ARTICLE: Deadshot's Views on Indiana/Detroit

[Deadshot]

ARTICLE: Deadshot's Views on Indiana/Detroit

by Kyle (Deadshot)

First off, let me start by saying that I do not advocate Artest's actions. Going into the crowd was certainly not the right thing to do, and he would be stupid to ever do it again.

Now to the beginning of the situation - Sorry Pistons fans, but the foul on Wallace was not that hard. It was rough, but it certainly didn't merit a shove to the neck. Sure, there were only 50 seconds left, but with that being said, coaches don't encourage allowing easy baskets. They want the opposing team to earn their points. Then the fight breaks out - various coaches and players did an overall good job on keeping things somewhat peaceful, and Artest even lies on the scoring table. At this point, Stephen Jackson is making a complete idiot of himself. As Artest is being held down and kept cool, Wallace tosses a towel on him. Very stupid move - Wallace knows Artest is a ticking time bomb, and this is very unfair to a calm and collected Artest. I'm not saying that Ron wouldn't have retaliated - he was clearly being held down. The refs should have ejected Wallace and Jackson immediately; both players were out of control.

At this point - hopes of breaking this up and ending the game are on the upside, and then.....the cup. Ron is in the wrong for attacking a fan without a doubt. To make things worse, he attacks the wrong fan. Once Artest is pulled out of the crowd, several drunken fans then approach him on the court. They deserved every blow they got - from Artest and O'Neal. Your admission into the building doesn't permit walking onto the court obviously. Then, as Ron is being held and calmed down, a cop comes up to him and threatens him with pepper spray. Law enforcement at its finest folks...way to pull it out on Artest while the whole arena is going crazy. Former Pacer Chuck Person and current Pacer Reggie Miller then help Ron into the lockerroom. Very smart move to get him out of the area - too bad it came a little late.

Now the main objective should be to get all of the players off the court. Too bad the officials fled the scene early in the brawl. Instead, hundreds of fans hurl objects onto the court and at Pacers players. Most of the objects are bottles, beer, and popcorn, but one fan even throws a chair at JO. Last time I checked, hurling chairs seem to pose major threats and require self-defense, but I could be wrong...

Skip forward a day - the nation is in awe, and the league is heavily frowned upon. We know suspensions will come, but how heavy will they be. The investigations are very time consuming, so initially, only Artest, JO, Jackson, and Wallace are suspended indefinitely. A 6-man Pacers roster struggles against the Magic, and amazingly loses by only 3 points. I don't speak for all Pacers fans, but the game versus Orlando made me proud to be a Pacers fan despite the loss.

The date is November 21, and still nothing on the suspensions. David Stern is scheduled to speak later in the day, and fans across the country heavily anticipate his ruling. Finally the time arrives, and the following suspensions are handed out:

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*Pacers forward Ron Artest has been suspended for the remainder of the season.

*Indiana guard Stephen Jackson has been suspended for 30 games.

*Pacers forward Jermaine O’Neal has been suspended for 25 games.

*Indiana guard Anthony Johnson has been suspended for five games.

*Detroit forward/center Ben Wallace has been suspended for six games.

*Pistons forwards Elden Campbell and Derrick Coleman and guard Chauncey Billups have each been suspended for one game for leaving the bench during an on-court altercation.

*Indiana guard Reggie Miller has been suspended for one game for leaving the bench during an on-court altercation.

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Personally, as a Pacers fan I am in disbelief when I first hear of the suspensions. I have supported this team for so long, watched them through thick and thin, and now Stern ruins our season (granted, it was the player's fault, but I don't think it was handled correctly). This will sure take the joy out of my first season with NBA League Pass on my cable...

So was David Stern fair in all his rulings? Some might argue that he was, but deep down, we know that he WASN'T. He accomplished his goal in making a statement, but he went way too far on this one. Let's break this down player by player.

1. Ron Artest. Yikes! Like I mentioned earlier, in no way do I advocate his actions, but I feel that his punishment was not just. He received 73 games (the rest of the season). That is the most ever against a player when drugs are not involved (remember, Spreewell got 68). How has the NBA handled similar situations in the past?

*In 1995, the Rockets' Vernon Maxwell went in the stands and beat on a fan in Portland. His punishment - 10 games.
*We all remember Dennis Rodman. One of his most notable incidents included kicking an innocent cameraman, which got him 11 games.
*As mentioned earlier, Latrell Spreewell missed 68 games due to choking his coach at practice.

It should be noted that Artest's reputation did not help him this time - which makes you wonder how Dennis Rodman only got 11 games?!?! And although Maxwell did not start a riot, in essence he did the same thing.

2. Stephen Jackson. I really have no objections here; this man was out of control.

3. Jermaine O'Neal. 25 games does not seem to be fair here, as far as everything that has been televised. In my opinion, he should have gotten 10 at most - the fans he did punch were most likely drunk and tresspassing by getting on the court.

4. Anthony Johnson. Not exactly sure why he got 5 games, I'm guessing it was due to something NOT seen on camera.

5. Ben Wallace. 6 games seem to be a little small here. I feel that he caused more of this than is credited to him. Not only did he thoroughly shove Artest, but also he shoved him in the neck. Next time, Ben - if you have to be a thug, push a man in the chest. Had the officials ejected him when he should have been tossed, his suspension would have been larger without a doubt.

6. Pistons/Pacers players from the bench. No real argument here.

Ultimately, everyone was to blame, but the Pacers will be the only ones seriously hurt by this. I want to see scores of arrests on Detroit fans, but the chances of that are slim to none. David Stern set out to make a statement, and his goal was accomplished. However; it’s about time that he pays his players some respect. What kind of a statement is he giving to the fans by allowing all of this? What will happen to the officials that failed to gain control? – Nothing. Stern has already made it clear earlier this year that he will stand behind his officials. Situations like this bring up the question of alcohol at games. Will Stern get rid of it? - of course not, as all this beer means major money for the NBA. Unfortunately, the NBA is a business, and Stern is protecting his sponsors. So goes the saying, "When money talks, people listen." I hope the players’ union actually stands up against Stern on this one.

I thank you for reading my perspective of this event. I was deeply saddened by the events and suspensions, and I hope that things will only get better in the future. David Stern – you lost my respect today.

[chrisjacobs7]

I am a Pacers fan also. I agree with everything you said. Wallace should have gotten the exact same punishment as Artest, whatever it was, because Wallace is the one who started this entire thing. I also think the Pistons should be penalized for how their fans acted. They should lose some home games and/or money to pay for how their fans acted.

[Deadshot]

Well, I don't think that Wallace should have gotten the same punishment as Artest, but I figured he should have gotten 10-15 games.

[sigman101]

Tayshaun Prince was noted as the one player not involved in the brawl he actually stayed near the bench. For being a Pistons fan, I am sorry to show this type of display from our fans and being 4 hours away Northwest from that building. For being an autograph collector and getting autographs of the few lucky times that I have been downstate there, I have seen and met and talked to alot of autograph collectors; not fans actually looking to fight the players. I think Ben Wallace should have gotten a longer suspension personally well 10 games at the minimum.