NBA or WWE you decide...

[David Kelly]

For those of you who may not have seen it this morning or heard, Ron Artest was interview live today on the Today Show. 10 minute interview for him to explain his part of the situation.

And for those of you who do not know, Ron Artest is not like many of the "other players" in the NBA who have criminal records or long spans of violence. (Ron Artest has no criminal record or has been in trouble with the law like the "fan" who threw the cup.) Ron Artest grew up in a very rough neighborhood in New York (I think) and had severe rage problems. He was recommended to play basketball to help him control himself. He is a very passionate and agressive player. He is a very good family guy and good with children away from the court, just gets into trouble and sometimes gets out of control.

He deserves to be suspened for games, but not for the rest of the season or forever. He tries really hard to have a positive attitude about everything.


Interview requires Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player.


Note: The NBA players union has filed their appeal for the suspensions of Ron Artest, Stephen Jackson and Jermaine O'Neal.

[MikeDubreuil]

Originally Posted by David Kelly

He tries really hard to have a positive attitude about everything.

And herein lies the problem with Mr. Artest, he lacks reposibility and regret for the incident. In fact, by the end of the interview you can tell he feels justified in what he did. I watched the whole 11 minute interview and never did he show any signs of remorse.

Originally Posted by Ron Artest

"I have tried to change the image of the league"

He then plugged his new rap cd; claiming it was about love. He was also wearing a hat and t-shirt from his record label. He plugged his new CD 3 times during the interview; more times than he showed regret. Incredibly untactful!

Originally Posted by Ron Artest

"I didn't harm anybody"; "I was real happy that I never hurt a person"

I don't even think I have to comment on this.

Originally Posted by Ron Artest

"It was scary and it almost hit me in my eye, I was like wow"

This seems to be the reason for his frustration, or you could say- justification, for what he did.

Originally Posted by Matt Lauer

"Should you be more disciplined as an athlete who makes $5 million dollars a year playing a professional sport?"

"I think I'm pretty disciplined and I think you should look at the tape and then you should hopefully answer the questions for me, that would help me a lot"

Accountability? He either feels as though he was disciplined, or he feels as though he shouldn't self incrimitae himself. Unfortunately for him, he doesn't come off as a guy where the elevator goes to the top floor so I'm guessing he feels he acted with discipline.

Originally Posted by Matt Lauer

"What do you tell the 12 year old fan of the sport who has seen it and is trying to come to terms with it?"

First Artest claims that he didn't want kids to see it and blames "you" [Matt Lauer, NBC, the media] for showing it.

Originally Posted by Ron Artest

"They seen disrespect from the crowd and then they seen a frustarted reaction from a player and they got to understand that sometimes things happen. People go to war, we don't want to go to war, nobody wants to die. But things happen and you move on, you try to move on and you try to make everyhting positive. So what I can tell kids is things happen and you try to move on and always try to stay positive and keep positive people around you and that's how you will get by."

Basically, he's saying to the kids that if you're disrespected that it's "okay" to go to war with someone. If someone disrespects you it warrants the penalty of death. This is all perfectly normal, as long as you move on and stay positive about you going to war with someone.

This whole experience has really showed me the importance of FIRST. Could you imagine some kid having Ron Artest as a role model? If Ron Artest is a role model, I'm Charles Manson.

[EddieMcD]

Originally Posted by meaubry

Why would you commit a blatant foul with less than a minute to play while you team is winning by double digits?

Okay, that was not a blatent foul. When someone goes up for a layup, and someone else goes to block him, there's usually contact. All Artest did was go up with Wallace. If anything, Wallace was in the wrong for what he did after.

Back on subject, I won't get into who started the whole thing. Hey, the benches cleared, a few staredowns and a couple nudges occured. That happens all the time (not that it should, I'm just saying it does). And suprisingly, Artest was staying out of it. Then he got hit with a cup. And I have to say, in that situation, I kinda don't blame Artest for what he did (even though I don't think it was right). Then we get our domino effect.

In summary: Wallace started it all. Okay, deeper summary: I'll hold both Artest and the fan who threw the cup at him responsible. The players who followed into the stands are all in the wrong too (and since I still believe in chivalry, I kinda see why they did it as well; they were defending their leader). However, any fans on the floor got what was coming to them.

And for a second there, I thought the NHL had resolved their lockout.

BTW, the WWE is docile compared to what happened last night.

[David Hoff]

First off, many people have the wrong impression about Ron Artest because all they hear about him is what the national media tells them. Living in Indy, I get to see him play almost nightly and he very rarely does something that is dirty or illegal. In fact, he received a flagrant foul about a week ago because of his reputation. A few days later, NBA took back the flagrant and cleared his record of it since he did nothing wrong. This has happened to him many times in the past as well. I'm not saying he hasn't messed up before, but I don't think he's as crazy as some make him out to be.

The melee that occurred was not completely Artest's fault or Ben Wallace's fault. I think a good portion of the blame needs to go to the few people in the stands who instigated the brawl by throwing things at the Pacers. I'm not saying Artest should have done what he did, but it is understandable. Also last night when Shaq was asked about the situation, he said he would have reacted the same way that Artest did.

[Brandon Martus]

Originally Posted by EddieMcD

Okay, that was not a blatent foul. When someone goes up for a layup, and someone else goes to block him, there's usually contact. All Artest did was go up with Wallace. If anything, Wallace was in the wrong for what he did after.

Don't watch the hand thats going up to block the shot, watch the hand that is pushing him in the back of the neck/head. That's what Wallace was so angry about, I'm guessing.

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by Brandon Martus

Don't watch the hand thats going up to block the shot, watch the hand that is pushing him in the back of the neck/head. That's what Wallace was so angry about, I'm guessing.

Ben Wallace overeacted alot to what had happened.

[Ryan Albright]

hands down artest, jackson thrown out of the league and criminal charges filed. Artest has been a loose cannon his whole life i was just waiting for him to snap. This is a disgrace to any pro sport

[Ryan Dognaux]

It saddens me to see such a small situations escalate into something so big. I'm actually ashamed to be in Indianapolis at the moment, that whole incident reflected poorly upon our entire city. It wouldn't surprise me if Artest and others were out for the entire season with criminal charges filed (although they won't have to do any time because they all have money). Detroit's fans have always been rough, but I just didn't think they would stoop to such a low level. The fans and the players display of complete and utter disrespect really just saddens me

[Corey Balint]

Im still not sure what to say about this, but heres what i can kind of sum up.

Ben Wallace got wayy to angry over a simple foul(even if he did get punched in the head, it happens)
Then the stupid fans started to throw stuff at Artest-This is where it shouldve been stopped. Police and Security were too slow to react to the events, and they shouldve been able to prevent Artest from getting in the stands.
Artest, O'Neal, and Jackson-should never have thrown punches back because it reflects poorly upon themselves, their team, thier city, and makes them horrible role models. But, they were provoked, and these days many fans dont realize that going through heckling everyday does get to you and when your in a very heated game(no matter what point of the season) your emotions will get the best of you.

This brings up a few major things to think about.(I personally hate to have to say these, but with the conservative/strict mindset America is in, someone has to) One-Do you separate the court/game from the seating area.-This has always been one major appeal to the NBA, you are right thurr with the team, and you can really get into it.
Two-Do you stop selling alcohol at games(Im sure some of those fans were completely trashed)-Everyone likes to go to a game and have a drink, but when do you call it too much, and how can you stop it from getting out of hand(since we all know, people dont know when to stop)
Three-Criminal charges and suspensions(who gets charged and for what)?
Four-How do you prevent this from happening again.

I think Artest, O'neal, Jackson, Wallace all should be suspended(note-they already have been suspended indefinitely). Jackson will get the longest-not sure what game range-15 at the most(although that to me, is outrageous)O'Neal will get somewhere around 7, and Artest will get more then he should(acted in self defense-ya i know it was a plastic cup, but with all these crazy things happening, it could be something dangerous)-probably 12ish. Wallace will get 4 for the whole starting of the ruckus.

Criminal charges-Misdemeanors at the most(I'd hope) i see heavy fines and possible jail time for some. Like i said, they were provoked, and should be judged that way. The Fans should be banned for life, and be sent to jail for longer though, much longer.


If anything comes from this, i hope its that Alcohol is being phased out of the arenas, and more security around the players to prevent these morons from ruining a great game.

Originally Posted by Corey Balint

Ben Wallace got wayy to angry over a simple foul(even if he did get punched in the head, it happens)

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 [edit] 5...he hit the wrong fan when he went up into the crowd[/edit], 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.

[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.

[Kyle Love]

We all have kind of forgot who really provoked all of this....the fans. Artest would have NEVER hit the fan if he didn't get hit with beer, bottles, and such. I do agree though he should have handled it differently but put yourself in his shoes.

On another note, Jackson, Artest, and Wallace should all be suspended 3-5 games. Wallace should get the toughest punishment due to him hitting Artest causing the fans to get out of control.

Another note, did anyone see Freddie Jones get nailed by some black dude? He was trying to break the fight up and he got absolutely NAILED. I think that guy along with the guy wearing the "police" shirt should be arrested, along with the guy that got onto the court(to me thats like a player going into the stands and hitting a fan, isn't this a 2-way street?).

Last note, I think there should be plexi-glass walls put up around the courts now and have NO player/fan contact EVER. They need to learn that the players deserve respect, while the players should give equal respect back to the fans. If they had those "shields" up none of this would have been started.

[Jeff Rodriguez]

Originally Posted by Kyle45

We all have kind of forgot who really provoked all of this....the fans. Artest would have NEVER hit the fan if he didn't get hit with beer, bottles, and such.

Unfortunately, the NBA has no controls over the fans. They can't tell the fans how to behave. They can tell the players how to behave though.

Artest, Jackson, and every other player who was fighting in the stands should be banned from the league.
The NBA needs to adopt a ZERO tolerance policy. The players need to be held accountable.

Most professional sports need a zero tolerance policy. This is a perfect opportunity for the NBA to spearhead this.

[Corey Balint]

I disagree with that type of policy-they are humans too-they cant control their feelings all the time too. I personally think before such a horrible restriction comes into the game, more needs to be done to protect the players/or better yet, not let fans get drunk at games, and having guards be more strict with the hecklers.

I can see a no-tolerance type rule in football or hockey because they both are playing with very dangerous equipment, that could kill someone very easily. Baseball for that matter too, but baseball tends to have calmer fans, and more calm-headed players. Football and hockey the players get heated very fast, thats the major drawing of their game. Basketball is different. Fans should be right on the court(not actually on it), its the best part of the game.

Like i said before, the NBA can prevent these events from happening, beef up security and get Beer out of the arena. Even if they dont ban alcohol, maybe they could have a type of quick test to tell if someone should be drinking or not. All major fan events have occured because fans were drunk and not able to realize what they were actually doing.

[meaubry]

What's done is done - the league and the law will enforce what they can. Anyone that thinks this was an isolated incident, has been watching ESPN sound bites for too long. Because everyone is only seeing the big fight, no one knows what had happened during the time preceding the incident. Too bad, because that is what really caused the event to occur. The whole game was played "on the edge" and the situation was fueled by the bad blood between these 2 teams and certain players. Because the score and the time left on the clock - the Pacers last possession ended up with Ron A getting inside the paint and Ben W letting him lay it in without contesting it. He could have, but must have realized that the game was over - that basket wouldn't matter, cuz Indiana had won the game and contesting the shot was meaningless. So with 45 seconds to go Ben is at the other end - probably thinking the same thing, when he feels a hand pushing him in the back of the head/neck. I think he just lost it, because he couldn't believe anyone would do that in that situation. Up by 12 or 15 and contesting a layup? Why?? Was Ron trying to send some sort of a message? I just don't get it - but then again this wasn't the first time Ron A started a fight at the end of a game between the Pacers and the Pistons - similar situation, similar results - 3 years ago with Corless Williamson. In that episode Artest hit Ben in the side of the head as he was trying to restore the peace - he got between the 2 others players and had his back to Ron. If I recall correctly in that incident and most others where fights occur between players the ref's and security immediately escort the ejected players from the court. Why were Ben W and Ron A still on the court? Why was Ron allowed to lie down on the scoring table and put a headset on?