Yano What I Mean?: The NBA Won't Be the Same

The NBA Won't Be the Same

After a night out with the gang, we were listening to The Score (of course - Dave was driving) because Dave wants the Illini score from the night's game. Then we heard about the fight against the Pistons and the Pacers in Detroit. They said it was a pretty ugly fight, but we had no idea how bad it was until we got home and saw the replay.

It all started when Detroit's Ben Wallace went in for a layup and was fouled hard by Artest from behind, and escalated when Artest stormed into the stands after being hit by a full cup.
After being fouled, Wallace wheeled around and pushed Artest in the face. The benches emptied and punches were thrown.

As the players continued shoving each other near center court and coaches tried to restore order, Artest sprawled out on his back on the scorer's table, looking relaxed.

Just when it appeared tempers had died down, Artest was struck by a cup and beverage thrown from the stands. He jumped up, and charged into the stands, throwing punches as he climbed over seats.

Fans were punching back, and Jackson and another teammate joined Artest in the melee.

Actually, the fight between Artest and Wallace was over, with Artest laying down on the scoring table. Ironically, after the goul it was Wallace that was going after Artest and Artest was just walking way, eventually getting pushed down on the table and resting. Nothing more would have happened. But then someone threw a drink on Artest's face, and he just lost it, running up and climbing over the stands and starting to hit the wrong guy, with the dude who threw the cup trying to restrain him and then later throwing some cheap punches in.

Then the whole thing blew up.

It was fucking crazy, and pretty upsetting.

Ron Artest was at fault for losing his temper like that and crossing that invisible barrier. But a lot of the blame goes to the fans that take it too far by assaulting Artest, and the other ones who made the cheap shots on the players when they weren't looking during the melee. I don't care if these guys are making millions - when you're provoked, you're provoked. When people are throwing things in your face, when they're throwing cheap punches at you, you're going to fight back.

But those idiot Detroit fans made fools of themselves. I'm not talking about all of them. But those guys who were in the the fight, who threw the punches, the people who were throwing things on the team and the coaches as they were leaving the court. Something said on ESPN was "Fans believe that when they pay to go to these games, they are not only watching the games, they're a PART of these games." Which isn't the case. We go to these events to support the athletes. To watch them and enjoy the games. Not to be in their faces. Not to harrass them.

Where was security? Security should have been in there like THAT. Quicker than lightning. Surrounding the players right after the original scuffle started. But I didn't really see anyone. I saw a broadcaster coming out and try to control people, but I hardly saw any security in there.

Thanks to this, the fans and the reaction of the players, the game won't be the same. There'll be barricades separating the court and the seats. Courtside seats? Gone. Forget it. Beer in the second half? No way. Anal probes before you go into the stadium? You betcha.

Sadly, the line between what fans can do and what fans cannot do is getting blurred. Athletes not only have to worry about getting injured on the court, but now they can worry about getting injured by a fan.

I'm not excusing Artest's actions. He lost his temper. He should get suspended. But it could have all have been prevented if some asshole in the stands didn't try to be cool and throw his drink on the opposing team.

Lamar Odom of the Lakers saw it for the first time as he was being interviewed.
``Whoooo. When you see things like that, just think about what it takes for NBA players to go into a crowd,'' Odom said. ``Sometimes fans get kind of out of hand, but it must have taken a lot for NBA players to go into a crowd and start a fight.''

Poor Jim Gray, the reporter for ESPN who was at the game. Just watching him talk about his experience is saddening. You can tell that he's affected by it, as he speaks his voice is shaking as he says he's never seen anything like this.

Neither have I.

And I pity the people who were at the game to enjoy it. They've been showing a shot of one of the player's kids, who's hugging his older brother, crying because you could tell he was scared for the safety of his dad.

What's happening to our society?

Is this the NBA or the Vibe awards? It's getting really hard to tell the two apart.

Posted by Yano at November 20, 2004 12:59 AM

Comments

Actually, it reminds me of the soccer matches that erupt into violence in Europe and in other areas of the world. Some of those matches ended with the arenas being torched.

It's crazy that a fan would throw something and that a player wouldn't brush it off and think about that fat check he's collecting. I know I would think of the fat check! As for Vibe, lost cause. Honestly, there are hip hop fans that don't even tune in for that ...show. It seems to be nothing more than PR for a magazine. I think the same can be said for most award shows as of late.

Sorry for the verbosity!

Posted by: la chica alta on November 20, 2004 09:31 AM

thats what happens when war mongering neo cons control the government and foster an environment where violence against other people is acceptable but at the same time forcing their hypocritical, prudish, adversion to anything sexual down our throats

Posted by: whatdouexpect on November 20, 2004 10:09 AM

You'd think that more security and beer restrictions would be in effect at the baseball games after the fans at the Sox games started pouncing on the Umps!! I also liked how that guy was all grungy and had long hair when he was beating on the Ump and then when he showed up for court he was all clean cut and wearing glasses. Crazy South Siders!!

Posted by: Marky Mark on November 20, 2004 11:38 AM

That was a real mess for sure. I felt bad for the players trying to leave the court and the fans linning the tunnel kept throwing full cups of beer, soda and popcorn on the players and coaches. Very sad....

Posted by: Sue on November 20, 2004 08:29 PM

Cool. I think I'll try some of that next time I'm at a short track event. :-P

Posted by: noelle on November 21, 2004 05:49 PM

A general decline in civil behavior. I have a couple of friends who teach elementary school. They both say that children today have never been taught the virtues of self control and self dicipline. "It's all about ME" seems to be the refrain :( And the general influence of hip hop and aspects of rock 'n roll.

Posted by: SusanG on November 21, 2004 07:29 PM

That really was a huge mess, and everyone involved was to blame, NOT just the players and NOT just the fans, but I'm pretty sure it isn't W's fault, and I can't stand him. I mean, what would the excuse for the riots in soccer in Europe be, then? I think Susan has hit something important about the way people have been and are continuing to be raised. It also doesn't help that society teaches that money is so important, and these men make more money than people who have important jobs like teachers, firefighters, police officers, etc. That right there speaks volumes to me. With money comes power, and with youth comes the feeling of invinsibility. Put the two together, and what do you have?

I, too, have thought about trying this at some speedskating event in an attempt to drum up some publicity. hahaha

Posted by: Texx on November 23, 2004 01:55 AM

Artest is a jerk who got what he needed. Not only should he be suspended for the rest of the season but he should never play in the NBA again. I just watched a interview with him on MSNBC and he didn't even apoligize for his actions. I agree with the fan who threw the cup (I would have throw the cup too at that a@@hole). Pro-NBA players have no right to fight with fans - NO MATTER WHAT. If there was a problem, have the fan who threw the cup arrested and taken out of the game. Artest if i see you on the street you better duck cause I'll have a cup-o-ice with your name on it ha-ha.

Posted by: Brandyn on November 23, 2004 10:49 AM

Brandyn, you are an idiot. And the way your name is spelled is also idiotic. Perfect for you I guess. Anyhow, dp you like that? Do you like that I judge you just from what you say? Feels wonderful huh? You say professional basketball players cant fight back NO MATTER WHAT? Are you asking them to become immune to all innate human reactions? Just because they are professional bball players? Professional means you have skill and are getting paid a lot.. not that you are patient and have superhuman restraint. What Artest did was wrong, but understandable. I hope you do throw a drink in his face and get beat down for it... but then of course a jerk like you would just sue... there's just no winning when there are idiots like you roaming the streets.

Posted by: Christina on November 24, 2004 02:13 PM