Did Ben Wallace go to far?

[FLPilot]

I was just getting ready to leave work when I heard some of the guys start yelling at the TV. I ran over to see what appeared to be a boxing match break out at a basketball game (I guess people are suffering from not getting that kind of action from NHL lately). So what do you think? Did Ben Wallace go to far? Did Ron Artest (Player that ran up into the fans and start beating a guy up becuase he threw a water bottle down at him) go to far?

What do you all think?

[Samuel2003]

I didn't see it. Did the water bottle hit the player? If so, that fan should get what's coming to him. lol If not, the player should have just let security escort the idiot out. Just my ignorant opinion... lol

[tangotango99]

Yes he did.Ron Artest should be arrested

[krygny]

From what I saw of the replays this morning, it seems it was Ron Artest that really went too far. Maybe he'll get his wish - some "time off" to record his Rap CD.

[smurray]

Not only did the player(s) get out of control, today's sports fans are going to far. Not all players, and not all spectators, but for some reason fans think that they can spew obsentities, hurl objects, and attack players on the field.
The player was wrong for going into the stands to attack the fans but you have to ask yourself, what would you do if someone screamed vile things to you and threw coke/beer/batteries/etc. at you. I know I'd have a violent reaction too.

I imagine the players and fans involved will find themselves in court for assault. The players will also find themselves in a civil trial defending themselves and their money.

[krygny]

Originally posted by smurray
Not only did the player(s) get out of control, today's sports fans are going to far.
...

Well, there were certainly no good guys involved. Perhaps Allen Iverson can restore some semblance of respectability to the NBA.

[fireflock]

I've been watching less and less NBA basketball over the last 5 years. Last year I didn't even care enough to watch the playoffs. That says something about the NBA considering that I played basketball for years and am an avid college basketball fan.

The NBA has marketed themselves out of my demographic (responsible adults). The quality of play has gone way downhill (remember the olympics?).

That fight was a disgrace for all involved (players and fans). I hope this fight is what it takes for the NBA management/coaches/owners/players to change course and start heading in the right direction.

I'm not hopeful.

[ramirami]

it was the fans fault.....but the players have no business going into the stands....all players who were in the stands should be heavily suspended....

how dumb can they be....they can get seriously injured...can be target of lawsuits etc....

that said where was security??

[N_Jay]

One more reason not to watch/support professional sports.
Or was it;
One more reson not to go to Detroit?

[tangotango99]

N Jay majority of players are well mannered just a few "I am rich baby" type give sports a bad name

[ramirami]

Originally posted by N_Jay
One more reason not to watch/support professional sports.
Or was it;
One more reson not to go to Detroit?

can you generalize a bit more......

remember the incidents at US cellular field...wrigley field etc...when do you plan to leave chicago??

[FLPilot]

That was my point. I think that if the fans didn't get out of control, that we probably wouldn't be talking about this. I agree with smurray that most people would have a violent reaction to a bottle or anything being thrown at them. The part that gets me is that all people are saying is he should be fined or suspended. Now imagine if someone from a crowd threw a bottle and hit a police officer (sorry for making it personal, but I can relate) and instead of arresting the guy, the cop goes up into the stands and beats the guy up. Do you think the people of Detroit would be saying that the cop should be fined of suspended. NOPE! They would want his head on a platter along with his badge! My point is that instead of looking up to the people that matter (Law enforcement, military, EMT's, Firefighters, teachers, so on and so forth.....) we look up to sports stars like they are great people. Wake up and smell the horse $h!t cause they are no better than anyone else, except they have a lot of money to spend. I guess I will step down from my and go back to work now.

[N_Jay]

Originally posted by ramirami


can you generalize a bit more......

remember the incidents at US cellular field...wrigley field etc...when do you plan to leave chicago??

Hey, I put it as the SECOND reason!

In about a year and 1/2, but not for want of a decent professional sports team! (Or decent fans)

[N_Jay]

Originally posted by tangotango99
N Jay majority of players are well mannered just a few "I am rich baby" type give sports a bad name

I didn't say it was the ONLY reason, just that it was ONE MORE reason!

[Samuel2003]

ok, I read an article on AOL that said that Artest had no idea who threw the cup and just ran up into the stands and began laying about him, asking people as he was pummelling them if they were the one who threw it. Probably not the best way to respond.

krygyny, lol!

fireflock, I feel the same way except I stopped watching a Long time ago.


Well, I'm gonna stop now because I don't wanna start going off on the state of our society (being willing to pay people who play games, act, sing and dance the salaries they get), the deterioration of the game of basketball itself - especially professional level (all style, no substance - haven't seen good teamwork since the mid-late 80's), the characters and values of many of the players these days (basically inmates running around in public), poor officiating, idiot sports fans, idiot sports fans raising their kids to be the same way, ok ok I'm stopping now...