I'm only gonna say this one more time...
One year to the day. Has it been that long already? It
seems like it just happened yesterday. That's probably because
the media can't let it go.
Two words. The Brawl. Still doesn't seem real. One minute I'm relishing a hard won victory that showed that the Pacers weren't gonna be ignored as some also-ran that can put up 55-plus victories and then stumble in the Eastern Conference Finals. The next minute I'm bug-eyed, shouting at the TV in disbelief. In a 15 minute stretch, I saw not only the Pacers' title hopes vanish, but the career of Reggie Miller end in disappointing fashion (the announcement came months later, but I knew already he was done after 04-05).
I had a feeling Artest would be gone for the year. I didn't think it was fair. Vernon Maxwell did basically the same thing years before - go into the stands looking for a throwdown - and he wasn't really even provoked, and he only got 10 games. Artest gets hit with a beverage and goes crowdhunting, and it's 73 games, see you next year. Stephen Jackson is gone for over a third of the season, and originally so was Jermaine O'Neal (though his suspension later was reduced, and with good reason). There is no question that the Pacers involved paid for their sins, they lost money, and they have to deal with probation and community service.
What bothers me is a lack of accountability on the fans part, among others. There was a story on ESPNEWS today talking with certain people involved in the ordeal. Remember the two guys in Pistons jerseys that went on the floor? The Oompa-Loompa looking dudes? They spoke with the first guy, the one that Artest jacked up on the floor. He acted as if he did nothing wrong, and as if he has been ill-treated in the months since then. He says his friends don't look at him the same, it hurt his life, how people treat him. Well, why were you on the floor in the first place? Just like the Pacers players shouldn't have been in the stands, your fat ass had no business on the playing surface. You got lit up, and your life isn't the same? You got what was coming to you. Same to your twin that received the O'Neal haymaker.
I think what bothers me more than anything is that Ben Wallace had a big part to play in the whole situation, yet got a pretty minimal suspension, and acts as if he was free of guilt. Funny how when they show replays of the incident, they fail to show the play before the incident. Wallace hit Artest hard near the hoop. Artest didn't respond at that point, and made no scene. Then as Wallace goes to the hoop, Artest dished out what he received at the other end, and for some reason, Big Ben didn't like it. What happened next did as much if not more to incite the crowd then Artest turning the scorers table into a hammock. There was the two handed shove, the constant attempts by Wallace to get at Artest. Then the throwing of his wristbands at Artest. If Wallace just acts like a man with enough sense to realize he just committed the same type of foul at the other end, the concession-grenades never get launched.
I'm not saying the Pacers weren't at fault, believe me they were. Artest and Jackson were boneheads to jump into the stands. O'Neal, though video never seems to put him in the stands, could have done a much better job at attempting to keep the peace, much like Rasheed Wallace did (I can't believe I am complimenting 'Sheed for anything, I hate his guts, so that should tell you how hard that was for me). My point is, just about everyone involved in this situation screwed up royally (with only a few exceptions).
My main issue is that it appears that anyone involved with the Detroit area, especially the media, takes the stance that all the culpability rests with the Pacers. I've read many of the Detroit papers and seen many of the headlines of the local TV and radio stations, so don't tell me I'm misinformed. So according to them, the Detroit fans had nothing to do with it. OK, then explain the bomb threat later that season. Then explain the coin that got thrown at Iverson during the playoffs. Pretty sure the Pacers wouldn't call a bomb threat on themselves, and they weren't even involved in the Pistons-Sixers game. Just because you report for a Detroit station or paper, don't get the facts twisted. The Indiana media did this too, implying the Pacers were basically martyrs going into the stands to defend themselves. Fair and balanced, like a midget and a fat chick on a see-saw.
Well, aside from the meandering nature of this entry, I feel better. I don't expect responses - or at least responses I will pay attention to. I'm well aware this is my opinion and that many people will disagree (Shawn). I guess I just wanted to be one of the few pro-Pacers articles on the internet regarding the brawl, as it seems 90% of everything is pro-Detroit.
Of course, maybe that means that they just haven't let it go. At least I finally have.
Until November 19, 2006 that is.
Two words. The Brawl. Still doesn't seem real. One minute I'm relishing a hard won victory that showed that the Pacers weren't gonna be ignored as some also-ran that can put up 55-plus victories and then stumble in the Eastern Conference Finals. The next minute I'm bug-eyed, shouting at the TV in disbelief. In a 15 minute stretch, I saw not only the Pacers' title hopes vanish, but the career of Reggie Miller end in disappointing fashion (the announcement came months later, but I knew already he was done after 04-05).
I had a feeling Artest would be gone for the year. I didn't think it was fair. Vernon Maxwell did basically the same thing years before - go into the stands looking for a throwdown - and he wasn't really even provoked, and he only got 10 games. Artest gets hit with a beverage and goes crowdhunting, and it's 73 games, see you next year. Stephen Jackson is gone for over a third of the season, and originally so was Jermaine O'Neal (though his suspension later was reduced, and with good reason). There is no question that the Pacers involved paid for their sins, they lost money, and they have to deal with probation and community service.
What bothers me is a lack of accountability on the fans part, among others. There was a story on ESPNEWS today talking with certain people involved in the ordeal. Remember the two guys in Pistons jerseys that went on the floor? The Oompa-Loompa looking dudes? They spoke with the first guy, the one that Artest jacked up on the floor. He acted as if he did nothing wrong, and as if he has been ill-treated in the months since then. He says his friends don't look at him the same, it hurt his life, how people treat him. Well, why were you on the floor in the first place? Just like the Pacers players shouldn't have been in the stands, your fat ass had no business on the playing surface. You got lit up, and your life isn't the same? You got what was coming to you. Same to your twin that received the O'Neal haymaker.
I think what bothers me more than anything is that Ben Wallace had a big part to play in the whole situation, yet got a pretty minimal suspension, and acts as if he was free of guilt. Funny how when they show replays of the incident, they fail to show the play before the incident. Wallace hit Artest hard near the hoop. Artest didn't respond at that point, and made no scene. Then as Wallace goes to the hoop, Artest dished out what he received at the other end, and for some reason, Big Ben didn't like it. What happened next did as much if not more to incite the crowd then Artest turning the scorers table into a hammock. There was the two handed shove, the constant attempts by Wallace to get at Artest. Then the throwing of his wristbands at Artest. If Wallace just acts like a man with enough sense to realize he just committed the same type of foul at the other end, the concession-grenades never get launched.
I'm not saying the Pacers weren't at fault, believe me they were. Artest and Jackson were boneheads to jump into the stands. O'Neal, though video never seems to put him in the stands, could have done a much better job at attempting to keep the peace, much like Rasheed Wallace did (I can't believe I am complimenting 'Sheed for anything, I hate his guts, so that should tell you how hard that was for me). My point is, just about everyone involved in this situation screwed up royally (with only a few exceptions).
My main issue is that it appears that anyone involved with the Detroit area, especially the media, takes the stance that all the culpability rests with the Pacers. I've read many of the Detroit papers and seen many of the headlines of the local TV and radio stations, so don't tell me I'm misinformed. So according to them, the Detroit fans had nothing to do with it. OK, then explain the bomb threat later that season. Then explain the coin that got thrown at Iverson during the playoffs. Pretty sure the Pacers wouldn't call a bomb threat on themselves, and they weren't even involved in the Pistons-Sixers game. Just because you report for a Detroit station or paper, don't get the facts twisted. The Indiana media did this too, implying the Pacers were basically martyrs going into the stands to defend themselves. Fair and balanced, like a midget and a fat chick on a see-saw.
Well, aside from the meandering nature of this entry, I feel better. I don't expect responses - or at least responses I will pay attention to. I'm well aware this is my opinion and that many people will disagree (Shawn). I guess I just wanted to be one of the few pro-Pacers articles on the internet regarding the brawl, as it seems 90% of everything is pro-Detroit.
Of course, maybe that means that they just haven't let it go. At least I finally have.
Until November 19, 2006 that is.