Plenty of blame to go around after frightening fracas
By Mike Kahn | SportsLine.com Executive Editor
The black eye is indelible for the NBA.
Take your pick of culprits in the stunning melee Friday night at The Palace of Auburn Hills, in a heated game between Central Division rivals: the defending NBA champion Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers.
Blame it on Pistons All-Star Ben Wallace for overreacting to a hard foul from the Pacers mercurial Ron Artest by pushing him the face.
Blame it on the lack of security that allowed a fan to come within a couple of feet of Artest -- laying on the scorer's table -- and throw a drink on the Pacers forward at point-blank range.
Blame it on Artest for leaping into the crowd, or his teammate Stephen Jackson for following him -- both throwing frightening punches.
But most of all, focus on the fans. Whether drunk, high or just getting into it for jollies, there was no excuse for such reprehensible behavior. Once Artest was attacked, he predictably responded.
All hell broke loose when the fans erupted, throwing cups, bottles, popcorn and chairs at the Pacers -- even running onto the court to confront them. The frightening display of unruliness caused official Ron Garretson to call the game with 45.9 seconds left and the Pacers announced winners, 97-82.
"I've never seen anything like it. ... I'm just embarrassed for our league," Pistons coach Larry Brown said afterward. "I'm disappointed being a part of this and because young people see it."
The league most assuredly will suspend or at least fine Wallace for starting the fracas by shoving Artest, and then must decide the punishment to levy upon Artest, Jackson, Jermaine O'Neal and other players who brawled with fans.
It is a league rule that any player going into the stands is automatically suspended. Pacers guard Fred Jones also was in the stands and was sucker-punched by a fan. Others may be determined to have entered the fans area as well.
There are those who believe the Pacers had the right to protect themselves by going into the stands. There is no justification. They should have just left the floor -- but they are athletes under extreme tension who lost their tempers because of the attacks.
One problem lies in the security. Evidently, the reasonable respect of fans didn't work on this occasion.
