The Pacers were leading the Pistons 97-82 with less than a minute left when Ben Wallace drove to the hoop and was slapped hard with not one but two arms by Ron Artest. Ben Wallace then proceeds to shove Ron Artest. Artest is being restrained by some of his players. It should have ended there.
Unfortunately, Wallace continued his pursuit of Artest and suddenly more fights than Fords were being produced in the motor city.
If Wallace had simply walked away, then Detroit would have went home to the drawing board and prepared for their next game. The Pacers would have achieved a great moral and statistical victory over the reigning NBA Champions and 20,000 fans would be going home dismayed, but ready to come out and support the Pistons in their next home effort.
Instead The Pistons and their fans will now become laughing stock to the rest of the NBA. The Pacers will be seen as a team that just doesn't leave well enough alone. The NBA who is constantly recovering from injuries to their image, will now not only have a black eye, but a bruised sternum.
Truly this is another example of fans gone wild. Not simply content to watch the game, cheer their team, and jeer the opponents, they now have to involve themselves physically. Whether it be a drink, fist or other object (Reportedly, chairs were thrown), they have no self control. I am sure the anti-alcohol and prudes will blame it on the presence of beer at the games. I blame it on a much more powerful drug.
Adrenaline. A drug so potent, it should only be reserved for athletes in a game, Civil protection agencies, the armed forces and other acts of heroism. It's side effects include rage, anxiety, increase in strength, lack of self control, and a loss of intelligence. It should never be used by a fan in the stands who thinks since they paid, they should be involved. It should never be used by an athlete for revenge or to show his superiority by cheating or undermining the essence of a game. It should never be used to cause harm to others or oneself.
It should be used to raise your voice louder than others to cheer on your team. It should be used by Basketball players to get that little bit of energy or elevation to pull of "Jordanish" feats. It should be used for the positive reinforcement of our society.
It's no wonder that the NBA's players and fans are seen as being less respected than other sports. Events like this are never going to change that fact and neither are fines. It's time for new rules.
One rule I would like to see enforced would be that in an NBA game, once a fan involves himself physically, both teams return to the locker room. Either until the person involved is removed or some other safe conclusion is reached.
Of course it will take more than this to fix a bruised Sternum.
- Posted by Rick at November 20, 2004 12:17 AM
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