prosecutors in the detroit-indiana brawl mention that haddad (guy that artest punches on the court) was involved in the "yao ming situation." did i hear that right and if so, what are they talking about???
well, seeing how this kid seems to have season tickets that sit him behind the visitors bench, maybe there was a situation where he was saying offensive things to Yao Ming during that first game in Detroit, and maybe the Rockets reported it, privately, and never made it public.
well the prosecutors knew about it something public must have happened. J now im curious what its was.
The NBA would be really embarassed (yet again) if the Rockets organization recommended this guy be banned from the Palace because of what he said to Yao, and ended up not doing it. If they had, that guy wouldn't have been there to throw that beer at Artest, and none of that mess would have happened. (Of course I'm not excusing Artest-there's no excuse for going up into the stands to fight with fans.)
Never in my life would I hear Yao's name in the same sentence with the Indiana/Detroit incident...so whats goin on here???
that's what i'm trying to figure out. the guy that approaches artest on the court with clenched fists who artest then hits is haddad, iirc. the prosecutor mentions he had a history they were aware of then mentioned him being involved in "the yao ming situation." thats all i know...
Great, now there is one guy can make Yao mad. Yao needs to know people dont like him outside Houston. He needs to play angry.
May be that dude was screaming some derogatory craps at Yao(racial, his mama, sexual orientation etc......) sort of like what Latrell said to the woman at courtside, and he got suspended for a game.
for the Rox to report something or for there to be an incident the guy probably said something really offensive. i'm thinking the guy said some racial garbage.
http://www.theoaklandpress.com/stories/120904/loc_20041209016.shtml THIS IS A QUOTE FROM THE ARTICLE ABOVE All seven fans charged Wednesday have been indefinitely banned from the Palace, said Pistons spokesman Matt Dobek. Bryant Jackson, Green and Haddad were all season ticket holders. Haddad had had prior contact with security following an incident with Houston Rockets player Yao Ming during the season opener at The Palace, Gorcyca said. He had no further details on the incident. Dobek said he was aware of the incident but could not provide details, either. "He was known to security there," Gorcyca said HERE IS THE FULL ARTICLE--the stuff about Yao is near the end.... Prosecutor: Cup started melee Web-posted Dec 9, 2004 By KORIE WILKINS and DAVID GROVES Of The Daily Oakland Press PONTIAC - If not for the cup full of liquid that a West Bloomfield Township man tossed at Indiana Pacer Ron Artest, the brawl last month at The Palace might not have happened, said Oakland County Prosecutor David Gorcyca. "(John Green) is the most culpable," said Gorcyca at a Wednesday afternoon news conference announcing charges against five players and seven fans stemming from the Nov. 19 melee. "It incited the whole incident. It's probably why we're here today. "Every time a cup or liquid substance was thrown, the melee seems to have escalated." The incident, which started after Artest fouled Detroit Pistons player Ben Wallace near the end of the game, spread to the stands after Green tossed the cup and Artest charged after him, Gorcyca said. Artest, 25, of Indianapolis, was one of the players charged with assault and battery, a 93-day misdemeanor. Teammates Stephen Jackson, 26, of Port Arthur, Texas; David Harrison, 22, of Nashville, Tenn. and Anthony Johnson, 30, of Mount Pleasant, S.C., also were charged with one count each. Jermaine O'Neal, a 26-year-old Pacer from Indianapolis, is facing two counts of assault and battery. Walter Piszczatowski, a Bloomfield Hills attorney who represents Harrison, said he hoped prosecutors would see that his client acted in defense of himself and others. "I'm a little surprised he was charged, because he was a peacemaker out there trying to protect his fellow players in a situation of total chaos," Piszczatowski said. He argued that the assault Harrison allegedly committed did not occur until the end of the melee, when players were being escorted through the tunnel. Before that, Harrison tried only to break up fights, Piszczatowski said. "That clearly shows that his state of mind was not to injure anyone, but to try and make sure everyone was safe," he said. A tape shown by Gorcyca on Wednesday had Harrison punching fan John Ackerman after Ackerman tossed a cup that hit O'Neal. Bloomfield Hills attorney Jim Burdick, who represents Stephen Jackson, had a similar reaction. While he was impressed with the time and hard work that went into the investigation, he disputes that his client acted in the aggressive, offensive manner that constitutes criminal activity. "It's very different to be on the floor of The Palace of Auburn Hills with 10 or 12 of your buddies and surrounded by thousands of people who hate you. You go into defense mode and act instinctively," Burdick said. "These players have been trained all their lives to act instinctively. By charging them, the prosecutors and the police are saying that they should have turned that off instantly. It ain't possible. Human nature doesn't work like that. "I think it's unfair of the public or the prosecutor to judge Stephen, or even any of the other (players) without walking in their shoes." None of the players was arraigned Wednesday, but Gorcyca said the attorneys of several players and fans have contacted officials. He said they could be arraigned by mail for the misdemeanor charge but will likely have to appear in court in the future. Gorcyca said jail time is not likely for those who have no previous criminal records. The punishment, he said, could be probation and fines. "In none of the videotapes that we've observed did any of the Pistons throw any punches at anyone," Gorcyca said. One fan involved in the melee was arraigned Wednesday in Rochester Hills district court. Bryant Jackson, 35, of Genesee County's Mundy Township, turned himself in and was charged with one count of felony assault, which could get him four years in prison if convicted. Bryant Jackson and his Flint-based lawyer, Kenneth Karasick, declined to comment after the hearing before Judge Lisa Asadoorian and sped off in a black BMW while making an obscene gesture to media. Bryant Jackson is the fan who is believed to have thrown the chair in the brawl. The chair hit an Auburn Hills police officer, a security guard and a fan. Bryant Jackson, who was released on $10,000 personal bond after pleading not guilty to the charges, is a habitual offender, with convictions for receiving stolen property, leaving the scene of an accident, carrying a concealed weapon, possession of a controlled substance and domestic violence. He will face a preliminary examination on Dec. 21 and will be arraigned then on one count of assault and battery, a misdemeanor. Green, 39, is facing two counts of assault and battery for throwing a cup at Artest and then hitting the player from behind in the stands. He also has a criminal record for drunken driving, escaping from prison, assault and domestic violence. Other fans facing one charge of assault and battery include Ben Wallace's brother David, 33, of Selma, Ala.; Ackerman, 36, of Grand Rapids and William Pawlson, 26, of Grand Blanc. Green's attorney, Shawn Patrick Smith, did not return calls seeking comment. Two other men are facing local charges, said Auburn Hills Police Chief Doreen Olko. She said Charlie Haddad and Alvin Shackelford, both of Burt, will face charges under a city ordinance for going onto the court. Olko said a safe record of games and concerts at The Palace dating back 16 years means the Nov. 19 brawl was likely an aberration. No immediate security changes are planned, she said. "This incident was completely out of character for this community," she said. Despite Wednesday's charges, the investigation is far from over. According to Olko, police are still trying to identify all the fans who threw food, drinks and debris at players during the brawl, and more charges could come. All seven fans charged Wednesday have been indefinitely banned from the Palace, said Pistons spokesman Matt Dobek. Bryant Jackson, Green and Haddad were all season ticket holders. Haddad had had prior contact with security following an incident with Houston Rockets player Yao Ming during the season opener at The Palace, Gorcyca said. He had no further details on the incident. Dobek said he was aware of the incident but could not provide details, either. "He was known to security there," Gorcyca said. Wednesday's announcement comes on the heels of hours of work by the Auburn Hills Police Department and prosecutors. Gorcyca said more than 1,000 pages of reports and statements were reviewed and more than 10 video feeds examined. "We have made every effort to be fair and unbiased in our charging decisions," Gorcyca said. Two days after the brawl, NBA Commissioner David Stern issued lengthy suspensions against several players. He suspended Artest for the season, Jackson for 30 games and O'Neal for 25. Ben Wallace got six games and Stephen Johnson got five. Four players were suspended for a game apiece: Indiana's Reggie Miller and Detroit's Chauncey Billups, Elden Campbell and Derrick Coleman. The players' union is appealing the suspensions of Artest, Jackson and O'Neal, and a grievance hearing is scheduled for today in New York. "This is a legal matter, and we are unable to comment," Pacers chief executive Donnie Walsh said. (The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
HERE'S ANOTHER QUOTE FROM THIS ARTICLE-- Turns out it was an extortion threat.... http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/1204/09detroit.html Charlie Haddad and Alvin Shackleford, who came onto the court during the brawl and suffered blows at the hands of Artest and O'Neal, also were cited by the Auburn Hills police for entry onto a performance or playing ground, a misdemeanor. Gorcyca said Haddad was known by Palace security for making an extortion threat regarding Houston Rockets center Yao Ming during the season opener. HERE'S THE FULL ARTICLE Five players, seven fans charged in NBA melee By STEVE WYCHE The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 12/08/04 AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Had John Green not thrown the cup full of liquid at combustible Indiana Pacers forward Ron Artest after an on-court scrap with Detroit Pistons center Ben Wallace on Nov. 19, Oakland County prosecutor David Gorcyca said he wouldn't be doling out criminal charges against 12 of the participants. Instead, that spark set off the now-infamous melee at The Palace that resulted in nine misdemeanor assault and battery charges, two misdemeanor trespassing charges and one count of felonious assault with a chair being issued Wednesday against five Pacers players and seven fans, including Green. EMAIL THIS PRINT THIS MOST POPULAR Although Artest, who has been suspended for the season, has received most of the criticism for rushing into the stands and attacking a spectator he wrongfully thought threw the cup at him as he lay on the scorer's table after being shoved by Wallace, Gorcyca pointed the finger elsewhere. "That incited, single-handedly, the whole situation," Gorcyca said, referring to Green's cup tossing. "That's why we're here today. In my opinion, I hold Mr. Green more accountable." Green, along with Artest, all-star forward Jermaine O'Neal, guard Anthony Johnson, guard Stephen Jackson and forward David Harrison were charged with misdemeanor counts of assault and battery. Conviction could bring a maximum of 93 days imprisonment and a $500 fine. The same charges were filed against spectators William Paulson, John Ackerman Jr. and David Wallace, brother of Pistons center Ben Wallace. Season-ticket holder Bryant Jackson was charged with assault and battery but also faces a count of felonious assault with a chair, a charge that could result in four years in jail, plus an additional four years because he has a criminal record. Gorcyca said he could not upgrade the misdemeanor charges because no one required hospitalization. Charlie Haddad and Alvin Shackleford, who came onto the court during the brawl and suffered blows at the hands of Artest and O'Neal, also were cited by the Auburn Hills police for entry onto a performance or playing ground, a misdemeanor. Gorcyca said Haddad was known by Palace security for making an extortion threat regarding Houston Rockets center Yao Ming during the season opener. None of those charged had surrendered or been arrested as of Wednesday evening. Gorcyca said he had heard from several attorneys representing the defendants, including Pacers players, claiming full cooperation. The investigation remains open, and other charges could be filed, he added. Shortly after the charges were announced at an afternoon news conference, the Pistons began the process of notifying the criminally charged fans that they were barred indefinitely from events at all Palace-owned facilities. Ben Wallace, like most Detroit players, was tired of talking about the subject, but said he was fine with his brother's punishment and the prosecutor's ruling. Wallace was suspended for six games after the incident for shoving Artest after being fouled. Several players declined to talk before Wednesday night's game against visiting Toronto. "I would hope that coaches and fans and players, we all understand the responsibility we have, the privileges we've been given to play and go to games and to be a part of this that we act the right way," Pistons coach Larry Brown said. "The worst thing for me was seeing young kids crying with their parents. My only hope is that after we had to watch that over and over again that people realize we all have got to do better and you should be held accountable." The fallout of the incident has led to a mountain of negative reaction toward the NBA, lengthy suspensions for most of the Pacers players involved, increased security at The Palace and an NBA-proposed fan behavior policy that is expected to be implemented early in 2005. Tom Wilson, president and CEO of the Pistons and Palace Sports and Entertainment said his organization is willing to endure the aftermath in order to come to a solution that could prevent the situation from recurring at any sporting event. "This whole awful thing, the silver lining is going to make fans more responsible for their actions," Wilson said. "I think everything will improve because there will be increased sensitivity on players' sides and on fans' sides."
so basically alot of those fans have a criminal record. Great especially this Bryant Jackson sounds like a great guy
