Pacers-Pistons Brawl

[Kidlicious]

I think national sports organizations should just say, "Sorry, we've got morals, and you just don't have the character to be a part of our organization."

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Lock him up ten to twenty for what?! Getting into a fight? That's absurd!

It's more than just a fight. The consequences were severe, and could have been much, MUCH worse.

[Imran Siddiqui]

It's more than just a fight. The consequences were severe, and could have been much, MUCH worse.

Uh huh... and? It's still just battery and aggravated assault. 10-20 years is silly for a fight.

[Arrian]

Saw the footage of this on Sportscenter. Holy ****ing ****. Totally insane.

This is the type of ****, btw, that ruins things for the fans who don't throw things at players (did you see the flying metal chair!?!?!?). People are such *******s.

I don't watch basketball, so my concern is just a general one - it does seem to me that there is a trend here re: fan/player behavior that is potentially really ugly.

-Arrian

[Tuberski]

I like the take on this I heard on the radio today.

Everyone is saying that Artest was showing constraint until the beer was thrown on him.

But where was his tough guy attitude? He doesn't show that until he goes in the stands after the nerdy looking guy.

He didn't want any part of Ben Wallace, what a *****.....

ACK!

[Guynemer]

He wasn't showing restraint by lying down on the scorer's table.

He was showboating, taunting. Egging on the situation without actively doing anything.

[Drake Tungsten]

I fail to see how a lying man can do much showboating. Face it, the situation was over until some thuggish Detroit fan threw a cup of beer at Artest. They should suspend the city of Detroit for a year, in the best interests of America...

Detroit

[Imran Siddiqui]

Artest is a punk. He's lucky he wasn't banned for life. It's his 8th suspension. The man is out of control.

[Drake Tungsten]

The man is out of control.

So is Detroit. Can't we just agree to hate them both?

[joncha]

They should move the Pistons to Vancouver as punishment. We won't even bother to show up to the games, let alone riot.

[Drake Tungsten]

[Sikander]

Detroit rocks. It's a dying breed of American city, which hasn't been pussified beyond all recognition. Boston should take lessons.

[asleepathewheel]

Looks like the beer thrower has a nice history:

http://www.clickondetroit.com/sports/3938054/detail.html

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Police continue to identify all of the fans involved in Friday night's brawl at The Palace of Auburn Hills, while the man accused of throwing the cup that sparked the incident speaks to Local 4.

Police have identified this fan -- believed to have thrown the first beer at the Indiana Pacers' Ron Artest -- as John Green, of West Bloomfield.

John Green, of West Bloomfield, was caught on tape throwing his cup of beer onto Indiana Pacers player Ron Artest, Local 4 reported. The act sent Artest into a rage in the stands, where players and fans then fought during the game between the Pistons and the Pacers.

Local 4 learned that Green has a criminal history, which includes the following offenses:

2003 -- Operating under the influence of liquor/operating while visibly impaired (second offense)
1989 -- Assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder
1989 -- Escape from prison
1986 -- Carrying concealed weapons
1986 -- Uttering and publishing, which is using a false, forged, altered or counterfeit record, deed or instrument to injure or defraud.

(Off topic-Michigan has some odd sounding charges)

And the lawsuits are beginning to roll out...

http://www.local6.com/sports/3938959/detail.html

INDIANAPOLIS -- Two fans filed suit against Indiana Pacers players Monday after they claim they were attacked during the brawl at The Palace on Friday night.

Bill Paulson said he was punched in the head and neck when Pacers' player Stephen Jackson followed Ron Artest into the stands.

"If you'll notice, I'm trying to get away and he's still hurting me and, in fact, I didn't realize until after I saw the replay that he's still coming after me. He's being held back by other people," said Paulson.

The fight started when Artest was struck by a cup thrown from the stands. Artest charged into the stands, throwing punches as he climbed over seats.

Paulson said Artest started punching his friend. "When he was held down by his arm, Ron Artest had his fist cocked, saying, 'Did you throw it? Did you throw it?'" Paulson said.

Videotape of the brawl apparently shows Paulson reacting by throwing his beer at Artest. That's when Jackson appears to go after Paulson, WDIV-TV in Detroit reported.

Paulson's attorney, Todd Weglarz, said the players' actions were wrong.

"Legally, you cannot take the law into your own hands after you had a beer dumped on you ... start assaulting people who you think hit you until you found the right one," Weglarz said.

Weglarz is also representing John Ackerman, 67, who said he was hit by a chair thrown from the stands and punched in the head by Pacers' player Jermaine O'Neal. Ackerman is filing suit against the Indiana Pacers and three of the team's players.

"What happened to me should never happen to anybody," Ackerman said.

As the Pacers were being escorted off the court, Ackerman said he was hit in the head. He told WDIV-TV in Detroit that he did not realize what had happened until he saw videotape of the fight.

VIDEO: Videotaped Punch Leads To Lawsuit | Man Allegedly Hit By Chair, Pacers' Punch

"I was running through that series of videos and I watched the chair come down and I wondered why I had a real sore spot," Ackerman said.

Weglarz said Ackerman was also hit in the head by O'Neal. "People who were sitting around him and who were with him during the game all said that he was sucker-punched and was attacked by Mr. Jermaine O'Neal," Weglarz said.

Ackerman said he was not a part of the fight and did not throw anything at the players.

According to WDIV-TV, the Indiana Pacers and three of its players -- Artest, O'Neal and Jackson -- are named as defendants in the lawsuits. The Palace basketball arena may be included in the lawsuit at a later date, according to the station's reports. It is unclear at this point what, if any, damages are being sought.

[Brundlefly]

I like this quote:

Cleveland Cavaliers center Zydrunas Ilgauskas: "If you're a fan and you step on the court, guys are going to come after you. I'm not saying the players did the right thing. But players don't know if you're carrying a knife or something. You can hurt somebody."

Yeah, people who pay $150/seat for courtside seats tend to be the type of person who carry knives...

[rah]

And most interesting, it was reported this morning that the infamous John Green probation agreement includes the condition that he not drink. I guess that wasn't a full beer cup he threw. And on the tape, Artest went after the guys next to Green. hahahah. Green at first tried to hold Artest off the two other guys he was going after, but then started swinging at him while he was holding him. Unbelievable.