<p>I am a die-hard Pistons fan, so I may be biased, but I don't think that Artest can reasonably justify running into the stands. As a role model (well, Idk about this one) to kids, as well as a multimillionaire, he has certain behavioral standards to uphold. A fan threw a plastic cup at him. For this, he should get a fine, and he'll have a misdemeanor on his record. However, it is egregiously irresponsible for Ron Artest to run into the stands and attack (and the wrong person at that). Absolutely, he was impassioned and angry. But that is never an excuse for exacting physical violence. He assaulted multiple fans, and in my view he should be charged with felony assault and battery, as should Jermaine O'neal for cold****ing that fan out of nowhere. Ben Wallace was wrong to push him, and his suspension will be deserved, but what Artest did was absolutely unconscionable.</p>
<p>Breaking News!</p>
<p>A Detroit television station (WDIV-TV) reported that Pacers forward Ron Artest will be suspended for 30 games while teammates Jermaine O'Neal and Stephen Jackson will sit out 20 games apiece. The station said Pistons center Ben Wallace will serve a five-game suspension.</p>
<p>Serves them right. Hopefully the Cavaliers can take over first place now.</p>
<p>wrong. Ron Artest will NOT play this ENTIRE year. Stephen Jackson will miss 30 games, Jermaine O'Neal 25, Ben Wallace six and Anthony Johnson five. Four others received one-game suspensions and fines.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.espn.com%5B/url%5D">www.espn.com</a></p>
<p>I'm glad I'm wrong.</p>
<p>Well, at least now Artest will have the time off he asked for to promote his rap album.</p>
<p>Daaaaaaangggggggg</p>
<p>The NBA suspended Indiana Pacers forward Ron Artest for the entire season along with two of his teammates for at least 25 games following the Friday night fracas at the Palace of Auburn Hills. </p>
<p>Pistons forward Ben Wallace also was hit Sunday evening with a six-game suspension. </p>
<p>The penalties issued today deal only with one aspect of this incident that of player misconduct, NBA Commissioner David Stern said in a news release Sunday. There are other issues that the NBA must urgently focus on at this time. First, we must redefine bounds of acceptable conduct for fans attending our games and resolve to permanently exclude those who overstep those bounds. </p>
<p>Suspended players are not paid, and cannot practice or sit on the bench during games. </p>
<p>While this is really horrible to the Pacers' chances for a decent season, nobody can question that something drastic was needed to address this incident. After viewing film of the altercation, I Artest was right to be angry but crossed the line the moment he leaped up into the stands and started swinging. The fan who threw that drink should have been escorted out by security and then perhaps arrested. Artest however, should never have lost his cool in the first place, especially since he's a major superstar in the NBA and, whether he likes it or not, a role model. Stern's harsh punishment was not justice so much as it was a harsh declaration that the NBA will not tolerate this behavior in any way. Hopefully security will be beefed up and the fans will be calmed down (eliminate alcohol sales?) so this won't happen again.</p>
<p>In no way will they eliminate alcohol sales. Alcohol brings in $$$$$$ revenue.</p>
<p>I think that Artest deserves it because this isn't his first time to be in trouble with the NBA. I'd say that one more screw up and he will be kicked out of the league forever.</p>
<p>Artest will be missing 73 games I believe, I saw it on ESPN</p>
<p>will he miss the playoffs too?</p>
<p>honestly now, do you really think the Pacers are going to make the playoffs in their current state?</p>
<p>No way the Pacer's will make the playoffs without Artest (and O'neil and Jackson who will miss 1/2 the season), and no Artest cannot play in the playoffs.</p>
<p>Also, Artest deserves his punishment. There is a fine boundary between the fans and the players, and when you cross it, you not only put your life in danger but those of innocent bystanders as well. Artest is a professional player who should have showed more restraint.</p>
<p>LOL..... </p>
<p>"Asked how he explained the situation to his children, Artest said: "They don't really know what happened." </p>
<p>Meanwhile, Artest is promoting his record label, Truwarier, and said that with his other career endeavors he was trying to make his life more positive. </p>
<p>"Having a record company and putting out my own CD. There's clothes and shoes. There's also an upcoming book deal that I'm trying to do," he said. </p>
<p>"I'm trying to be positive. I'm a big fan of the Nobel Peace Prize." </p>
<p><a href="http://www.nzherald.co.nz/latestnewsstory.cfm?storyID=361310%5B/url%5D">http://www.nzherald.co.nz/latestnewsstory.cfm?storyID=361310</a> 4&thesection=sport&thesubsecti on=latest </p>
<p>Ron Artest for the Nobel Peace Prize? Now he has lost it!</p>
<p>With all the new revelations concerning steroids, what will this controversy inflict on the world of professional sports? </p>
<p>I for one think that it won't really affect the fans too much; we've all kind of accepted steroids as commonplace in professional sports whether we support it or not. Hopefully this will motivate more stringent drug testing though.</p>