I completely disagree. this season had all the buddings of a great season. all the top teams had star power with several games having scores in the hundreds. you cant tell me that the last dynasty we had with shaq and kobe has ever had a real answer for it except maybe outside chance bulls team with pippen/jordan/rodman. you have to think in terms of physique and power. the skills take a back seat.Journeyman said:
how is the NBA a joke general?! I dont understand the bad mouthing and finger pointing. more kids wearing NBA jersys than ever the contracts are bigger than ever in the 80's you couldnt even get the NBA package. how is 2004 basketball not leaps and bounds better?
so its ok for kermit to blind side rudy T and nearly kill him those were the golden days but if ron artest wants to defend himself it makes the leauge a joke?!
everyone is spoiled by extensive media coverage of a great game
so its ok for kermit to blind side rudy T and nearly kill him those were the golden days but if ron artest wants to defend himself it makes the leauge a joke?!
everyone is spoiled by extensive media coverage of a great game
NBA takes hard line against Pacers, Artest (gone for year)
Nov. 21, 2004
SportsLine.com wire reports
NEW YORK -- Ron Artest was suspended for the rest of the season Sunday as the NBA came down hard on three members of the Indiana Pacers for fighting with fans when a melee broke out at the end of a game at the Detroit Pistons.
Overall, nine players from the teams were banned for 143 games, including some of the harshest penalties the league ever issued. Artest is the first player to be suspended for nearly an entire season for a fight during a game.
"The message the league sent was so powerful to players that they'll never do that again," Pistons CEO Tom Wilson said.
Indiana's Stephen Jackson was suspended for 30 games and Jermaine O'Neal for 25. Detroit's Ben Wallace -- whose shove of Artest after a foul led to the five-minute fracas -- drew a six-game ban, while Pacers guard Anthony Johnson got five games.
"I'm sick about that for Indiana. I'm devastated for them," Pistons coach Larry Brown said. "And we lost our heart and soul."
Four players were suspended for a game apiece: Indiana's Reggie Miller, and Detroit's Chauncey Billups, Elden Campbell and Derrick Coleman.
All of the suspensions are without pay.
Artest, O'Neal and Jackson -- who all threw punches at fans in the stands or on the court at the end of the nationally televised Pacers-Pistons game Friday night -- began serving their suspensions Saturday. Indiana, limited to just six players because of the suspensions and injuries, dropped an 86-83 decision to Orlando.
"The actions of the players involved wildly exceeded the professionalism and self-control that should fairly be expected from NBA players," NBA commissioner David Stern said in a statement, adding that the league must not "allow our sport to be debased by what seem to be declining expectations."
The NBA also has to "redefine the bounds of acceptable conduct for fans attending our games and resolve to permanently exclude those who overstep those bounds," Stern said.
He added that security procedures in all NBA arenas will be reviewed and rules need to be added to prevent a repeat of what happened at Auburn Hills, Mich., on Friday.
For Sunday night's home game against the Charlotte Bobcats -- Detroit's first outing since the melee -- the Pistons doubled the number of armed police to about 20 in the arena and increased other arena security personnel by about 25 percent.
AP News
Nov. 21, 2004
SportsLine.com wire reports
NEW YORK -- Ron Artest was suspended for the rest of the season Sunday as the NBA came down hard on three members of the Indiana Pacers for fighting with fans when a melee broke out at the end of a game at the Detroit Pistons.
Overall, nine players from the teams were banned for 143 games, including some of the harshest penalties the league ever issued. Artest is the first player to be suspended for nearly an entire season for a fight during a game.
"The message the league sent was so powerful to players that they'll never do that again," Pistons CEO Tom Wilson said.
Indiana's Stephen Jackson was suspended for 30 games and Jermaine O'Neal for 25. Detroit's Ben Wallace -- whose shove of Artest after a foul led to the five-minute fracas -- drew a six-game ban, while Pacers guard Anthony Johnson got five games.
"I'm sick about that for Indiana. I'm devastated for them," Pistons coach Larry Brown said. "And we lost our heart and soul."
Four players were suspended for a game apiece: Indiana's Reggie Miller, and Detroit's Chauncey Billups, Elden Campbell and Derrick Coleman.
All of the suspensions are without pay.
Artest, O'Neal and Jackson -- who all threw punches at fans in the stands or on the court at the end of the nationally televised Pacers-Pistons game Friday night -- began serving their suspensions Saturday. Indiana, limited to just six players because of the suspensions and injuries, dropped an 86-83 decision to Orlando.
"The actions of the players involved wildly exceeded the professionalism and self-control that should fairly be expected from NBA players," NBA commissioner David Stern said in a statement, adding that the league must not "allow our sport to be debased by what seem to be declining expectations."
The NBA also has to "redefine the bounds of acceptable conduct for fans attending our games and resolve to permanently exclude those who overstep those bounds," Stern said.
He added that security procedures in all NBA arenas will be reviewed and rules need to be added to prevent a repeat of what happened at Auburn Hills, Mich., on Friday.
For Sunday night's home game against the Charlotte Bobcats -- Detroit's first outing since the melee -- the Pistons doubled the number of armed police to about 20 in the arena and increased other arena security personnel by about 25 percent.
AP News
If these assclowns can't act like role models, or at least obey the law and shut their dropout mouth, then I'm glad the commish stepped in and did the right thing.
As for all the jock-sniffers ... do you girls really think that you would even have a job after you pulled a stunt like this and attacked your clients?
No, of course not.
Anyway, we'll be back here in reality-ville when/if you come up for air.
As for all the jock-sniffers ... do you girls really think that you would even have a job after you pulled a stunt like this and attacked your clients?
No, of course not.
Anyway, we'll be back here in reality-ville when/if you come up for air.
but how is it unfair, he a PLAYER went INTO the STANDS and punched a fan. A FAN. Not a Player, a Fan. Had it been a player, the suspension would be much smaller, a fan, is not to be touched. Just like the fan will never see an NBA game in Detroit in his life again, Artest should serve the suspension.
fair enough. youre right on target when you say its in a decline. thats why its a tough pill for a passionate fan like myself to swallow. I really felt like things were looking up, but thats the way it is. time to adjust and not cry over what could have been.The General said:
I grew up with the game in the late 80's and early 90's. its absolute peak. everyone loved the NBA. I just want to see it come back like that. I guess its not meant to be. carry on men.
I was hoping for a lifetime suspension for Artest...he broke the Golden Rule of NOT GOING INTO THE STANDS. That poor guy who used to sit behind the visitors bench at the Bullets (Wizards) games would have been killed if players back in the days went after him...as a player you have to take the chit from the fans (both good and bad), it's called being a PROFESSIONAL Athlete...you are PAID BY THE FANS to play a game and provide entertainment....w/o the fans, there is no game
the speed and power are much increased now. I just think we saw a period where game play had to adjust to that and it was finnaly starting to smooth out. I thought this season was looking great. prior to the melee you had 5 teams on each side with great star power scoring in the hundreds. great dunks great plays it was slowly making the late 70's to mid 80's transition all over again. just my opinion though. maybe it wasnt, just looked on the up for a momentJourneyman said:
