Police investigate Malone-fan Game 3 incident

[Champ]

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Police are investigating a confrontation between Karl Malone and a fan who says the Lakers' forward poked him in the face before Game 3 of the NBA Finals.



In a dispute shown repeatedly on national television, the man was at the edge of the court during Los Angeles' layup drill before Thursday night's game, won by the Detroit Pistons 88-68.



Malone, a 19-year NBA veteran and the league's second-leading career scorer, said Friday that the fan had obviously been drinking and spit in his face while heckling him.



"He was really out of line," Malone said. "Just because you buy a ticket doesn't mean you should be able to get on the court and degrade somebody."

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2004/news/story?id=1820204

[lazarus]

1. Good

Someone needs to put that thug in his place. Since the league won't do it, maybe the cops will.

I've seen the footage several times, and slow motioned it. I can't see how the fan could spit on him, since there was a security guy/usher in between them from the time Malone got to within 5 feet. Malone also clearly made contact with the guy's face, using his finger.

After 20+ years in the league, you'd think he could handle a fan's yelling at him. Punk.