NBA Announces Suspensions
Commissioner David Stern announced the suspensions resulting from the brawl in Friday night's game between Detroit and Indiana. RON ARTEST 72 games, STEPHEN JACKSON 30 games, and JERMAINE O'NEAL 25 games were the big ones. BEN WALLACE received 6 games for his role in instigating the melee.

The suspensions were tough. In this situation though, I think you have to error on the side of toughness. As commissioner, Stern could not go light on this. The entire country, not just sports fans, were looking to see how the NBA would react and they did the right thing.

The Indiana Pacers are hurting. They are without about 70% of their scoring for the next 25 games. It will be tough for them to make the playoffs, but they are not completely out of it

As for Artest, he is a psycho. He needs help. He alluded to retiring after this season. He now will have plenty of time to contemplate his future.

This situation reflects society. We live in a violent culture. Many people would have reacted the same way that Artest did when getting hit with a water bottle. That does not make it right. People often throw out the analogy "what if you got hit with a beer on the street, would you go after the guy". This wasn't on the street. If you were on the street and somebody yelled "hey you suck, your mother is a whore" you probably would go after them, but if you are on a professional stage you don't go after the person.

The fans in Detroit did act like a bunch of jackasses. That can't be lost in this all either. Just as "players don't go into the stands" is a rule "fans don't throw things on the field/court" is just as important. Anybody who throws something on the field is a moron.

Again, a lot of people may have reacted in a manner similar to Artest. That does not make it right. He is a professional athlete and should act in that manner. He should be above brawling with fans. As a player, if you ever jaw with a fan or go in the stands after a fan, you lost your cool and it is on you. Artest cost himself about 5.5 million, his team a chance at a championship, and the sport of basketball a black eye.