league and refs are partly to blame for not correctly buffering the players from fan abuse. they've been playing with fire for years in their approach to dealing with it and finally got their skirt lifted on this one. they need to take serious action against the fans involved to show they will not tolerate fans abusing the players.

the fans who were on the court got what they deserved but the players will still be punished for not walking away and avoiding confrontation. props to o'neal for the hilarious footage, but he threw a late and uncalled for punch.

those of you saying you would've just walked to the locker room or avoided the confrontation need to keep in mind that not everyone is a type b personality.

I see no benefit from this thread going any further. Watch the video and make your own conclusions; then take them to a basketball forum.

*Edited to retract a comment that was better suited to PM's.