Pacers vs Pistons and there fans.

[bigjohnstud2o]

Im a Bulls fan so this is unbiased. I think wallace should have got the same suspension but a HEFTY fine. All should recieve hefty fines. Artest has to the tune of about 9mil. J.O. about 4 and 1/2mil. Jackson about 3.8mil. Since the suspensions are w/o pay. I believe this is what has to happen for these players to take things seriously. These 10k-50k fines are nothing. Hit em with a mil and they will start being more careful.

[GeoffM]

Well, I won't argue for Artest too much because quite frankly I don't think he cares, but the NBA has got to let the players defend themselves. If Artest doesn't go into the stands there is no guarantee this would not have happened anyway, the beer that was thrown may have started a riot anyway. But to also suspend O'Neal and Jackson for so many games, the NBA is basically saying that you aren't allowed to stick up for your teammates. I think it is complete nonsense that Stern would suspend these players when they were simply trying to defend Artest, who got himself in a very dangerous situation. The league now not only stands to be sued by some fans, they also may have some legal action from those players involved.

But how much can fans really sue for? In my mind, you step on the court, you are somewhere you aren't suppose to be and the players have the right to fend you off. That Piston fan had no right throwing the beer and could get sued himself, as can the one that stepped on the court with his hands raised (what was he thinking? )

And whoever said Wallace doesn't deserve more than 6 games, huh? It is quite possible that had it not been for his retaliation push to the face of Artest, this whole thing never would have started. Granted the foul was uncalled for by Artest, but cooler heads have to prevail, that is what the NBA is trying to accomplish by this. To give one of the players that basically started this whole mess 6 games is a slap on the wrist and the Pacers must be very pissed right now, as would I.

I would expect the suspensions to be lightened, at least to O'Neal and Jackson. I thought Artest and Wallace deserved the long suspensions. And what happened to teams being held responsible for their fans in the stands?

[ChipFish]

I think that a few NBA fans just made a lot of money that night....
"Come on.... Hit me! Ouch! Thanks that'll be a million$$."

[eddo31]

i think the nba did the right thing here, although i am not sure for oneal.

as for jackson, he got everything he deserved. he didnt go in there trying to protect a teammate, he went in there swinging. fred jones and a couple of other pacers went into the crowd and were trying to pull artest out, and they did not get suspended because it was clear that their intent was to protect a teammate. jackson just went in and started throwing punches left and right, and he should have been suspended for the amount of time that he did.

what the fans did was reprehensible, and that was the instigation for the whole incident. however, if artest doesnt go into the stands, everything gets worked out by the police. the fans who threw beer get arrested and their tickets revoked, and the riot doesnt ensue. the problem was that when artest went into the stands, he was practicing vigilante justice, and the whole situation got completely out of control. the security force couldnt handle that type of incident on that scale. the fact that artest went after thw rong guy just shows why players shouldnt try to take matters into their own hands.

[junYUN]

artest only makes about 6.3m a year, so he's only out i believe in the neighborhood of 5.7-5.9. J.O. is in upwards of 5 or 6. jackson is only about 1.2-1.4.

i really think stephen jackson should ahve been penalized as much as artest though, he went flying into the fans throwing punches without having anything thrown at him. he was also TRYING to start a fight on the court after artest was pushed.

[Penguinfan]

What really surprises me is that Reggie Miller got a 1 game suspension just for being the ugliest guy involved

[jillaj]

What people fail to understand is how much this incident will cost the NBA. That's why the punishment is so large. Many people will not want there kids to attend games where this could happen to them. Thats gonna bring revenue down for a lot of teams. Imagine a Walmart official making millions a year attacking someone who threw water on him while he was going through the store responding by punching him. Then imagine the rest of the execs with him joinging in an a brawl takes place. What do you think there punishment would be?

[Aequitas58]

I like your idea about people NOT wanting to be season ticket holders and ticket sales would go down, decreasing revenue. But, I don't think it works. The population of people is tremendous, and if someone leaves, then someone else will sit. Of course, if a team is playing badly then they will have shitty ticket sales already, but generally, with a winning team, they sell their tickets. [Especially in this case with Detroit!]

Ultimately, even though the players were in the wrong (big time!) I doubt it will significantly disrupt the current fanbase of the NBA. The NBA fans are not housewives or ritzy upperclass types, so I doubt anything would change.

Christ... ask just about any guy... "Did you see that fight!?" You're gonna get: "Yea it was nuts!" or some derivative.

[GeoffM]

LMAO!

Wallace should have gotten more games. He wasn't fouled that hard, and proceeds to push a known troubled player in the face, and a hard shove at that. Without that push this whole riot does not begin.