I put my comments in the NBA discussion thread.
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Artest and Jackson are done for the year: minimum.
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Frankly I don't even think that's the least bit realistic considering the circumstance. Look at it from a players association standpoint, not a Pacers standpoint.
You think the PA is going to let the NBA tell them that they are to be subjected to physical attacks and expected to take it or suffer losing a YEAR'S PAY??? No freaking way. Even Ben Wallace wouldn't stand for that. Do you really think he wants to come to Indy knowing that all I have to do to ruin the Piston season is have my friends and I throw shit at them while they are on the bench until they decide to do something about it? (or any city with any player?)
Hell no. Ben might have been pissed at Ron during the game, but I guarantee that in the final analysis of the fan brawl part he and the rest of the Pistons are more on Artest's side than their own "fans", if that's what you call people that punch others from behind and throw things at them for no reason.
You want a strike, then put Artest out for a year.
I thought the league was trying to reinforce behavior like NOT RESPONDING TO A SHOVE, but to me Carlo it sounds like you don't agree. Or I suspect you just really don't like Artest or the idea of a player in the stands.
BTW, what about those fans that came onto the court, I guess Ron should have stayed away from them too. Maybe just stand in some imaginary world that is neither stand nor court where no fans can get hurt trying to punch him or throw things at him.
Jesus, the NBA or TV teams can sure as hell keep the people sitting behind the announcers from being seen during the postgame/halftime with security and screens, but when it comes time to protect them during a fight they seem a little weak.
Let's put it another way. Ron was doing nothing, so was the scorer, or Bill Walton, whatever. What if the guy instead attacked Walton with a beer? Is Walton suspended for a year too? What if its David Stern sitting there and this happens?
Is it only okay to do when its Ron Artest?
Ron went off on a guy. If you read my NBA thread post you will see that I mentioned that this guy and his 3 buddies can be seen right when Ben shoves Ron screaming bloody murder and egging on a fight. When confronted physically by people with that mentality I wonder if any of you really sit back and say "hmm, that's too bad".
Go to bar sometime and have someone just toss their beer in your face. What do you do? Maybe if you have an aversion to fighting or a fear of getting your ass kicked you do nothing, but many people would shove or punch the guy.
Hell, what Ron did was no worse and Ben went after him just as hard. So Ben is out for a year too then IYO?
