Your Thoughts Exactly

Not surprising that these two teams would fight as they are in the same division, played in the Eastern Conference Semis last year, have the ex-coach factor, have the “we are the toughest defensive team” factor, and two of the craziest people in the league in Ron Artest and Rasheed. The brawl between the two teams was fairly average: some light shoving, yelling, and a lot of posturing. Where things went crazy was when the fans became involved.

Most people are blaming Artest and Jackson for going into the stands, saying “under no circumstances can you go into the stands if you are a player.” Well I think that’s kind of crap, especially considering the total failure of the Pistons security staff to control the situation. A cup of beer to the face may not be enough provocation, but what about a coin? Or a beer bottle? At some point, the players have to defend themselves against the mob, especially if the people who are supposed to keep them safe aren’t doing their job.

Of course, I am taking Artest’s side because he is one of my favorite players, and is going to take a lot of heat for this, especially after his rap album controversy earlier this year. I can’t deny that he deserves a suspension, as do Jackson and O’Neal for the simple reason that you can’t go around hitting people. They do not deserve to be sued, although they will be. If I were one of the Pacers players, I would sue the Pistons for damages to cover any lawsuits the fans might throw at the Pacers players.

As for the fans, those who ran on the basketball court deserve to be sued and have their tickets revoked. The problem is that these fans probably thought they were doing their team a favor by showing such loyalty that they would storm the court during such an incident. As fans, you can’t take the game so seriously that you consider yourself a defender of the team, or the other team the actual enemy. I am all for taunting of the opposition as a form of psychological warfare, but there is a fine line between intense rooting and pathetic demented devotion. You can’t throw shit at the players. You most certainly not storm the court, because that turns it into 19,000 on 12.

So what will be the outcome of this brawl? Higher ratings for the NBA the next time the Pacers play the Pistons. Editorializing from the major networks. Probable suspensions for Artest, O’Neal, Jackson, everyone who left the bench. Lawsuits a plenty. The Pistons organization should be punished in some way, as it’s ultimately their responsibility to keep the opposition players safe. We’ll see what happens. Overall, it adds great drama to a budding rivalry. I just hope the teams meet in the playoffs.