Once again, I have to be lazy and agree with Eugene.
As far as the NBA's ruling goes:
The events at last night’s game were shocking, repulsive and inexcusable -- a humiliation for everyone associated with the NBA. This demonstrates why our players must not enter the stands whatever the provocation or poisonous behavior of people attending the games. Our investigation is ongoing and I expect it to be completed by tomorrow evening.
Well put. Still, I think the fans must be held somewhat accountable for their behaviour and while the NBA is naturally going to be concerned with punishing their players, some of those fans should not have the privilege of attending an NBA game for a little while.
Indiana players Ron Artest, Stephen Jackson and Jermaine O’Neal are suspended indefinitely, the length to be determined upon completion of the investigation.
I think that's fair. The Pacers were clearly provoked, but it would set an ugly standard if the NBA didn't hand down some punishment for entering the stands and punching fans. Automatic penalties basically guarantee that those guys wouldn't go unpunished, no matter how justified or unjustified their actions may seem to the rest of us looking in.
Detroit player Ben Wallace is suspended indefinitely, the length to be determined upon completion of the investigation.
I also think this is fair, given that his reaction was out of line and far too aggressive, he proceeded to throw a towel at Artest and the fact that this was the event that triggered the whole incident. He probably won't get the largest penalty when the duration of all the suspensions are decided, but I'd be very surprised and somewhat disappointed if it was only one game. If Brad Miller can be suspended one game for having a punch thrown at him, Wallace deserves a little more than that.
Review of rules and procedures relating to altercations and security have been undertaken so that fans can continue to attend our games unthreatened by events such as the ones that occurred last night.
This too is fair enough and a good decision, but as the Players Association will probably argue, the players also need to feel unthreatened and the fans should be held accountable for their actions. There's fault on both sides here. Consider the fans who made their way onto the court to confront Pacer players. In the normal case, a fan coming onto the court uninvited is grounds for immediate ejection.
On SportsCenter last night, they brought up the fact that the longest suspension for a non-drug related incident was Latrell Sprewell's suspension in 97/98 for choking PJ Carliesimo (68 games, reduced from two years and the termination of his contract, which the Warriors had to honour until they traded him to New York).
With such an incident as the precedent, does anyone think that there is a chance the NBA will hand out a similar penalty for the Pacers who entered the stands?
