Fans Behavior Must Be Brought In Line
By Marc J. Spears, BV Sports Columnist
NBA commissioner David Stern strongly stated that he won’t tolerate his players going in the stands to fight fans by suspending Indiana Pacers forward Ron Artest for the season without pay for his actions in a well-publicized recent brawl. Oakland County (Mich.) prosecutors also need to make a strong statement that unruly actions from fans won’t be tolerated by throwing the book at Detroit Pistons fan John Green, too.
The biggest news story across the nation is undoubtedly the fight that ensued between several Pacers, most notably Artest, and fans after a game against the Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills on Nov. 19. After being hit by a filled cup that landed on his chest while lying on the scorer’s table, Artest went into the crowd and hit a fan. Artest’s actions led to an ugly brawl in which players punched fans, fans punched players and Pacers were hit with drinks, popcorn, a chair and other debris. An ESPN television replay has shown that Green was the fan who tossed the cup. Oakland County prosecutor David Gorcyca said Green threw the cup at Artest, too.
"No fan should have the right to throw anything at a player on the court. I think that fan needs to be charged, arrested and incarcerated," said New Jersey Nets center Alonzo Mourning, before Green was identified.
Green also grabbed Artest from behind and punched him several times. Gorcyca added that Green was on probation for his third offense of driving under the influence. Green’s record also includes convictions for carrying a concealed weapon and check fraud.
While Green, 39, told reporters Monday that the fight was "awful" and "ugly," the father of two never admitted to tossing the cup. When Green’s attorney, Shawn Smith, was asked about Green throwing the cup, he responded, "Is it a criminal offense? I don’t think so."
But if it incited a riot, it SHOULD be a criminal offense. In large part due to Green’s toss, the ugliest incident in American sports occurred, fans were injured and crying, Artest is a household name for the wrong reasons, several poor-decision-making players have received various suspensions and have lost millions of dollars, Detroit and the NBA’s reputation got a black eye and even non-sports fans are talking about it. "I don’t go around breaking the law," Green said, "If they have found that I broke the law, I’ll pay the price."
Green needs to pay the price. Taking his season tickets away isn’t enough. Believe me, NBA players will now think twice about going into the stands due to the lost games and lost money. If Green goes behind bars, fans will think twice, too.
Marc J. Spears, 32, is the NBA writer for The Denver Post, a weekly sports radio guest and an NBA analyst.