|
Here's a question.
Say you are sitting in a bar with your buddies, and you get into an argument with another patron. He is a regular, and has a lot of friends there. He attacks you, but you back off while his friends are egging everything on. Suddenly, out of nowhere a cup of beer comes flying and hits you in the face.
What would you do?
A lot of people will say that they would turn and walk out, but I would be sure that in most people it is a 50/50 chance that you would go after the guy who threw it instead.
Now, after hearing all sorts of opinions on this, seeing it again and again and again, and thinking about it, here's what I think.
1) Artest is more in the wrong then I first thought, but not 30 games worth. I would fine and suspend him though.
2) Wallace still needs much more then a five game suspention, but less then what Artest gets, since he was the ultimate start of it all.
3) Stephen Jackson should get the most severe penalty, since he has no excuse. He went in and started swinging. O'Neal should get less, because he did try to break the fight up in the stands, and the fan on the court doesn't get any sympathy.
4) The two guys who came onto the court have no legal recourse. They had no reason to go out there other then for neferious reasons, and got whatever they deserved.
5) There still needs to be MAJOR sanctions against the Pistons fans to show that throwing things will NOT be tolerated, as well as coming onto the court after players. Personally, I would make the Pistons forfeit their remaining home game against the Pacers, that way the fans know how their actions can have consequences. This is in addition to any criminal prosecutions.
The NBA needs to make a statement.
__________________
"Final thought: I just rented Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine. Frankly, it was the worst sports movie I've ever seen."
--Peter Schmuck, The (Baltimore) Sun
|