Did Commissioner Stern go far enough?

The Pacers are putting an electric fence around the floor to keep the players and fans apart.

 

Sad isn't it? After all these years of we Americans priding themselves that we are not as bad as "those European soccer games" it turns out that we are .

 

Yup. I think that the NBA and the NFL are overpriced anyway. Imagine sitting in a $500 seat and pouring an $8 beer on someone at an athletic contest.

 

It appears that Mr. Artest will get the time to promote his "rap music" -- that he asked for some two weeks ago!

 

I think the "punishment" should be no beer sold at Detroit games anymore, and I'd be all for none at any sports events!

 

Have to agree, Mark! The Pacers are appealing that there was no security guards to control the crowd and protect the players. Also, the Pacers are appealing the long suspensions while Wallace goes free, thanks to the beer-drinking, beer-throwing Piston fans. Detroit is the second-most dangerous city in the USA--Camden, New Jersey being first they say.

Since the Pistons invited the Pacers there for business reasons, the Pistons had an obligation to provide for the security and safety of the Pacers and Indianapolis radio and tv crews, etc.

 

Security in NBA arenas is not the issue. An unruly fan was. There is adequate security at all games. This one was no different.

Wallace did not "go free." He got six games. He did not enter the stands to fight with fans. He retaliated inappropriately on a hard foul by artest. His six game suspension was too much, IMO. When was the last time someone got six games for pushing a player in teh face? I didn't see anything else he did. What he did is a part of the game unfortunately, which doesn't excuse it. But it happens all the time. It certainly was not a six game offense. I think the six games was an attempt to appease the fans of Indiana.

Artest got the season becasue of his history. Jackson got 30 games because he went into the stands to fight fans. ONeal got the 25 I presume because he punched a fan right in the face after running a long way to get there.

I do think beer is part of the problem and they shouldn't sell it. But that will never happen. It won't affect people that much. Parents need to be in control of their children and teach them.

 

100% agree PL. Where at in MI you from?

Tim

 

That is not true.

1. Look at the video and you'll see what passed for "security" at that part of the ball game.

2. Since so many fans had already left, I imagine a lot of the security was in the parking lot keeping the traffic moving.

3. If security was adequate, then the Pistons would not be drastically increasing security.

 

That is not true. The security is much better at the SBC Center in San Antonio than it was in Detroit at the time of the incident. There's better security at the local high school football games where I sell tickets than there was in Detroit.

 

The key is the phrase "suspended without pay", the only thing that seems to get these guys attention is the ole pocketbook. Appealing to their sense of right and wrong doesn't seem to be working.

 

That is not true. The security is much better at the SBC Center in San Antonio than it was in Detroit at the time of the incident. There's better security at the local high school football games where I sell tickets than there was in Detroit. </font>[/QUOTE]Ken you are talking silly now. You have never been here and have no idea! I have been to many of the games over the years and if Artest would have waited that person would have been reported and taken from the arena. You are really carrying a hatred for Detroit or something. By the way the guy artest went after (turned out to be the wrong guy) and an older fellow who I think was sitting in the row in front of the guy artest attacked are suing the Pacers and artest. No mention of the Palace or Pistons.

 

Basketball players are known as "cagers", at least they used to be because in the early history of basketball they actually played in cages. Perhaps they'll bring back the cages.

 

I know what I saw on the video.

I have no hatred of Detroit. I appreciate them having Corliss Williamson play there last season and get a world championship ring.

I used to have a large rooting interest against certain teams when I was younger but I have outgrown that. There is no team that I totally root against all of the time now, not even the University of Texas.

 

I couldn't help enjoying Texas beating Nebraska when the Longhorns first came into the Big 12.

But usually I still root against the Longhorns. But I don't usually gnash my teeth any more when they win(except when they beat the Hogs this past September).

 

I know what I saw on the video.

I have no hatred of Detroit. I appreciate them having Corliss Williamson play there last season and get a world championship ring.

I used to have a large rooting interest against certain teams when I was younger but I have outgrown that. There is no team that I totally root against all of the time now, not even the University of Texas. </font>[/QUOTE]Ken but really now that could have happened in any arena. If the crowd riots there is no arena that has security to for that. No arena is prepared or could have done a better job then what had happened at the Palace.

 

Security is much better in Indianapolis at Conseco Fieldhouse than it was in Detroit. That does not excuse what the Pacers did, however, and most people in Indy are sick of the story and think that the Pacers should have to pay for what they did. Artest should lose $5 million and probably his career.

The Indiana Pacers have good security, perhaps because they are downtown Indianapolis, a state capital. They used to be across the street from the central police station. The new fieldhouse is still near the County Jail. The arena is always well-posted with uniformed Sheriff Deputies and uniformed Indianapolis Police Officers. It is a long-standing relationship between the Indiana Pacers and the police in Indianapolis.

There was no security in Detroit. Bobby "Slick" Leonard, former Indiana high school and college star as well as ABA star and Pacer coach, got drenched in beer while broadcasting color commentary for Indianapolis Radio WIBC. Slick pointed out that there was no security in sight.

In addition, the Pacers have their own private security. But then the owners of the Pacers, Herb Simon and Mel Simon, who own 300 shopping centers worldwide and are thinking of going into China to build a shopping center, do like first-class security.

The NBA and NFL could not exist without nubile cheerleaders and alcohol sales.

Those games are no place for a Presbyterian and, if you go there, you will not remain a Presbyterian long. (Just joking--e-mail the webmaster, not me. The joke is Mark Twain's joke about Nevada.)

 

I still say, if you eliminate alcohol, you eliminate a lot of the problem. Why can't I go to a pro sports vanue without having beer thrown and drunk fans swearing like crazy?