[Corey Balint]

Originally Posted by D.J. Fluck

Even though ben wallace was slapped in the shoulder....it wasnt even a flagrant foul...

1. Artest and Jackson were definately at fault for going into the stands, but honestly if you were in his place wouldnt you do the same thing? 99 out of 100 people would. I dont care what you say, you would do it.

2. Ben Wallace knew what he was doing by continuing to go after Artest, he knew how the fans would react...Detroits fans (in all sports) have a history of being "barbarians" The fact of the matter is that Ben Wallace started an unecessary riot.

3. The Palace of Auburn Hills is at fault for not prroviding enough security....they had 1 cop with a can of mace behind the Pacers bench. After everything had started, the ESPN crew only counted 2 cops on the floor until the riot squad came in several minutes later.

4A. Fan behavior was ridiculous...dumping beer all over the players, hitting referees with beer bottles, tresspassing on the court....(in my opinions the ones who came on the court deserved what they got...they shouldn't have been there in the first place), throwing folding chairs at players and security...just sick. After Shaq's game that night he was asked what he thought and he said "I dont blame Artest, I would have done the same thing." Could you imagine that beast coming at you like Artest did? Good god, he would remind me of Donkey Kong trying to pound you into the ground.

4B. Anyone who saw that video saw after Ron Artest went after the fan shows another fan, not breaking up the fight, but going up behind him and throwing a haymaker right into the side of his head.

If I were handing out the punishments, Ben Wallace would get 10 games. Ron Artest would get 3, Jermaine O'neal would get off the hook (all he did was knock down a fan who came on the court after probably Artest) and Stephen Jackson should get 10 for trying to start the players riot back up (before the fans got involved) and then following Artest into the stands, not to get him out of there, but help beat them up.

The Detroit organization is who I place at fault here for not providing enough security....if they would have provided better security (1 cop behind each bench doesn't cut it...) nothing outside Ben Wallace getting in Artests face (where Artest didnt even do anything, he was behaving himself). I just hope Detroits fans grow up and realize what they did to the children in the arena at the time.

Thats exactly it. The thing is though, the NBA is gonna make a stupid ruling, its bound to happen. They will only look at the charging into the stands and suspend people for that. I know Artest and Jackson are gonna miss a ton of games. The coverage ive heard so far, expects each to miss at least 15(that was the lowest i've heard). Wallace will end up with 4, maybe. O'Neal will get probably 1 or 2 less then wallace.

I'd hope that none of the players would get more then 10, the fans are the ones to blame, but i know it will happen and hopefully not ruin the Pacers run for the title.

And i agree with the DET org and fans being at fault. If the organization provided more security this never wouldve happenend.