There has been so much media coverage about the brawl last Friday at the Pacers-Pistons game, my 2 cents hardly matters, but let me go on record as saying that I was appalled at the episode, I am appalled at the media coverage, I am appalled at the number of times I've seen it replayed, I'm appalled at the countless references to how it parallels to our society ... and I applaud the commissioner's suspension of Ron Artest for the rest of the season.
Yes its harsh! Yes its unprecedented! But so was the act. So has Artest's behavior since he's been in the NBA. I am tired of headcases being tolerated, because they have talent. I thought Jackson's actions were worse than Artest! He wasn't provoked and came out slugging.
Yes, Stern's ruling is part damage control. He has a BIG problem on his hands. This sports has lost the luster he's work so hard to create. This event could revebarate for longer than anyone would care to admit. The level of play in general is bad. The Olympics debacle underscored that. The Kobe Bryant thing. About the only things that has gone well recently was the dethroning of the Lakers by Detroit last year. The NBA hasn't had this feeling that anyone could win it all this year (well almost anybody), since Michael Jordan retired from the Bulls. I love this game, but something has gotta change.
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