Before I begin, has anyone not seen the Pistons-Pacers brawl from the other night?
Well, if you haven’t, Indiana’s Ron Artest and Co. took on the fans at The Palace of Auburn Hills in an NBA-UFC championship-style matchup.
Imagine the cross-promotional possibilities.
Anyway, late in the fourth quarter with Indiana leading comfortably, Detroit’s Ben Wallace shoved Artest after a hard foul. Artest backed off and lay down on the scorer’s table. A cup of water was thrown at Artest by a fan in the arena, and a heated lovers’ quarrel/soccer match riot/street fight erupted in the stands and spilled out onto the court.
So, is everyone uncomfortable with what transpired?
Yes? No?
I’m not.
I thought it was funny.
Dennis Rodman’s pupil (complete with matching jersey number 91) did everything he could to take the “infamous” title away from his mentor (sans a wedding dress, but hey, you never know…).
Is it me or does the NBA have the craziest players?
After I first saw the highlights, I was tempted to defend Artest, but now after cameras have shown the person whom Artest attacked was not the person who threw the cup, I think Artest is nucking futs.
Not to mention teammate Stephen Jackson. The man started throwing out-of-control haymakers at empty seats (and a fan) in a “defense of a teammate” plea.
Or teammate Jermaine O’ Neal, who got a crow-hop-I’m-going-to-throw-you-out-from-centerfield head start before he dropped a Pistons fan, who had come out on the floor.
Imagine the reality show possibilities of putting Rodman and Artest, Bob Knight, Vernon Maxwell, the entire Texas Rangers bullpen, Latrell Sprewell and old-school John McEnroe in a house for three months.
Fans and players have such a huge monetary divide between them that I’m surprised more people haven’t thrown things in disgust for this reason.
Hey fans, if that is the case, here’s a novel idea: Stop going to the games. Ticket revenue makes up part of their salaries, so stop going.
Before I get too philosophical, maybe it was just as simple as someone who didn’t like Artest and decided to — sober or drunk — chuck a cup at him.
And if that is the case, I don’t know what to say, except that I’ll just send Artest into your section and maybe he gets to you eventually.
Fans throw coins at players because after $200 for tickets, $13 for parking, $60 for an official practice sweatshirt and $42 for a replica jersey, that’s the only thing they have in their pockets.
Furthermore, if I paid $7 for a beer or a cup of water, I sure as hell wouldn’t waste it throwing it at a player. I would savor that Miller Lite/Coors Light/Budweiser as if it were the nectar of the gods. It would be the best beer I ever tasted.
Ever.
Players and fans, here are some thoughts.
Players: The basketball court is not the same as the street. The same rules do not apply.
Fans: The basketball court is not the same as the street. The same rules do not apply. You’re lucky those tiny stadium chairs give you some immunity.
Players: You don’t deserve to ever have anything thrown at you.
Fans: You don’t deserve to ever have the chance to throw anything.
I don’t know if this incident merits glass dividers, e.g. hockey rinks, or whether or not this deserves any kind of reaction. It just seems to be the overall state of the game and the main problem isn’t fans being within fondling distance of players.
Everyone just enroll in the “self-defense against angry NBA players” class.

[email protected]