The National Basketbrawl Association gets Stern
The NBA has handed out suspensions to nine players involved in the fracas in Detroit Friday night, including suspending Ron Artest for the remainder of the season. The more times I watched the video of the melee over the weekend, the more disgusting it became to realize that adults were behaving so childishly. And now the players' union has announced plans to appeal, claiming that the suspensions are too harsh. Ron Artest said, "I respect David Stern, but I don't think that he has been fair with me in this situation."
You're right, Ron. You should be subject to a lifetime ban. Jermaine O'Neal got off easy too. He should be out for the season.
The ugliness that was the NBA Friday night needs to be addressed comprehensively and prospectively. Here are three back-of-the-napkin proposals:
(1) Any player involved in a physical altercation with another player that results in punches being thrown should be out for the season. I know that tensions (and testosterone) run high during the game, and competitive juices are flowing. That's fine. But when you commit an act that, if done on the sidewalk outside the arena, would land you in jail, you've crossed the line from friendly competitor to criminal.
(2) Any player who goes into the stands and assaults a fan should be permanently banned from the league. Period, no questions, no gray areas, no "Steve Howe" type lifetime bans. The player has violated a trust. These guys get paid a lot of money -- to play a game! With the publicity will come some heckling from the fans, but that's no excuse to assault a spectator. You lose your right to earn a living in that profession when you assault a bystander.
(3) The fans behaved terribly at the game. Any fan who throws an object onto the floor or at a player should be permanently benned from the venue. Your money buys you a seat in the arena, not the right to endanger the players, officials, coaches, or other spectators. Each of these suggestions also includes criminal prosecution to the individual involved, player or fan.
The saddest part of the whole affair was seeing children at the game with stunned looks of surprise and horror on their faces. With the first player strike and owner lockout, most of us accepted that professional sports are a business. But the children still have enough innocence about them so that they see the game in its more pristine form, as a game, and the athletes are guys whose pictures are on cards the children collect. For the children in the arena Friday night, that innocence was shattered.
Commissioner Stern hasn't been fair with you, Ron? You behaved despicably in front of the world Friday night. You got off easy.
You're right, Ron. You should be subject to a lifetime ban. Jermaine O'Neal got off easy too. He should be out for the season.
The ugliness that was the NBA Friday night needs to be addressed comprehensively and prospectively. Here are three back-of-the-napkin proposals:
(1) Any player involved in a physical altercation with another player that results in punches being thrown should be out for the season. I know that tensions (and testosterone) run high during the game, and competitive juices are flowing. That's fine. But when you commit an act that, if done on the sidewalk outside the arena, would land you in jail, you've crossed the line from friendly competitor to criminal.
(2) Any player who goes into the stands and assaults a fan should be permanently banned from the league. Period, no questions, no gray areas, no "Steve Howe" type lifetime bans. The player has violated a trust. These guys get paid a lot of money -- to play a game! With the publicity will come some heckling from the fans, but that's no excuse to assault a spectator. You lose your right to earn a living in that profession when you assault a bystander.
(3) The fans behaved terribly at the game. Any fan who throws an object onto the floor or at a player should be permanently benned from the venue. Your money buys you a seat in the arena, not the right to endanger the players, officials, coaches, or other spectators. Each of these suggestions also includes criminal prosecution to the individual involved, player or fan.
The saddest part of the whole affair was seeing children at the game with stunned looks of surprise and horror on their faces. With the first player strike and owner lockout, most of us accepted that professional sports are a business. But the children still have enough innocence about them so that they see the game in its more pristine form, as a game, and the athletes are guys whose pictures are on cards the children collect. For the children in the arena Friday night, that innocence was shattered.
Commissioner Stern hasn't been fair with you, Ron? You behaved despicably in front of the world Friday night. You got off easy.
posted by Hal | 1:16 PM
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