he's clearly confused as to just how he could be so stupid as to step on the court and go after nba players.
Watch it again. The kid that got blasted by O'neal AFTER he roughed up Anthony Johnson's fist with his face was involved as a peacemaker. He was trying to separate Artest from his buddy who just received two knuckle sandwiches. He was not in the attack mode. Face the facts, the players involved beat up on these kids for the sake of doing so. They knew they could so they did. If they really wanted to throw the Detroit squad was in the building.
So you definition of "going after players" means being on your knees getting pounded by Anthony Johnson and then suckerpunched by O'neal all the while being surrounded by security and coaches. By all means then he was going after players.
Like I heard Jim Rome say earlier today: 5'10 Fat Drunk Guy should never step onto a court with 6'10 Athletic Pumped Up Athlete guy unless he wants to get beat.
Well if Rome said that then it's official, the players were in the right. He's not a hypocrit or anything. We're talking about the same Jim Rome who made fun of "Neckar" drivers for years only to support the sport now because it's the fastest growing. I think I'd rather take David Stern's take than Rome's. After all, he's only the commissioner who has insight on the matter.
is tackling ron artest. being a peacemaker is bull. his buddy started it. if you wanna side with your idiot buddy, then prepare to side against jermaine o'neal.
What perfect sense. Thanks for that. It's called being a good friend. It's true that his friend may be an idiot but HIS actions indicate that he was trying to break up the mess. In no way did he deserve to get his lights punched out regardless of where he was. It is not holy land we're talking about. These guys are role models and hold prestigious jobs. It is their duty as an NBA player to represent the league in a proffessional manner. We're talking about millionaire athletes who have obligations. The site of this altercation is not Greenspointe Mall. It was an NBA arena. There are security personnel in place to handle these misfit fans. You can not take matters into your own hands. I seriously doubt a 7 foot Jermaine O'neal was trembling with fear at the sight of a 200 lb 5' 8" 16 year old. It's obvious that some are more mature than others.
This had gone well past the point of people exercising rational thought. There had already been plenty of violence on both sides. I don't believe anyone is really excusing O'Neal for what he did. Rather, the consensus is that the two fans that came out onto the court left themselves open to what happened. If there was a fight at a nightclub, you don't block the path and confront one of the guys involved when they try to leave. You're asking to get walloped. Evan
I think Artest should've received less than both Jackson and O'Neal. Here's my breakdown: Artest: Going into the stands and tackling the fan. He did nothing more, he didn't throw punches or anything like that. I'm not excusing his actions, he was wrong but not "your out for the season" wrong. I think Stern was wrong for taking his past actions in account. 20 games and therapy Jackson: Jackson seems like the worst of the bunch. From the beginning of the altercation to the end Jackson was constantly trying to fight with somebody. Watch the video, again, he never stops he just went too far. He was looking for a reason to fight. 45 games O'Neal: Knocking the guy out was very wrong. Watching the video, it does sort of look like the guys was getting up to go after Artest or another player but he was surrounded by people who could've contained him from getting anywhere. 30 games Wallace: Major over-reaction 10 games I really hope that guy in the white hat gets in trouble, did anyone see him grab Artest like he was breaking it up then punch Artest in the head several times?
Yea, I saw it. At first, I thought he was a security guy due to his blue shirt and then I thought to myself, "He is doing a good job of keeping Artest under control," and then he started suckerpunching him! LOL!! It figures that this idiot is the one who threw the cup. In watching this fight and seeing what others have said, I will say this: I am not defending Jermaine O'Neal's actions by no means, but it will absolutely sicken me if this 16 year old kid and his buddy in the Tigers hat gets millions out of this. Yes, O'Neal should have not hit him but his ****** should have NEVER been out on the court in the first place. I don't care if his buddy was out there and he was trying to be a "peacemaker"; he placed himself in a dangerous situation. To want money out of that is laughable to me. Now, if he had been clocked by O'Neal up in the stands instead of on the court, then I have no problem with him getting any money out of this. But that did not happen.
It doesn't matter that the 16 year old should not have been on the court. First, if he is a minor, he deserves special protection from the law. Secondly, O'Neal was CLEARLY the aggressor in that scene - the fat kid could hardly even stand up straight on his own and then O'Neal comes FLYING in and gives the guy a hard blow to the head - as was said, ask Rudy T what could have happened - if a 7 foot guy as strong as O'Neal does that, the kid could have been DEAD. I still think O'Neal and Jackson were the worst guys. I agree with Lil Pun - Jackson was just out there looking to be a big thught and looking to fight, much more than Artest. Artest was just the crazy big dumbass fool that could not get out of his skin and reacted the only way he knows - with anger and with his fists - he actually tried to contain himself first, when Wallace attacked him. My verdict would have been: White scared kid that gets thrown down by Artest: Gets 20 days in federal penitentiary and a lot of money from Artest. Guy in blue jacket that threw the cup and gets hit by Artest: 100 days in federal penitentiary, among 20 6'5 and above black Pacers fans - no money. Artest: 20 games and 3 years mandatory anger management therapy, and some high school education to boot. Jackson: 30 games, a new haircut and 20 days in an Amish community. Tinsley: Wimp of the year award and a poster of him coming back out of the locker area with that thing in his hand, photoshopped so that he is wearing a pink dress. O'Neal: 40 games and 100 days mandatory community service in the worst redneck area somewhere in the midwest. Wallace: 5 games, 30 days anger management, free hair extensions so that he can add to his 'fro and 100 days free-throw training. The guy who picked up Fred Jones in my fantasy basketball league before I could: Death penalty, and I get all his best players.
Why do they have to be black? Was the guy racist or something? Oneal shouldn't have clocked him like he did, especially after the guy in the brown suit (a coach?) had already done a number on that guy. Although I was happy to see him clocked. They should have never charged onto the court at Artest. What a mess this thing was.
Have we not learned anything from the incidents in Chicago (fans running on the field and attacking a coach) or even the Monica Seles fiasco? When a fan crosses over from the stands and onto the playing field, all bets are off. Players have no way of knowing what the fan's agenda is or what he/she may or may not have in thier posession. Artest and O'Neal were right to defend themselves when these two morons decided to go out and confront them. What was Artest supposed to do? Artest - "Hey fat guy #1, even though you have run out to meet me in a harrasing matter with your fists up, I'm just going to stand here until you decide to attack me first. I just hope you don't have anything that could be used as a weapon in your posession." O'Neal - "Hey fat guy #2, I know you ran out with your friend to confront a teammate of mine, but I'm going to allow to get right back up and cause more trouble." Those two "fans" got exactly what they deserved and I wished that all those cowards and punks that thought they were tough by throwing beer on players walking to the tunnel or throwing punches at players with thier backs turned got a little of what O'Neal was dishing out as well.
I think we are talking about two different guys...the guy O'Neal clocked was not the same that threw the cup. Okay, they do not have to be black...I was just kidding...
You say they were right to defend themselves. When in the world was Jermaine O'neal threatened by the 16 year old kid? Was it when he was recovering from that beat down by Anthony Johnson while on his knees? Check the tape. O'neal came running from a different area of the court and was the AGRESSOR. He pulled a Kermit Washington on some little kid who is barely old enough to drive. If you recall their was a pycho by the name of Stephen Jackson in the stands throwing wild punches. You better believe I wouldn't be staying put in my seat with that freak going gansta. Also notice how Artest is standing near the kid restrained and under control with Austin Croshere standing next to him. You mean to tell me that they were able to stand calmly next to the kid and gather themselves as he's being picked up off of the floor but Jermaine O'neal who was out of the picture comes flying in with the knock out punch. Yeah, that was clearly self defense as his life was on the line. I guess Croshere and Artest at that point were just too terified to react.
i might be a player apologist in all this but you are an insanely huge fan apologists, but i think i'm starting to see things your way. if you run up into the stands, you're a thug and not professional and you deserve a terrible punishment. if you're a fan and run onto the court to fight a player, well that's ok and acceptable, the players should ask nicely for you to leave. if you run into the stands to help out your teammate, you're also a thug and should be dealt with harshly. if you run onto the court to help a friend, well that's all good too. feel free to roam the court as you please. no retribution will be coming your way. i mean clearly the athlete shouldn't be in the stands helping his teammate but if your friend is an idiot who confronts a player, feel free to help him. this is perfectly within your rights. everything the players do to break the boundary is bad, the fans are off the hook. oh, and of course, there are security personnel to handle this. i mean, look at how they saved artest from those two guys. they only fought him and then tried to tackle him. things are under control. the only reason the second guy was stopped at the moment was b/c another player, not security, was hitting him. who knows what he does when he got up. and then these comments: When in the world was Jermaine O'neal threatened by the 16 year old kid? If you recall their was a pycho by the name of Stephen Jackson in the stands throwing wild punches. You better believe I wouldn't be staying put in my seat with that freak going gansta oh well jermaine's teammate 2 feet from the guy wasn't in trouble but these guys better get the heck out of the stands b/c stephen jackson has thrown all of 1 punch down at mid court about 50 feet away. i mean, clearly stephen jackson is a clear and present danger 50 feet away but two fat dudes fighting artest is peachy keen. give me a break. the guy may have gotten more than he deserved, but he deserved everything he got for going on the court.
