So we now know the punishments. Artest? Gone for the season. O'Neal? 25 games. Jackson? 25 games. Wallace? 6 games.
I believe that Artest acted as we all would have, and that O'Neal did as well. Jackson? I am not too sure. But even though Artest acted in an understandably human fashion Stern was correct in punishing him like he did.
What about the fans though?
I don't hear any calls to limit beer sales, and I don't know how in the hell you can mouth off about the culture of disrespect without also talking about the culture of liquid courage.
I believe the best way to deal with the fans (short for "fanatics") in this case is not simply to ban them for life, but to take their photographs and purchase a full page ad in Sports Illustrated outing them for what they are. The person who threw the cup, Ben Wallace's brother--the one that drilled Fred Jones, the person that threw a chair off camera, take public pictures of all of them.
Shaming works.
Updated: Here is the chief culprit. The front page of today's Free Press has a mug shot. A self-employed contractor with long criminal record. He has been banned from the palace. I don't think that is enough.
Stern's punishment was outsized. There's no way.
Posted by: Cobb at November 23, 2004 12:12 PMGood punishment. Now Artest has the time to devote to his rap group.
Pay me millions and you can throw whatever you like at me.
Posted by: don at November 23, 2004 01:26 PMSo let me get this straight. If you are a millionaire and you commit a crime, your punishment should be based on your ability to pay, not based on the severity of the crime.
Artest made a rational decision not to confront Ben Wallace but a irrational one when he confronts the fan.I remenber when my son's were playing organize ball ,I always instill in them to think and not react,easier said than done.
Posted by: tootsie at November 23, 2004 09:25 AMtootsie