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Post by Churchwell on Nov 22, 2004 22:42:46 GMT -5
Check to see if you could pick them up at the arena. I know some folks who were able to do that...
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Post by Churchwell on Nov 22, 2004 22:35:47 GMT -5
In a bar or out on the street, perhaps the guy deserved to be clocked. Certainly he'd be taking his chances. But a professional athlete storming the bleachers because someone threw a beer at him...after he left the court and laid down on the scorer's table...essentially putting himself within spitting distance of the fans? I might even see my way clear to give Artest some leeway had the guy thrown a bottle of beer or a battery...making it a much more dangerous situation. But jumping into the stands to fight a guy because he threw a plastic cup full of beer at you? Had Artest shown a modicum of restraint this story would actually be all about unruly hooligan fans and how they are ruining sport. As for the rest of the melee in the tunnel...it's certainly not right, but what do you expect when you antagonize an entire hostile arena by attacking not just the guilty fan, but any fan in the general vicinity? No one should be surprised that the Pacers would be showered with whatever liquid or otherwise that was available as they made their way through the tunnel. As Wilbon put it in todays Post, this wasn't even Artest's third strike, it was his fifth. He and Jackson should thank their lucky stars that they will have a chance to suit up again in the NBA. If I acted that way in my line of work I would certainly lose my job and it would follow me around for the rest of my life. Pacers fans should look no further than Ron Artest in assigning blame to potentially ruining their season. He blew it. Big time.
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Post by Churchwell on Nov 22, 2004 13:35:03 GMT -5
Not that I want to stir the pot...just want to give an additional perspective (albeit an exteme one).
I think Artest and Jackson got off easy. They should be suspended from the NBA for at least 2-3 years, if not forever. These are professional athletes who get paid very well to do their job - a job that is really a game. It is a priviledge for them to have the chance to play in a league like the NBA. They have an obligation to conduct themselves, at the very least on the floor and in the arena, in a way that reflects their respect for the fact that they are lucky to live in a society that values the entertainment value of their sport in such a fashion.
This is not to say that the fans should get away with their behavior. Season ticket holders involved in the brawl (and the events leading up to the brawl) should have their tickets revoked without reimbursment and be banned from entering an NBA arena ever again. They should also be subject to whatever form of punishment the law allows.
I do think that the fans who went onto the floor to confront the players are just as bad as Artest and Jackson. In a way they deserve what they got...getting pummled by conditioned athletes with superior physical gifts. It is a shame Artest and Jackson couldn't get the same treatment in the stands.
I recognize the hypocrisy of my opinion - players like Artest and Jackson are punished far more than the fans for their transgressions. They have more to lose, however, and should make smarter choices. I do think that all sports leagues should be more aggressive about preventing and confronting unruly fans. Whether it be via curtailing alchohol sales or just be making an example of people who get out of line. Clearly it is time. This is just the latest and most eggregious situation, but it's not new.
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