Pistons/Pacers update

The NBA put Ben Wallace, Stephen Jackson, Ron Artest, and Jermaine O'Neal on indefinite suspension, pending further investigation.

I think they should quit selling beer after half time, and increase security. At least remove that first row of seats or something.

should be thrown out of the NBA for life.

If you had someone throw a beer on you, and retaliated, would you be thrown out of your career? Let's say you're a professional. How about a doctor?

So, you're a doctor of surgery. You just finished a rough shift, and got in a big argument with another doctor. As the argument was finishing up, someone walking by comes up and throws a beer in your face. If you retaliate, should your medical license be lifted?

These aren't Doctors who save lives and agree to a code of Ethics.

These are overpaid sports figures, who, whether they like it or not, have to act like leaders in the community.

The person who initially threw the beer/water/soda/whatever was wrong. Terribly wrong.

But it was liquid. It didn't deserve the type of reaction that it got.

The whole thing is really sad. It was sad when the liquid was thrown. But it got even sadder when people who should be acting like leaders didn't.

You? In reality, they're underpaid, because the league has a salary cap. Without that artificial limit, the players could make much, much more. Free market and all that.

As far as acting like leaders, no, they don't have to act like leaders. It's nice when they do (my favourite team, the Spurs, rarely have problems like this), but they don't have to.

The situation as a whole needs to be analysed. There were a lot of mitigating circumstances surrounding everyone's behaviour. Just kicking people out of the league is a wild overreaction.

As to the analogy, you've said that the players are supposed to act like leaders, but the analogy isn't any good? Fine, pick another profession that makes a lot of money. Should this behaviour result in someone in another profession, such as a lawyer, losing their career permanently?

Athletes are held to an amazing double standard, I find. They're overpaid, but have to be leaders. They're professionals with contracts whose profession is controlled by a monopoly, but they can and should be 'fired' for various infractions, a 'firing' that would in reality result in a loss of millions and a life's career.

Yep. I said it. And I believe it. That would be my opinion.

You are right. There's no law that says they have to act like leaders.

None.

But since they didn't, "the market" will take care of it.

I am neither a lawyer nor a doctor, but if I ever treated my customer like that in my work setting, I would be out on the street in nothing flat.

Again, it was a terrible thing all the way around.

threw beer on you, would you be expected to just sit there and take it?

And would you be prevented from ever getting a job in your career field again, or just that company? See, there aren't a lot of NBAs out there. It's a monopoly.

You have every right to run up to them and punch them in the face.

And while you're at it, you have every right to drag a bunch of other co-workers into it, too. Flailing punches at anyone you think has "dissed you".


Meanwhile, back in reality...

I really don't think a court will uphold as a recourse punching someone in the face after one has received a Diet Pepsi shower.

But hey, it might just be me!

he didn't drag anybody else into it. I'm discussing only Artest here. I think the one who should get the most punishment is actually Stephen Jackson, who leapt into the stands unprovoked and started flailing his fists around.

But, yes, the courts would quite likely accept fighting back as a defense. There's this little thing called "mitigating circumstances".

What level of provocation is required before one is allowed to defend oneself?

It sounds like you have it all figured out, then.

Good.

Someone needs to be on top of these things.

;-)

Those select fans need to be blamed as well.

One of the sports casters were like there could be possible law suits by the fans who were involved.

WHY? They chose to get involved in a situation that they should've never been involved in. They're just as guilty in my book.

Rony actually tried to chill this time....

is that the people who need to be held accountable - the fans - won't be.

Big time.

The news says the police are all over this thing.