Wow! Artest Out The Rest Of The Year

[lawrencefrank]

WOW!!!!!!!!! HERE IT IS: Sterns Rulings:

Artest: IS OUT THE WHOLE SEASON!
Stephen Jackson: 30 Games
Jermaine O' Neal: 25 Games
Ben Wallace: 6 games
Anthony Johnson: 5 games
4 others got 1 game suspensions and fined

[AO street ballin]

Where was Johnson in it all?

[dachamps]

your a liar I saw it on the news Artest is out for 30 games

[lawrencefrank]

GO TO www.espn.com

[lawrencefrank]

Heres the article:

It appears the Indiana Pacers will pay a heavy price for Friday's embarrassing melee.


Ron Artest has been suspended for the season, while teammates Stephen Jackson received a 30-game suspension, and Jermaine O'Neal, a 25-game suspension, ESPN.com's Marc Stein and Insider Chad Ford have learned.


"The penalties issued today deal only with one aspect of this incident -- that of player misconduct. The actions of the players involved wildly exceeded the professionalism and self control that should rarely be accepted from NBA players," commissioner David Stern said in a statement Sunday.


The Detroit Pistons will be without Ben Wallace for six games.


Indiana's Anthony Johnson also received a five-game suspension.


Eldon Campbell, Chauncey Billups and Derrick Coleman, as the Pacers' Reggie Miller each received 1-game suspensions and $35,000 fines for leaving the bench following the initial altercation between Wallace and Artest.


"We must ... not allow our sport to be debased by what seems to be declining expectations for behavior by fans and athletes alike," Stern said in the statement.


Artest, O'Neal and Jackson -- who all threw punches at spectators in the stands or on the court at the end of the nationally televised Pacers-Pistons game -- began serving suspensions Saturday night when the league handed down indefinite bans until specific number of games could be decided upon.


The brawl was particularly violent, with Artest and Jackson bolting into the stands near center court and throwing punches at fans after debris was tossed at the players.



Later, fans who came onto the court were punched in the face by Artest and O'Neal.


Wallace began the fracas by delivering a hard, two-handed shove to Artest after Wallace was fouled on a drive to the basket with 45.9 seconds remaining. After the fight ended, the referees called off the remainder of the game. Pacers players were pelted with drinks, popcorn and other debris as they rushed to the locker room. The initial skirmish wasn't all that bad, with Artest retreating to the scorer's table and lying atop it after Wallace sent him reeling backward.



But when a fan tossed a cup at Artest, he stormed into the stands, throwing punches as he climbed over seats.


"He was on top of me, pummeling me," fan Mike Ryan of Clarkston said. "He asked me, 'Did you do it? I said, 'No, man. No!"'



Jackson joined Artest and threw punches at fans, who punched back. At one point, a chair was tossed into the fray.



Security personnel and ushers tried to break it up. Former Pistons player Rick Mahorn, who was seated courtside as a Detroit radio analyst, also stepped in.


Artest was benched for two games this month for asking Pacers coach Rick Carlisle for time off because of a busy schedule that included promoting a rap album.



Artest was suspended twice by the NBA last season, once for leaving the bench during a fracas at a Pacers-Celtics playoff game; the other for elbowing Portland's Derek Anderson. During the 2002-03 season, Artest was suspended five times by the NBA and once by the Pacers for a total of 12 games.



Artest also once grabbed a television camera and smashed it to the ground after a loss to the Knicks two years ago.

[dachamps]

wow guess the news channel was wrong thats not right Suspending Artest for the rest of the year he did nothing wrong.

[BigJabber]

This is complete Garbage! Out for the Season? There is no way Ron Artest should be out for the season. 30 game? yes, the whole season, absolutly not! It was wrong of him to go into the stands and fight, but sometime you need to look at the fans and there actions to cause it. Perhaps Artest could have composed himself a tad bit better and not gone into the stands, but he didn't go into them unjustified! He had fans comeing after HIM on the court getting ready to swing at him. So what was he suppose to do? Just get hit? Artest got hit multiple times buy a guy in a white hat in the back of head, but yet he was not suppose ot do anything. He should have been suspened, but in other cases where players went into the stands, they only got 5 games or so. Granted this is alot more serious, i just dont see the whole season as a justicified ruling.

What could be even more garbage is the Ben Wallace only got 5 games. He was a complete drama queen on the foul and went after Artest hard and shoved him with his hands on his face. Artest actually didn't bite and went to the scorers table to let this die down. Wallacev kept this going until the cup of beer hit Artest. IMO Wallace needed to be suspended ATLEAST 10 games himself. While he didnt go into the stands, his action is what caused the whole melee. Guilty By Assoication.

[Magus Relmyn]

Ouch. That's a bit harsh on Artest. If anyone deserved the entire season, it was Steven Jackson. He was just looking for a fight, not trying to defend anyone. Artest got the whole season because of his nature.

[Molina00]

Wallace didn't deserve too long a suspension. All he did was shove Artest. It was all that stupid fans fault who through the first cup of stuff at Artest, but it was him who escalated the whole thing into the mess it turned into. If he's going to go after a fan he should have at least gone after the right one. He wanted some time off. Looks like he's got plenty of it now.

Why fine Reggie Miller? He wasn't involved was he?

[BigJabber]

I didn't see Miller do anything, hell his hand is broke or somthing too i think....

He might have said something to prompt the fine...

[lawrencefrank]

Read the article I posted. The ones that got 1 game suspensions got them because they got off the bench the minute wallace pushed artest back.

[twins15]

Ridiculously excessive, IMO. Especially Artest and O'Neal.

[Molina00]

Oh horror! They got up. Big deal.

[Penning10]

You're not allowed to leave the bench during a fight under any circumstances. That's what screwed the Knicks in the playoffs a while back; half their team got suspended :(

Looks like the Pacers are in the lottery! 8)

[Molina00]

Complete opposite of baseball. A fight starts and your pretty much supposed to leave the bench.

Still seems stupid fining and suspending people who had nothing to do with it.

[yankeesfan26]

How can you say that Artest did nothing wrong??? He was the one who fouled Wallace hard in a game that was all but over. Then he charges someone in the stands and starts up the whole stdium so they all get into it. If he was on the bench this wouldn't have even happened.

[BigJabber]

LOL Molina...

So getting off the bench is terms for a fine? Shouldnt every player from both teams be fined, included Coaches then?

[lawrencefrank]

Oh and for the ones that are confused, If the Pacers Make the playoffs Artest can't play then either.

[Molina00]

LOL Molina...

So getting off the bench is terms for a fine? Shouldnt every player from both teams be fined, included Coaches then?

Why are you laughing at me? I'm the one who thinks it's stupid. Sandman is the one who said you can't leave the bench under any circumstances in a fight.

[yankeesfan26]

He got his time off. Not a very good way to get it though. He should have just quit if he wanted to be a panzy and go make terrible music instead of doing his job.

[Molina00]

How can you say that Artest did nothing wrong??? He was the one who fouled Wallace hard in a game that was all but over. Then he charges someone in the stands and starts up the whole stdium so they all get into it. If he was on the bench this wouldn't have even happened.

Who said Artest did nothing wrong? I don't recall seeing that posted in this thread.

[BigJabber]

Why are you laughing at me? I'm the one who thinks it's stupid. Sandman is the one who said you can't leave the bench under any circumstances in a fight.

eh i was laughing at your comment about "So they got up, Big Deal" or somthing like that in your previous post. I thought it was funny because i thought the same thing.

[Molina00]

eh i was laughing at your comment about "So they got up, Big Deal" or somthing like that in your previous post. I thought it was funny because i thought the same thing.

Ok. Just a little confused there. :P
Didn't know what you were laughing at. Glad it wasn't AT me. *nod*

[yankeesfan26]

Who said Artest did nothing wrong? I don't recall seeing that posted in this thread.
I guess I read something wrong but I thought I saw that somewhere. Oh well.

[twins15]

LOL Molina...

So getting off the bench is terms for a fine? Shouldnt every player from both teams be fined, included Coaches then?

Well leaving during a fight, like the one between Artest/Wallace, is not allowed, so that is why they handed out those suspensions. After that, it was all mayhem and everyone was everywhere, but that really wasn't part of the Artest/Wallace fight.

[Magus Relmyn]

Looking at the positive side of this ordeal (if there is one), the Pacers are now gonna have a hell of a time trying to maintain first in the East. They lost arguably their three best players, and Reggie is injured right now. This is probably better for the Cavs, Raptors, and Magic. ;)

[twins15]

Just read this on another board, and it kinda gives another perspective. From the good man JGross68.

Ron Artest will not play the remainder of the season. That's a 73-game suspension. Combine that with Jackson's 30 games and O'Neal's 25 and I see little reason for the Pacers to field a team the rest of the year. Some dickhead throws a drink at a guy and a contender for the Eastern Conference title loses 128 player-games. A strong statement? Damn right it is. Just imagine how hard other fans will try to lure players into the stands now!

While I fully expect the appeals process to lower the penalties, I honestly think if these stand and the league is going to come down that hard on Indiana, then Detroit should not be allowed to play any home games for the rest of the year.

[Penning10]

http://img91.exs.cx/img91/2457/pacers.gif

[gmarbalest27]

Who said Artest did nothing wrong? I don't recall seeing that posted in this thread.
wow guess the news channel was wrong thats not right Suspending Artest for the rest of the year he did nothing wrong.

I think its a good thing (not only because it helps the Cavs greatly); Ron Artest has been nothing short of the next Rodman in his short tenure in the NBA, and he didn't have to go after the jackass fan. The fan got what he deserved yes, but Stern was under a lot of pressure to make sure that his sport had control of the situation, and giving him too light of a sentencing would have come off as soft, and what would stop other players from coming after idiot fans if they saw Artest get off lightly? Personally, I think the fan will end up suing Artest and getting a huge amount of money which isn't right, but the suspension is about maintaining order in the sport, not protecting drunk fans IMO.

[BigJabber]

Looking at the positive side of this ordeal (if there is one), the Pacers are now gonna have a hell of a time trying to maintain first in the East. They lost arguably their three best players, and Reggie is injured right now. This is probably better for the Cavs, Raptors, and Magic. ;)

In terms of eastern conference standings, its going to helpa number of teams. The ones you listed, and the Celtics. The Celtics should be fighting for playoff position and this will definitly work to there atvantage

[Chris C2]

Artest is out for the season, Jermaine O'Neal for 30 games (right?)... man, It's gonna be a tough year for Pacer fans.

[X-Factor]

artest is screwed up, im glad hes done

[BigJabber]

I like Ron Artest. It's too bad he's a constant target. I'll be surprised if the Pacers even make the playoffs now.

[Secret Asian Man]

Wallace should've gotten more games out. He started the thing that mad Artest mad when he shoved him after he got fouled. When the fans threw stuff at Artest, that started the fireworks and Artest bombed.

[hehateme71]

lol this pacer team is messed up, it helps the bucks so much since we are in the same division, the pacers were gonna be in the playoffs no doubt, but now it doesnt look so great if they go on a losing skid, they are gonna be in a horrible position

[Molina00]

Didn't they win last nights game by 3 points? Or maybe they lost by 3. I can't remember which. Point being, if they can do that good with all of their stars suspended then anything can happen. Obviously wont do as good as they would have otherwise but you never know what might happen.

[dachamps]

I think its a good thing (not only because it helps the Cavs greatly); Ron Artest has been nothing short of the next Rodman in his short tenure in the NBA, and he didn't have to go after the jackass fan. The fan got what he deserved yes, but Stern was under a lot of pressure to make sure that his sport had control of the situation, and giving him too light of a sentencing would have come off as soft, and what would stop other players from coming after idiot fans if they saw Artest get off lightly? Personally, I think the fan will end up suing Artest and getting a huge amount of money which isn't right, but the suspension is about maintaining order in the sport, not protecting drunk fans IMO.
can you please tell me what he did wrong?He defended him self and stook up for himself like any normal human being would.

[BigJabber]

he went into the stands. thats what he did wrong.

[dachamps]

he was provoked ,the fans through beer cups at him.DOn't tell me if someone throws something at you that your not gonna go after them..

[twins15]

fans through beer cups at him

*lol*

[slinky]

Artest isn't the first one to be provoked by fans, or will be the last. Also, this isn't the first time he was provoked. As for defending himself, I didn't exactly see that. He was provoked, but he brought the danger upon himself jumping in the stands, which was wrong. And he brought the provoktions upon himself by lying on the scorers table, and acting cocky. He could have stood up for himself in a different way, security if there for a reason, or he could just taunt the fan.

Jackson got what he deserves, but I thought O'Neal had a bit of a longer suspension. However I don't see the hate for Wallace is. Is getting fouled not provoktion? He just lost his brother, and it was garbage minutes, fouling him is inexusable. I don't believe he threw a punch at Artest, which shouldn't get him a 6 game suspension. And he did start the fight with Artest, but not the riot. You could look it as Artest or the fans starting it.

As for the others, leaving the bench is a suspension because they don't want what happens in baseball when everyone fights.

[AO street ballin]

Hey I still don't know why O'Neal got 25 games man. He punched a guy *while the guy was on the court*. As soon as he's on the court, he's fair game.

It wasn't a intentional foul he tried to get the ball. Like Artest said, he didn't smack him in the head or kick him in the leg.

[slinky]

It was still a hard foul in garbage time, that is what ticked Wallace off. There was no need to foul with less than a minute to go and up by 15. O'Neal did hit the fan, and he hit him hard. If he hadn't slipped a little, might have knocked the guy out.

[AO street ballin]

Still THE FAN WAS ON THE COURT. That's the offsettin part of it. Jackson knocked a guy out IN THE STANDS. Artest pushed a guy down IN THE STANDS. O'Neal hit a guy ON THE PLAYIN COURT. Theres a reason for him to do that. He's in danger in that situation.

[BigJabber]

well i dont think just because a player is on the court it will give a NBA player the right to slub him in the face...

[AO street ballin]

Well if you were in that situation and there are fans that you know have been drinkin, you don't know what he'd do. I mean come on. If you were in that situation you'd do the same.

[BigJabber]

Well if you were in that situation and there are fans that you know have been drinkin, you don't know what he'd do. I mean come on. If you were in that situation you'd do the same.


Actually, i would have hit them more time then they did, but that doesn't make it right to do...

[McMaster]

Ouch!! That's really really going to hurt there season!

[AO street ballin]

Actually, i would have hit them more time then they did, but that doesn't make it right to do...

But in that case it's self-defense. O'Neal can make a grievence and maybe win because it was in self-defense. Not Artest or Jackson though.......

[Phill11]

Still THE FAN WAS ON THE COURT. That's the offsettin part of it. Jackson knocked a guy out IN THE STANDS. Artest pushed a guy down IN THE STANDS. O'Neal hit a guy ON THE PLAYIN COURT. Theres a reason for him to do that. He's in danger in that situation.


As much as I love Jermaine O'Neal as a player, he did do the wrong thing. The guy was being restrained, and Jermaine basically sucker punched the guy while he was being held by people.

Ben Wallace should complain. All he did was shove, that's usually a 1 game or so suspension, he got 6. Yes, he did throw his headband at Artest, and if he would have dropped it all, this probably wouldn't have happened, but if he would have known it got that out of hand, he would have stopped.

[gmarbalest27]

can you please tell me what he did wrong?He defended him self and stook up for himself like any normal human being would.

Please tell me you are joking... That goes back to like kindergarten where two wrongs don't make a right. The fans and Ron Artest (and of course the other players who were suspended) are who did wrong, and both should have action taken against them.

[AO street ballin]

As much as I love Jermaine O'Neal as a player, he did do the wrong thing. The guy was being restrained, and Jermaine basically sucker punched the guy while he was being held by people.

Ben Wallace should complain. All he did was shove, that's usually a 1 game or so suspension, he got 6. Yes, he did throw his headband at Artest, and if he would have dropped it all, this probably wouldn't have happened, but if he would have known it got that out of hand, he would have stopped.

No Wallace should have been the professional one in all of this and taken the foul. Paul Pierce got hit in the mouth and half of 2 of his teeth knocked out and didn't get in a shovin match. Wallace should of been more professional than that. For O'Neal, the guy stepped up to Artest and O'Neal came to give the guy his due. O'Neal didn't leave the court so just let it go.

[thechadman2]

I guess I can't really disagree with the decision. It was absolutely absurd! Pacers suck now!

[dachamps]

Please tell me you are joking... That goes back to like kindergarten where two wrongs don't make a right. The fans and Ron Artest (and of course the other players who were suspended) are who did wrong, and both should have action taken against them.
I wish I could but i'm not joking he did nothing wrong its self defense..If someone throws something at you your gonna react its not your fault its 100%there fault and its 100%the fans fault for what happen.Saying that Artest shouldn't of defended himselve is like saying you shouldn't move out of the way of a moveing car.

[Sam-ES]

For the entire scoop go here. :D
http://www.everything-sports.com/?es=basketball

[lawrencefrank]

As much as I love Jermaine O'Neal as a player, he did do the wrong thing. The guy was being restrained, and Jermaine basically sucker punched the guy while he was being held by people.

Ben Wallace should complain. All he did was shove, that's usually a 1 game or so suspension, he got 6. Yes, he did throw his headband at Artest, and if he would have dropped it all, this probably wouldn't have happened, but if he would have known it got that out of hand, he would have stopped.
It was a towel not a head band. *nod* I think Artest should be allowed to be able to play in the playoffs if the Pacers make it. Also do you know if Comish Stern Is going to stagger the 3 suspensions of Jermaine, Jakcson, and Johnson so the Pacers will have more then 6 people able to play like last nights game. It was so wierd they had to dress 2 injured people so they met the requirments but only had 6 active people. *eyebrow*

[gmarbalest27]

I wish I could but i'm not joking he did nothing wrong its self defense..If someone throws something at you your gonna react its not your fault its 100%there fault and its 100%the fans fault for what happen.Saying that Artest shouldn't of defended himselve is like saying you shouldn't move out of the way of a moveing car.

It was a cup of beer, not a car... His job is to play basketball, not run after fans; I like to think back to when Jackie Robinson was emerging, and imagine all of the shit that he had to deal with, yet he never once ran into the crowd. Stern needed to make a statement, and make sure that this never happened again.

[paranoidmoonduck]

This was the best course of actio available. Stern is determined (or at least should be) to end the outbreak of fight in the NBA once and for all. Going into the stands to fight fans breaks every player - fan unspoken rule ever. Artests suspension is also a culmination of past problems. He knew that if he ****ed up again he would get long time off, and he did more than just **** up this time.

[twins15]

I wish I could but i'm not joking he did nothing wrong its self defense..If someone throws something at you your gonna react its not your fault its 100%there fault and its 100%the fans fault for what happen.Saying that Artest shouldn't of defended himselve is like saying you shouldn't move out of the way of a moveing car.

That's probably one of the worst analogies I have ever heard.

[lawrencefrank]

Sorry I got to side with Twins here, he should never of went into the stands. I agree with the punishment though I don't think his team should be punished that much and he should be allowed back if they make the playoffs. However for all you know they may not want him back and theres a chance he may retire like Ricky! Also, I think JON's Suspension was to long. Yes, he nailed the guy on the court but that guy had no right to be on there, if you are on the court it is free game and Jermaine should kick the shi* out of him. Watch for beer to be stopped being served during the 3rd quater.

[slinky]

I think the NBA is going to look at who hit who first, Ron ran in the stands starting the riot, Stephen Jackson made it worse. They got what they deserved. O'Neal however didn't deserve that huge suspension, the fan was clearly at fault there. But his punch was completely dangerous and could have killed or knocked the guy out.

[thechadman2]

O' Neal didn't get swung at by that one guy he hit. He jus came up and clobbered him. Just imagine if he didn't slip! Ouch!

[bravest]

I'm on both sides, but it's the athlete's responsibility to stay under composure. But, like Charles Barkley has said, an athlete isn't a person that children should idolize, and I agree. Fans bought a ticket that does not entitle them to damage the game in any way, or to put athletes in an uncomfortable position.

[bravest]

I think the NBA is going to look at who hit who first, Ron ran in the stands starting the riot, Stephen Jackson made it worse. They got what they deserved. O'Neal however didn't deserve that huge suspension, the fan was clearly at fault there. But his punch was completely dangerous and could have killed or knocked the guy out.
Jackson looks like this one kid at my school, but that's not the point.

From a teammate's standpoint, you don't want to just see or let a teammate go into the stands or get in a fight, especially with the opposing team, without you having nothing to do with it. Apologies were given out by both Ron Artest and Jermaine O'Neal, so they know it was on them instead of blaming it all on complete instinct or other stuff.

[slinky]

You do have to do something about it, and punching fans isn't. He wasn't the only one jumping in the stands, yet he was one of the few that threw punches, and the second one to jump in. He wasn't a peacemaker, he was a attacker.

I see some reasons why Artest and O'Neal either jumped in the stands or punched someone, but not Jackson. He wasn't the only one Pacer in the stands after Artest, so that was the problem.