NBA or WWE you decide...

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by Kyle45

OK I just saw the Pacers vs Pistons vs Fans fight. I think this is totally ridiculous! These pro athletes need to show themselves as a role model. The fans were a bit over the line though. Theres no need for fans to throw bottles, cups, etc on the court or at the players. Artest and all the Pacers did go over the line when they went into the stands, I can't really blame them though...sounds sad yes I know but put yourself in their shoes. The Detroit fans were way out of line. This whole thing was started by Ben Wallace who was fouled by Artest with like 49 sends left. If he would have had some self-discipline he wouldn't have punched Artest. So, I just want to know everyones input on this thing that just happened. If you haven't seen it yet I am sure you will see it on the news....

The fans were totally wrong. They think purchasing a ticket gives them the right to behave in any manner they please whether that is abusing atheletes or other fans ( I go to Bills games and there have been fights and ejections at every game. Some people have written the local people about how nasty the fans have been including the motehr of an 11 year old boy who was verbally abused after his Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Bills in the opening game). Fan behavior has deteriorated to dangerous levels.
I just hope we never see that in FIRST (even though we had issues with a grumpy mentor at the championships who was snapping at everyone around him. Gracious Professionalism won out and there was no problem).

[Karthik]

I've watched the footage of the melee a few times now, and I can't stop shaking my head. The whole situation was ridiculous. Here's list of all the culprits.

The Fans -- You can't start throwing things at the players. It's stupid and immature, amd dangerous. Not just dangerous for the target, but as we saw tonight, dangerous for the thrower and for anyone sitting near him.

Ron Artest, Stephen Jackson et. al. -- I don't care if you got hit with a water bottle, that does not give you a right to go charging into the stands. Artest can talk about self defense all he wants, but let's be serious. He was not in imminent danger. There were security and police officers who would have dealt with that fan.

So Artest runs into the crowd, attacks a first guy who actually had no part in the situation, and then attacks the bottle thrower. While all of this is happening, a riot erupts. This is why players shouldn't go charging into the stands, even if they've been wronged. Inciting riots is not a good thing. In this riot many innocent people were shoved and trampled.

So the bottom line, everyone involved in this situation is to blame. The drunk cup tossing fans, the players who started attacking the fans. The porous security who did very little to stop the whole thing. Good grief.

Honestly, I'm not going to another NBA game, until I'm given some sort of assurance that this won't happen again. Knowing my luck, I'll be the guy who's sitting beside the drunken moron who throws the next cup, that ends up getting mistakenly attacked by Ron Artest.

This is going to leave a huge black mark on the NBA, it's fans and the entire city of Detroit. It's sad considering that most of the fans and players and had nothing to do with it. 'Tis life...

I really hope there are some major ramifications for those involved. We were very luck that no one was seriously injured (as far as we know). If proper punishment isn't handed out (to the players and the fans), I fear there will be a repeat down the line, where we aren't so lucky.

[Cory]

Originally Posted by Karthik

There were security and police officers who would have dealt with that fan.

The porous security who did very little to stop the whole thing. Good grief.

Karthik, I agreed with the content of most of your post, but these two statements directly contradict each other.

As I understood it, there was all of one security personnel on the floor at the time.

So while security and police would have dealt with the fan, they obviously didn't, and I'm sure that changed Artest's reaction.

By no means does that mean Artest isn't responsible for his actions, but had there been an appropriate number of security personnel there, I think it's safe to say the incident would not have escalated so much

[Karthik]

Originally Posted by Cory

Karthik, I agreed with the content of most of your post, but these two statements directly contradict each other.

As I understood it, there was all of one security personnel on the floor at the time.

So while security and police would have dealt with the fan, they obviously didn't, and I'm sure that changed Artest's reaction.

By no means does that mean Artest isn't responsible for his actions, but had there been an appropriate number of security personnel there, I think it's safe to say the incident would not have escalated so much

Cory,

What I was trying to say was that there was enough security to handle one cup thrower. They didn't have time to deal with him, because Artest made reacted so quickly. If given enough time I think they could of handled it. They definitely did not have enough personnel on staff to handle the near riot that ensued.

[Travis Hoffman]

Originally Posted by Karthik

Knowing my luck, I'll be the guy who's sitting beside the drunken moron who throws the next cup, that ends up getting mistakenly attacked by Ron Artest.

...and sues everyone and their brother involved with the incident, and makes $$$$$$ as a result. Christmas has come early for Detroit-area lawyers this year.