1. Welcome! Please take a few seconds to create your free account to post threads, make some friends, remove a few ads while surfing and much more. ClutchFans has been bringing fans together to talk Houston Sports since 1996. Join us!

[ESPN] Pacers' Jackson hit by car, fires handgun, police say

Discussion in 'NBA Dish' started by yo, Oct 6, 2006.

Tags:
Page 1 of 2
  1. yo

    yo Member

    Joined:
    May 20, 2001
    Messages:
    2,287
    Likes Received:
    146
    http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2615124

    INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana Pacers guard Stephen Jackson fired shots in the air in apparent self-defense after he was hit by a car outside a strip club early Friday -- the latest blow to a team struggling to rebuild its image.

    Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said Jackson and teammates Jamaal Tinsley, Marquis Daniels and Jimmie Hunter committed an "error in judgment" by staying out late during training camp. No one was seriously injured.

    "Stephen is very lucky," Carlisle said. "It was a potential life-threatening situation that was averted. And right now, the biggest emotion I feel is relief that he's going to be OK."

    Police said the disturbance began with an argument inside Club Rio involving patrons and players. The players said they left the club, but the patrons followed them. Then things turned physical.

    Sgt. Matthew Mount, a police spokesman, said Jackson fired five shots from a 9mm pistol outside the Indianapolis club after he was hit in the mouth and struck by a car that sent him tumbling onto the hood. Officers were searching for the vehicle and three men wanted for questioning.

    Carlisle said Jackson needed stitches in his lip and face but had no broken bones or other damage. His status for Wednesday's preseason opener against New Jersey was unclear.

    "He's got some scrapes and bruises, but this guy is going to bounce back," Carlisle said.

    Police said a small amount of mar1juana was found in the passenger-side door of the car belonging to Tinsley. Carlisle declined to comment on that, saying he didn't have enough information. Mount said no arrests were made because police could not determine who had the mar1juana. Three others were in the car with Tinsley, police said.

    NBA spokesman Tim Frank said the league was monitoring the situation. The NBA's drug policy says players who test positive for mar1juana face rehabilitation, fines and suspensions, depending on whether it is a first offense. Testing is done randomly throughout the season and for reasonable cause.

    Tinsley and Daniels also had guns in their cars, and all three armed players had weapons permits, Mount said.

    Mount said police were reviewing a security tape and 911 calls from the club. The grainy image shows a car striking Jackson and at least one shot being fired into the air, police said.

    The Pacers are still trying to shake the damage from the fight between Pacers and Detroit Pistons fans at Auburn Hills, Mich., two seasons ago.

    Indiana was a title contender the last two seasons but those hopes were dashed by fallout from the brawl and suspensions and injuries. Fans often booed the team and crowds fell to their lowest level in nearly decade in last year's 41-41 season.

    This year, the team has taken out ads and billboards featuring players and the slogan "It's up to us." The Pacers held parties for season-ticket holders in an effort to renew interest.

    They also brought in 12 new players, including former Pacer Al Harrington. Even Jackson, who was suspended 30 games for his role in the brawl and often was at odds with Carlisle last season, talked about spending a summer "soul-searching" and returning with a positive attitude.

    But instead of being asked about the positive moves, a new up-tempo offense and the exhibition opener Wednesday against New Jersey, team officials again were answering uncomfortable questions.

    Jackson, a 28-year-old guard, joined the Pacers in 2004 and averaged 16 points during the 2005-06 season.

    He pleaded no contest to misdemeanor assault charges related to the Auburn Hills mayhem and was sentenced in September 2005 to a year's probation and community service. He was named in a lawsuit filed by a Detroit fan in connection with the brawl.

    During a recent news conference, Jackson hugged Carlisle and sat by his side to answer questions -- a gesture the Pacers hoped would symbolize improved team chemistry.

    "As a franchise, we have to take responsibility for what goes on," Carlisle said. "Our players realize that being out that late during training camp is not the right thing. It's an error in judgment, and it's going to have to change."

    Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press
     
    #1 yo, Oct 6, 2006
  2. aussie rocket

    aussie rocket Member

    Joined:
    Apr 3, 2006
    Messages:
    6,096
    Likes Received:
    201
    wtf is going on in Indiana? and who ever suggested we go after Stephen Jackson?

    who knows maybe a few drunken Piston fans caused this. But its funny how trouble always seems to find the same people.

    Tinsley with weed. Jackson a gun. :rolleyes:
     
    #2 aussie rocket, Oct 7, 2006
  3. krnxsnoopy

    krnxsnoopy Member

    Joined:
    May 16, 2005
    Messages:
    10,870
    Likes Received:
    1,549
    Well I don't blame him. If someone tried to run me over with a car and I had a gun on me I'd probably fire in the air also.

    And so what about Tinsley with weed. Weed is not going to kill people. Weed is a nonfactor in this situation. Someone just tried to kill/seriously injure Jackson with a car and he shot in the air. I don't see what the big problem is. I would even say, depending on the circumstances, he could have fired the gun at the assailants and it very well could have been justified.
     
    #3 krnxsnoopy, Oct 7, 2006
  4. tigermission1

    tigermission1 Member

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2002
    Messages:
    15,557
    Likes Received:
    17
    Based on what I read/heard about this, I don't find much to blame to Jackson. He was assaulted with a deadly weapon and responded in self-defense, and did so responsibly (he fired shots in the air, when he could have easily targeted those who tried to run him over, and it would have been understandable if he did).

    Again, that's just based on what little we know about this incident...
     
    #4 tigermission1, Oct 7, 2006
  5. Steve_Francis_rules

    Steve_Francis_rules Member

    Joined:
    Dec 11, 1999
    Messages:
    8,467
    Likes Received:
    300
    How exactly is firing shots in the air responsible? You do know the bullets fall back down right?
     
    #5 Steve_Francis_rules, Oct 7, 2006
  6. sammy

    sammy Member

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2002
    Messages:
    18,949
    Likes Received:
    3,528
    Stephen Jackson is a baller. He was huge in S A winning one of their rings. Dude was trying to defend himself and please dont hate on the green.
     
    #6 sammy, Oct 7, 2006
  7. LongTimeFan

    LongTimeFan Member

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2001
    Messages:
    7,757
    Likes Received:
    963

    They don't even test for weed in the MLB (Good thing for them). But if an NBA player gets caught with it, he's bad!
     
    #7 LongTimeFan, Oct 7, 2006
  8. tigermission1

    tigermission1 Member

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2002
    Messages:
    15,557
    Likes Received:
    17
    Those would be considered 'warning shots', meant to threaten/deter but not kill. The alternative would have been firing at the individuals in the vehicle that tried to run him over (and did, in fact, hit him, according to reports).
     
    #8 tigermission1, Oct 7, 2006
  9. KeepKenny

    KeepKenny Member

    Joined:
    May 31, 2000
    Messages:
    2,721
    Likes Received:
    14
    I don't blame him for firing shots, but you have to wonder if he did anything to instigate the altercation to begin with. his actions during the brawl do not lead me to believe that he is a guy trying very hard to avoid conflict.
     
    #9 KeepKenny, Oct 7, 2006
  10. slickvik69

    slickvik69 Member

    Joined:
    Sep 3, 2003
    Messages:
    1,280
    Likes Received:
    1
    NBA players have weed and handguns and go to strip clubs? :eek:

    They are human too...
     
    #10 slickvik69, Oct 7, 2006
  11. Uprising

    Uprising Member

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2000
    Messages:
    43,074
    Likes Received:
    6,599
    Ah yes....troubles in the NBA. Surprise....
     
    #11 Uprising, Oct 7, 2006
  12. MrButtocks

    MrButtocks Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2005
    Messages:
    7,558
    Likes Received:
    5,803
    Tinsley and Jackson are bad distractions for that pacer team. Look, this isn't the first time. Jackson is a hot head that was booted off a championship team despite helping them greatly. He perpetuated that brawl in detroit and his mindset's not going to change. I imagine he's on the chopping block now and there are probably a few teams willing to pick him up. But I wouldn't want the rockets to.
     
    #12 MrButtocks, Oct 7, 2006
  13. tigermission1

    tigermission1 Member

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2002
    Messages:
    15,557
    Likes Received:
    17
    He very well could have, we have no way of knowing for sure. However, if we are to assume that he did instigate the altercation, it still would be well within his right to use his weapon in self-defense, especially given that he was being assaulted by a deadly weapon -- a car -- which could've led to serious bodily harm or even his death.
     
    #13 tigermission1, Oct 7, 2006
  14. tigermission1

    tigermission1 Member

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2002
    Messages:
    15,557
    Likes Received:
    17
    Any more than troubles in the NFL or the MLB?
     
    #14 tigermission1, Oct 7, 2006
  15. KeepKenny

    KeepKenny Member

    Joined:
    May 31, 2000
    Messages:
    2,721
    Likes Received:
    14
    Oh, I agree with you. If a guy tries to run over you, fire away. I'm just wondering what could have happened to cause a guy to try to run over him. Some guys just attract trouble i guess.
     
    #15 KeepKenny, Oct 7, 2006
  16. Uprising

    Uprising Member

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2000
    Messages:
    43,074
    Likes Received:
    6,599
    Off the top of my head, I would say there's more problems with guns etc. from NBA players than there are from MLB players.

    Although, the NFL certainly has it's big bunch of thugs.

    Although, he had his right to defend himself....cause well, someone did run him over. But pulling out a gun?! Come on...

    Why does he even need one?!
     
    #16 Uprising, Oct 7, 2006
  17. compucomp

    compucomp Member

    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2006
    Messages:
    539
    Likes Received:
    0
    What would YOU do if someone tried to run you over?

    Situations like this are EXACTLY where guns are useful. Firing a few shots in the air stops everyone dead in their tracks, and nobody is hurt.
     
    #17 compucomp, Oct 7, 2006
  18. tigermission1

    tigermission1 Member

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2002
    Messages:
    15,557
    Likes Received:
    17
    I understand that you're a big baseball fan -- so am I -- but I think you're merely 'stereotyping' the NBA in this case, which is sadly pretty common among sports fans, many of whom don't follow the NBA all that closely.

    I think the MLB has more than its fair share of everything from drug abuse, domestic violence, gambling problems, and random run-ins with the law. The same applies to the NBA, NHL and the NFL. For whatever reason, MLB seems to largely escape that stereotypical 'image'...not sure why.

    Might make for an interesting case study...
     
    #18 tigermission1, Oct 7, 2006
  19. tchou

    tchou Member

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2005
    Messages:
    725
    Likes Received:
    8
    No they're not. Don't be an idiot. You'd flunk every weapon license exam with asinine responses like that.

    The best weapon is your mind. If someone is trying to hit you with a car, go somewhere somewhere the car can't hit you: into a building, on top of another car, etc.

    People don't go around running over celebrities as hobby. Which begs the question, what instigated this?
     
    #19 tchou, Oct 9, 2006
  20. hashmander

    hashmander Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2006
    Messages:
    1,509
    Likes Received:
    707
    it's not like they were breaking the law, they had permits to carry weapons.
     
    #20 hashmander, Oct 9, 2006
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Page 1 of 2

Share This Page