NBA Game Ends in Near Riot
I happened to click over to the end of the Pistons-Pacers game just as Ben Wallace started going at Ron Artest. A couple of minutes later, Ron Artest launched himself into the stands after a fan, and then all hell broke loose.
We'll be seeing this footage Zaprudered endlessly over the next week or so.
(AP Photo/Duane Burleson) Photo from ESPN.com
The game was called with 45 seconds left on the clock.
The ESPN Heads seemed to primarily blame the fans, implying (or stating outright) that Artest's actions were a reasonable reaction to a fan throwing a beer at him. I've got to disagree. Artest absolutely escalated the situation (as did Stephen Jackson) and should get a massive suspension. Throwing a beer and throwing a punch are not proportional actions. Not when the one throwing the punch is a 250 lb. professional athlete.
Somewhere there's an ABC executive down on his knees thanking God that Sportstalk Radio finally has something to talk about other than the Desperate Housewives promo.
Update:
Brendan Loy has a thorough roundup of news and reaction.