I once read a quote from a certain Charles (either Oakley or Barkley) saying that NBA players could get into a fight every night if they wanted to. The play is that physical, the fans that confrontational. And so I guess, for the most part, they don't want to fight.
I can understand that. Why, after working your entire life to reach the dream of playing in the NBA, would you risk physical injury or suspension that would jeopardize the fruits of labor required to be among the top one percent of one percent at what you do?
For Ron Artest, who was suspended for the rest of year by NBA commissioner David Stern, it was because a fan chucked a cup of beer at him. That was enough to scratch an entire year from his NBA life. As we know, professional sporting careers have a limited lifespan, and Artest cost himself a full year because he needed to protect his manhood.
There are no winners coming out of Friday's fracas. Isn't it the way it always works? There will be more fights, in bars and at stadiums, that are fueled by alcohol, and there still won't be any winners. There will be injuries and scars, suspensions and jail time, but there will be nothing but losers.
It isn't surprising that the cups flying in Detroit were filled not with soda or water, but rather beer. Not surprising that the aggressive fans were men. Sad and pathetic, dangerous and cowardly, but not surprising. This is our live sporting culture, one fueled by alcohol and mob violence, and we'll see more scenes like Friday night in Detroit until teams hire enough security to offset beer sales, and until fans recognize their responsibility to help said security, by pointing out infractions that endanger viewing enjoyment, if not physical well-being.
Other Weekend Sports Takes:
• The Pistons obviously banked some significant coin on beer sales Friday night. They could do worse than donate that money to a good cause, as a reward for those who did imbibe and didn't embarrass themselves.
• Now, if I may laugh a bit at this, I ain't fucking with the Pacers in a dark alley anytime soon. Artest dusted that innocent Steve Bartman lookalike in about .42 seconds. It was like he disappeared down a Mr. Spacely escape hatch. Then they just crushed that fat blob who was carrying the most deadly of weapons, a towel. If there's anything funnier than a macho chunkmonster getting flattened it's ... Jamaal Tinsley brandishing a metal dustpan over his head. When shit gets tight, he goes straight to the janitor's closet. Obviously, one of the most unintentionally funny moments in sports history. EA Sports has got to add a "get a dustpan" cheat code for NBA Live 2006.
• I went to Giants Stadium and a game of Madden 2004 broke out! Yep, I was there Sunday to see the dawn of Eli Manning's career and the end of the Giants' season. I picked up a couple of below-face seats high in the end zone, so my perspective of the game was just like in Madden. Not only that, but some of the stadium music was the same as in the game, the Giants forgot about their wide receivers (just like I do) and I swear Michael Vick performed exactly the same. He'd turn the corner easily for 15 yards a pop. I've posted some pictures from the game, but none of the late third-down penalty that may have been the worst I've ever seen live at a football game.
• Shared by PK.com reader Art, this comment from Steelers owner Dan Rooney on what his father would think about the current NFL culture: : "I don't think he's be too thrilled about what's going on today," said Dan Rooney who has run the Steelers since his father's death. "I can remember him telling me, 'You'll rue the day you take all the money from the networks. It won't be our game as much anymore. It'll be their game.' He even told us late in his life that it would be OK if we ever decided to sell the team. He reminded us we weren't big money people."
Today's Sports Links:
• Can't Stand for It — Peter Vecsey's take on the brawl. "Anyone who tuned into ESPN with 45.9 seconds remaining in the Pacers' persuasive 15-point victory must've thought the Vibe Awards had broken out."
• Blame it on Dumb View of Respect — Mitch Albom on lengths the Pistons, Pacers and fans went to because they felt disrespected.
• How Syracuse Can Muddy Utah's Status — According to this article, if Pittsburgh (+4) can upset West Virginia at home Thursday and Syracuse (+10) can upset Boston College on the road Saturday, then the Orange will prevail in a four-way, first-place tie for the Big East's BCS slot. I haven't been able to confirm this elsewhere, either because it's not true or, more likely, Syracuse has no chance to actually beat a team better than Rutgers.
• College Football's 10 Best Helmets — An interesting, if completely subjective, list by SI.com. For a look at all helmets, pro and college, current and past, visited the remarkably complete Helmet Project.
• Gammons: Projecting 500-HR Guys — Toward the end of this column, Peter Gammons runs down active MLB players projected to reach 500 career home runs. Barry Bonds with 918? I don't think so. Jim Thome (now 34) with 644? Could happen with five more good years. Also of significant interest, projected 2005 stats for this winter's free-agent batters.
• Mark Cuban Fined for Blogging — It was bound to happen, the Mavs' owner writes, and it did. (Thanks, Shumpy)
• SI Writers Pick Their Sportsmen of the Year — About 40 columns dedicated to the magazine's biggest honor. I have a feeling I'm not gonna like the selection, though I guess there's an outside chance that Barry Bonds could finally get one, or that perhaps he'll share it with Roger Clemens as an over-40 salute.
• SI.com's Hot Stove Analysis — Quick takes on free-agent signings. Sure to pick up in the coming months, so keep it bookmarked.
• Tentative 2005 Yankees Schedule — The official sked has not been released but a superfan pieced together a schedule, with some holes, based on tentative schedules already released by other teams. Cubs at Yankee Stadium from June 17-19 is a must-go, as is at least one more weekend trip to Baltimore.
Paul,
I think the Clemson / South Carolina brawl was even worse than the Pistons / Pacers brawl mainly because it was colligate. I think both Tubberville & Holtz are both outstanding coaches and for this to happen on Holtz’s last game is a disgrace to both programs and shows a lack of respect for the coaching staff, especially the head coaches, which in the colligate ranks you’re suppose to admire like a father figure. (Paterno, Bryant, Osborne, Fry, Bowden, Hayes, Dye, Schembechler….I could go one and on. These men demanded respect!)
Watching that brawl, then thinking of my Cornhuskers getting into like that made me very upset. I’d like to think that could never happen at Nebraska, however for the second year in a row we did take out students from the opposing teams. Last year, the kid from Mizzu got knocked out, this year the Hillbilly from OU lost his teeth. Oh well…
Those fuckers shouldn’t be on the field anyway!!!
Now as far as the Pacers, Pistons. I blame Artest 100% ALL THE WAY!!!! Like I’ve always said, “Once you give it away, you never get it back” The NBA has given it away.
Isn’t Artest the guy who wanted to get time off from the Pacers so he could go on the road and promote his new RAP CD? I think this is a set-up that got out of hand. Artest wanted to get suspended... that’s my opinion. And since he’s uneducated and a non rational thinker, instead of walking off the court in disgust when he was hit with the “plastic cup” he charged the stands as did the rest of the uneducated non rational thinkers on the Pacers. That’s the NBA’s biggest problem…the players are just plain stupid!
Fans will always be fans, drunken obnoxious fuck-ups.
In my opinion, players who leave the field of play to charge the stands should be suspended for the season. Unless of course the players wife or family is being assaulted by drunken fans, then it’s a free for all.
And also in my opinion, both Clemson & USC should be “AWARDED” a loss for their stupidity.
Posted by Tequila Dave at November 22, 2004 7:40 AM