Walton Buys Off Me
01-09-2005, 10:01 PM
Is the entire Indiana organization braindead?
Maybe he can put together another one of his infamous 'videotapes' and go back and watch this melee.
Pistons coaches blamed in brawl
In police report, the Pacers' Carlisle and his players also criticize lax security
By David Shepardson / The Detroit News
AUBURN HILLS -- Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle blamed Detroit Pistons coaches and lax security for the Nov. 19 brawl at the Palace, according to an 871-page police report of the incident obtained by The Detroit News.
Carlisle
"I think Detroit is very understaffed security wise, having been there for two years," Carlisle said in a Nov. 20 statement to an NBA security official. "This whole thing could have been prevented but the Detroit coaching staff did not get involved. They did not properly remove (Pistons forward) Ben (Wallace) from the floor. Ben threw his towel and that was the cue to start throwing things at Ron (Artest)."
Although Carlisle has publicly avoided criticizing the Pistons organization, for which he was head coach from 2001-03, his comments were among more than 60 statements by players, team officials and announcers included in the Auburn Hills police report. The report -- which has not been released publicly by police -- provides insight into the chaos surrounding one of the ugliest brawls in sports history.
Even leaving The Palace of Auburn Hills was a test for the Pacers, according to team trainer David Craig.
"The police escort we received in Detroit was the worst I have ever seen," Craig told NBA security. "Cars were cutting in between us, and anyone could have taken a potshot at us."
David Harrison, a Pacers player, told NBA security: "On the bus out of there, they told us to keep our heads down."
The NBA has not notified the Pistons of Carlisle's comments or concerns, said team spokesman Matt Dobek. He said that Carlisle never complained about security when he was the Pistons head coach.
"He never made that statement when he was here," said Dobek, who added that it was unfair to judge the team on a single incident.
Dobek was concerned on the night of the brawl, however.
"I was afraid someone might be killed," he told the NBA the next day. Dobek said Friday that he no longer feels that the situation was such a threat.
The Palace now has added more uniformed police near team benches.
Maybe he can put together another one of his infamous 'videotapes' and go back and watch this melee.
Pistons coaches blamed in brawl
In police report, the Pacers' Carlisle and his players also criticize lax security
By David Shepardson / The Detroit News
AUBURN HILLS -- Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle blamed Detroit Pistons coaches and lax security for the Nov. 19 brawl at the Palace, according to an 871-page police report of the incident obtained by The Detroit News.
Carlisle
"I think Detroit is very understaffed security wise, having been there for two years," Carlisle said in a Nov. 20 statement to an NBA security official. "This whole thing could have been prevented but the Detroit coaching staff did not get involved. They did not properly remove (Pistons forward) Ben (Wallace) from the floor. Ben threw his towel and that was the cue to start throwing things at Ron (Artest)."
Although Carlisle has publicly avoided criticizing the Pistons organization, for which he was head coach from 2001-03, his comments were among more than 60 statements by players, team officials and announcers included in the Auburn Hills police report. The report -- which has not been released publicly by police -- provides insight into the chaos surrounding one of the ugliest brawls in sports history.
Even leaving The Palace of Auburn Hills was a test for the Pacers, according to team trainer David Craig.
"The police escort we received in Detroit was the worst I have ever seen," Craig told NBA security. "Cars were cutting in between us, and anyone could have taken a potshot at us."
David Harrison, a Pacers player, told NBA security: "On the bus out of there, they told us to keep our heads down."
The NBA has not notified the Pistons of Carlisle's comments or concerns, said team spokesman Matt Dobek. He said that Carlisle never complained about security when he was the Pistons head coach.
"He never made that statement when he was here," said Dobek, who added that it was unfair to judge the team on a single incident.
Dobek was concerned on the night of the brawl, however.
"I was afraid someone might be killed," he told the NBA the next day. Dobek said Friday that he no longer feels that the situation was such a threat.
The Palace now has added more uniformed police near team benches.