Bill Walton on the Detroit Melee and its Aftermath
Posted by SBG on Tuesday, November 23rd, 2004 at 9:20 am
Here's what the big fella had to say about the incredible riot that occurred in Detroit on Friday night.
NBA games are played for the fans, and for the fans only. It has nothing to do with the players. I cannot imagine a scenario that would come up that would cause a player to go into the stands and attack the fans. NBA Commissioner David Stern was just too nice, and the penalties he handed out � a season long suspension for Ron Artest and long-term suspensions for Stephen Jackson and Jermaine O�Neal, among others � were inappropriately lenient.
Bill is known to use hyperbole on occasion to make a point. In this case, he's calling for termination some of the players involved. That's a little harsh, but there is no doubting that this incident raises a lot of questions about the relationship between athletes and fans. Stick and Ball Guy has been thinking about this relationship for some time. More to come later.
Loading ...
I was appalled by the actions of the players! A day ago I saw a player (who had nothing to do with the thing) say that the fans are invited into his house to watch him play! INVITED INTO HIS HOUSE??????? I thought that the fans PAID to get into a place that they more then likely PAID for. These overpaid a**holes should get a real job so they can feed there familes. I am sick of all the chest pounding and displays when they score a TD or make a basket or get a hit, THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE PAID TO DO! I think that the fans should forget about the pros and go to a college game or a minor league game and have a good time. Let the pros make some more bad rap cd's-- that is what the world really needs.
Dad --
This is in no way to defend the action of those players, but those "fans" were completely out of control. Since when does paying for a ticket to a game give you the right to act like a lunatic? These "fans" were rioting. It was a bad deal all the way around.
I once went to a baseball game in Kansas City and a fan threw a liquor bottle at Jose Canseco. Yeah, Jose was a jerk, blah, blah, blah, but that guy could have really hurt him. I also went to a game in Wrigley where a fan dumped a full beer on Barry Bonds as he was against the wall in left field to make a catch of a ball in play! People who go to games and act like that are just as culpable, if not more so, than the players. Most players do not react to that hooliganism.
S&BG -- I wasn't sticking up for those few drunks in the stands, of course they are just as much to blame, however those fans should be kicked out of the building as any drunk is kicked out of a building if they are raising hell,no matter WHAT the players should NEVER leave the floor and go into the stands!!! Your talk about someone getting hurt, what chance does a out of shape fan (man, woman, child, it appears that the players didn't get a shit who they hit) against a muscle bound wild man! Look at the damage done to the NBA by a couple of thugs! And what is Artest doing??? Going to talk shows and promoting his dumb CD! And now some NFL players are wearing his jersey durning practise in support of him. Really am sick of the whole thing, think I will only watch womens' beach volleyball! ha