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.
