Okay.. what really happened at that Pacers-Pistons game?

[Heyo]

(That was who the teams were, right? I know it was the Pistons)

What was it that started the whole thing?

I saw a big confusing melee, I saw quite a few people landing some massive blows. I saw the chair come in from somewhere off screen, right side.

I saw that one particular fan rush up to one Pistons(?) player with raised fist about to hit him, but then he hesitated for a second, and then got CLOCKED.

What was it that set the whole deal off, and what was it about?

Was the game called with almost a minute left on the clock or something? I didn't really cach any explanation but I thought I saw that on the crawl at the bottom of the screen.

:shrug:

Heyo

[GOPisEvil]

1. I think what set the fight off was a beer thrown at Ron Artest

while he was laying on the scorers table.

[Guaranteed]

2. Yes, everything had settled down between Artest and Wallace...

And Artest was actually being very good. He was making a deliberate effort to avoid a fight.

Then the fan through a beer at him, and he charged. Fucked that guy up. Another fan came in, and at this point a number of Pacers players were in the stands helping Artest, and he threw another beer on Artest. One of the other Pacers players knocked the shit out of that guy. At this point it was a massive brawl.

There were a number of ridiculous incidents with the fans continuously provoking more violence over and over after that, and, yes, the game was called with about 45 seconds left and the teams left the floor with about twenty fans throwing all kinds of shit at the Pacers players as they left.

[GOPisEvil]

3. That was insane.

Just freaking insane. I understand that players generally need to be above the fray, but physical assault is another matter altogether.

Just sad. This was a fan-initiated event.

[MayJuly4]

15. Buy a TV

Every channel is replaying the scene 20x's per hour!

[bkcc]

4. Long story.

Ron Artest (Pacers) fouled Ben Wallace (Pistons) with about 45 seconds left in the game. Wallace took exception to the foul and shoved Artest...HARD. A fight between the two teams ensued.

As the situation was dying down, Artest was laying on the scorer's table, trying to stay out of the fight. At that point, a fan threw a cup full of ice that hit Artest in the chest. He freaked out and ran into the crowd after the fan. He hit the fan, someone tackled him, a teammate ran to his defense, puches were thrown, and then all hell broke loose.

By the time the teams were leaving the arena, it looked like a full-blown riot.

[Heyo]

5. I just caught...

.. a detailed rundown just now on on TV...

I did see the initial incident, the hard foul between Artest and Wallace, and then pretty much what you said.. all hell broke loose..

Jeepers H. Crackers.. what a mess...

fans on the court.. players in the stands.. everybody kicking each others ass... even security personnel taking shots to the grill.

It seems though, from what I gathered, that nobody was seriously injured...

Seems like mob mentality kicked in, and everyone wanted to get a lick in so they could tell their friends "I was in the big hoo-hah at the Pistons game.. look at me on TV"

Can't we all just get along?. :shrug:

Heyo

on edit: I'm a dork.

[bkcc]

7. I think you're right.

Once mob mentality took over, everyone wanted to get in a shot.

The people who really pissed me off were the fans standing over the entrance to the locker rooms, pelting the players/coaches with food and drink.

[Heyo]

13. Clearly

Quote bkcc: "The people who really pissed me off were the fans standing over the entrance to the locker rooms, pelting the players/coaches with food and drink."

There was NO REASON for that disgraceful behavior...

I wonder what those people would say if the were asked to answer for that behaviour.

I guess it's just dumb stuff people do...

I can sympathize with the urge to want to hit somebody back if you get socked... not that it is always the best option, per se.. but that is something I can at lest understand and relate to..

To see a big melee that has that has nothing to do with you, and run over there and start more shit is foolish and irresponsible..

There could be a situation that still has the potential to calm down and not get really control... but then there will be that ONE thing that pushes it over the edge... that ONE single small cup or drink thrown among all the others that are thrown, that just *happens* to hit the wrong person, who then snaps and goes off on somebody.. who is also the *wrong* person to mess with..etc.. and you're off to the races...

It all depends on which domino gets knocked over...

:dunce:

Now that I've said my piece..... lets on pile on somebody and kick their ass! Who's with me?!

:bounce:

Heyo

[CornField]

14. That's insane!

Have you ever priced nachos and a coke at a national game?

[bkcc]

16. That's the funniest thing I've heard about the incident.

:D

[gristy]

6. It would seem a zero-tolerance policy is needed

Throwing a cup of ice at a player in an NBA game would certainly classify as assault. The so-called "fan" should have been arrested on the spot, thrown in jail for the night, arraigned on charges the next day, and brought to trial in due time. If this is not done, you get what happened last night.

[name not needed]

8. Gun toting, nascar driving Jesus appeared and started throwing peanuts

at the ref :P

[SnowGoose]

9. It's just a little hint of the tension present in the American psyche.

Or maybe I'm just seeing things through my own perspective, but I know my temper has been much shorter lately. I don't think I'm the only one.

I expect to see more of this in the coming months.

I hope I'm wrong.

[TeddyKGB]

10. Worst human being in the NBA went into the stands, city blamed

That's pretty much it. People defending Artest (as if the guy needs defending) are going off their prejudices about Detroit.

Yeah, I said it.

[Northern Experiment]

11. Yep, pretty much.

I just do not buy into that "Artest was laying there trying to stay out the of fight" thought.
He was clearly trying provoke Ben Wallace. He was being an ass as usual. The fan threw a cup at Artest. Yes it was wrong. But he knows damn well you don't GO INTO THE CROWD. I'm sorry, dude just isn't innocent in this incident.

[fameless]

12. No...

The foul was a hard foul. There was really nothing wrong with it. You can throw your accusations whereever you want to, but do not look past your frustrated starting center, Ben Wallace. There was no need for him to rush Artest and hit him in the face. It was low class and he's an idiot who started this.

As well, I hate Artest and fault him as well, but he was laying on the table staying out of the altercation. The feeble minded fans that were there are too blame more than anyone. It was disgusting.

The fans who came onto the court after Artest came out of the stands? What the hell were they thinking? They come on the court, they are open to the consequences. Those consequences just happened to be punches from Artest and O'Neal.

Agree or not, it was the worst moment in basketball history. Completely disgusting. I fault Wallace, the fans and Artest in that order.