boutons
11-20-2004, 04:42 AM
Pacers Battle Trash - Throwing Pistons Fans
November 20, 2004
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 4:13 a.m. ET
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) -- Players and fans exchanged
punches in the stands as an NBA game turned so ugly a
police investigation was necessary. Indiana's Ron Artest
and Stephen Jackson charged into the stands and fought with
fans in the final minute of their game against the Detroit
Pistons on Friday night, and the brawl forced an early end
to the Pacers' 97-82 win.
"I felt like I was fighting for my life out there,''
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. ``I'm sorry the game had
to end this way.''
Officials stopped the game with 45.9 seconds remaining
after pushing and shoving between the teams spilled into
the stands once fans got involved by throwing things at the
players near the scorer's table.
About three hours following the startling finish, Auburn
Hills police walked out of a television trailer with
videotapes gathered from various media outlets.
Officers interviewed witnesses at the arena in suburban
Detroit, and planned to talk to the players involved in the
melee.
"We'll put it all together, take it to the Oakland County
Prosecutors Office and have them review it and they'll
decide if there are any charges,'' Auburn Hills Deputy
Chief Jim Mynsberge said. ``I hope we can do it before
Thanksgiving.''
Mynsberge added: ``At this time, we don't have any
indication of major injuries.''
That's probably the only fortunate fact.
"There's no
place in the game for what went on with this incident,''
said Joe Dumars, the Pistons' president of basketball
operations. ``It was just an ugly scene.''
Detroit's Larry Brown, who started coaching in 1972 after
his playing career ended, said it was the ugliest thing he
had seen as a coach or player.
After several minutes of players fighting with fans in the
stands, a chair, beer, ice and popcorn were thrown at the
Pacers as they made their way to the locker room in one of
the scariest brawls in an NBA game.
It all started when Detroit's Ben Wallace went in for a
layup and was fouled hard by Artest from behind, and
escalated when Artest stormed into the stands after being
hit by a full cup.
After being fouled, Wallace wheeled around and pushed
Artest in the face. The benches emptied and punches were
thrown.
As the players continued shoving each other near center
court and coaches tried to restore order, Artest sprawled
out on his back on the scorer's table, looking relaxed.
Just when it appeared tempers had died down, Artest was
struck by a cup thrown from the stands and jumped up and
charged 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 in the melee and threw punches at
fans, who punched back at them.
Security personnel and ushers tried to break it up. Former
Pistons player Rick Mahorn, who was seated courtside as a
Detroit radio analyst, tried to stop the brawl in the
stands. Detroit's Rasheed Wallace and Indiana's David
Harrison were also in or near the stands trying to break up
the fights.
Later, a man in a Pistons jersey approached Artest on the
court, shouting at him. Artest punched him in the face,
knocking him to the floor. Artest was pulled away, and the
fan charged back. Teammate Jermaine O'Neal stepped in and
also punched the man in the face.
"The NBA is withholding comment until it can review the
incident,'' NBA spokesman Tim Frank said.
Players from both teams left the arena without comment.
Quentin Richardson of the Phoenix Suns watched the brawl on
television.
``I have never seen a fight like that in a game since I was
in high school,'' he said. ``Man, there are going to be
some lawsuits. You don't think some of those fans aren't
going to want some NBA money?''
Police prevented reporters from crossing the loading dock
to get to Indiana's locker room or the area where the
Pacers' bus was located.
``I'm just embarrassed for our league and disappointed for
our young people to see that,'' Brown said.
Artest has been involved in some bizarre situations, but
his latest antics topped them all.
Earlier this month, he was benched for two games for asking
Carlisle for time off because of a busy schedule that
included promoting a soon-to-be released rap album.
Artest also destroyed television monitors at Madison Square
Garden two years ago and missed the team flight to Game 6
of the Eastern Conference finals at Detroit last season.
Before the contest was stopped, Artest had quite a game and
the Pacers were dominating the defending NBA champions in
their first meeting since the Eastern Conference finals.
Artest scored 17 of his 24 points in the first quarter and
the Pacers led by 20 in the second. Detroit used a 9-0
outburst early in the fourth quarter to close within 82-77,
but couldn't get closer.
Indiana's next game is Saturday night at home against
Orlando, while Detroit hosts Charlotte on Sunday.
November 20, 2004
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 4:13 a.m. ET
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) -- Players and fans exchanged
punches in the stands as an NBA game turned so ugly a
police investigation was necessary. Indiana's Ron Artest
and Stephen Jackson charged into the stands and fought with
fans in the final minute of their game against the Detroit
Pistons on Friday night, and the brawl forced an early end
to the Pacers' 97-82 win.
"I felt like I was fighting for my life out there,''
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. ``I'm sorry the game had
to end this way.''
Officials stopped the game with 45.9 seconds remaining
after pushing and shoving between the teams spilled into
the stands once fans got involved by throwing things at the
players near the scorer's table.
About three hours following the startling finish, Auburn
Hills police walked out of a television trailer with
videotapes gathered from various media outlets.
Officers interviewed witnesses at the arena in suburban
Detroit, and planned to talk to the players involved in the
melee.
"We'll put it all together, take it to the Oakland County
Prosecutors Office and have them review it and they'll
decide if there are any charges,'' Auburn Hills Deputy
Chief Jim Mynsberge said. ``I hope we can do it before
Thanksgiving.''
Mynsberge added: ``At this time, we don't have any
indication of major injuries.''
That's probably the only fortunate fact.
"There's no
place in the game for what went on with this incident,''
said Joe Dumars, the Pistons' president of basketball
operations. ``It was just an ugly scene.''
Detroit's Larry Brown, who started coaching in 1972 after
his playing career ended, said it was the ugliest thing he
had seen as a coach or player.
After several minutes of players fighting with fans in the
stands, a chair, beer, ice and popcorn were thrown at the
Pacers as they made their way to the locker room in one of
the scariest brawls in an NBA game.
It all started when Detroit's Ben Wallace went in for a
layup and was fouled hard by Artest from behind, and
escalated when Artest stormed into the stands after being
hit by a full cup.
After being fouled, Wallace wheeled around and pushed
Artest in the face. The benches emptied and punches were
thrown.
As the players continued shoving each other near center
court and coaches tried to restore order, Artest sprawled
out on his back on the scorer's table, looking relaxed.
Just when it appeared tempers had died down, Artest was
struck by a cup thrown from the stands and jumped up and
charged 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 in the melee and threw punches at
fans, who punched back at them.
Security personnel and ushers tried to break it up. Former
Pistons player Rick Mahorn, who was seated courtside as a
Detroit radio analyst, tried to stop the brawl in the
stands. Detroit's Rasheed Wallace and Indiana's David
Harrison were also in or near the stands trying to break up
the fights.
Later, a man in a Pistons jersey approached Artest on the
court, shouting at him. Artest punched him in the face,
knocking him to the floor. Artest was pulled away, and the
fan charged back. Teammate Jermaine O'Neal stepped in and
also punched the man in the face.
"The NBA is withholding comment until it can review the
incident,'' NBA spokesman Tim Frank said.
Players from both teams left the arena without comment.
Quentin Richardson of the Phoenix Suns watched the brawl on
television.
``I have never seen a fight like that in a game since I was
in high school,'' he said. ``Man, there are going to be
some lawsuits. You don't think some of those fans aren't
going to want some NBA money?''
Police prevented reporters from crossing the loading dock
to get to Indiana's locker room or the area where the
Pacers' bus was located.
``I'm just embarrassed for our league and disappointed for
our young people to see that,'' Brown said.
Artest has been involved in some bizarre situations, but
his latest antics topped them all.
Earlier this month, he was benched for two games for asking
Carlisle for time off because of a busy schedule that
included promoting a soon-to-be released rap album.
Artest also destroyed television monitors at Madison Square
Garden two years ago and missed the team flight to Game 6
of the Eastern Conference finals at Detroit last season.
Before the contest was stopped, Artest had quite a game and
the Pacers were dominating the defending NBA champions in
their first meeting since the Eastern Conference finals.
Artest scored 17 of his 24 points in the first quarter and
the Pacers led by 20 in the second. Detroit used a 9-0
outburst early in the fourth quarter to close within 82-77,
but couldn't get closer.
Indiana's next game is Saturday night at home against
Orlando, while Detroit hosts Charlotte on Sunday.