When Sports Goes REALLY Bad
Last night there was a riot in Detroit. I can think of no other word to describe what happened at the Pistons/Pacers game. Fans attacked athletes, athletes went into the stands after fans, security couldn't control the melee. It was a nightmare.
I'm a sports fan. I root for the Pistons. I was overjoyed that the Pistons beat the Lakers for the Championship last year. Until last night, I would have used the word "character" in a positive way to describe the Pistons team. But his morning, I am shocked and embarrased.
Ironically, in watching the early part of the game, my son Jon said to me that the Pistons have such great fans. I replied that they led the league in attendance last year and agreed that they benefit from fan support. Then....the incident took place.
The Detroit Pistons and the Indiana Pacers play in the same division. They met in the playoffs last year and the Pistons won a competitive series. (In large measure, due to the "block" of Reggie Millers lay-in by Tayshun Prince, but I digress.) There is the usual competitive fire between the teams. But, bear in mind that Rasheed Wallace and Jermaine O'Neill are former teammates and go out to dinner together. There is no reason for hatred here; its a GAME!
So, we come to last night's game. The Pacers dominated from the outset, despite being wracked by injuries. Ron Artest had a monster first quarter and the Pistons seemed lacking in spirit. At half-time, Artest (not the most stable person in the world, lampooned in the media for his rap album and general stupidity) is interviewed and complains about not getting the foul calls under the basket. The Pistons trail by as many as twenty. In the third quarter the Pistons climb back to within five. Then, in the fourth quarter, the Pacers hit a three, get a turnover and hit another three. Pretty much "game over."
Just under 46 seconds to go, Ben Wallace of the Pistons goes up for a basket. Artest fouls him. A hard foul? Maybe, but well within the scope of basketball. Wallace puts his hand on Artest's face and pushes him. The players are separated and Artest walks away. He lays down. (I would hear that he lay down on the scorer's table, but I don't recall that.) At any rate, a "fan" (a psycho with a ticket) throws a full cup of beverage at Artest at point blank range. Artest is incensed and goes into the stands after the fan. Stephen Jackson, also of the Pacers, follows Artest into the stands. Players punch fans, fans punch players, no one is able to separate them. I mean, this is a full-blown riot. Cups and bottles and even chairs are raining down from all over the Palace. Artest is finally pulled out and returns to the court. Then, another "fan" is able to walk up to Artest on the floor and begins shouting at him. Artest punchs him in the face, knocking him down. The psycho bounces back up and Jermaine O'Neill punchs him. Security tries to escort the Pacers off the floor, but it just keeps going on. People are leaning over to pour stuff on the Pacers even as they are trying to leave. There was no rationality to be found.
It could have been worse....much worse. No one was stabbed or shot. But it was frightening display, none the less. I don't know how sports is going to handle this. Our animal instincts were on full display last night.