Eric Smith covers the Raptors as the NBA analyst for the FAN 590 radio in Toronto. He hosts the FAN's pre, half, and post-game shows during Raptor broadcasts, "Hoops" - the FAN's weekly NBA show, simulcast on Raptors NBA TV and the point-couterpoint show, Double Dribble with Paul Jones weekly on Raptors NBA TV.

by Eric Smith
--raptors.commentator
November 22, 2004

TORONTO -- With the Raptors playing the Sonics this past Friday, I didn't have a chance to see the game between the Pistons and Pacers. In fact, I only got wind of the 'incident' as I was signing off the air on the FAN 590 around 11pm.

From there, I was heading up the road to Global TV to do a segment on the station's sportscast at 11:30pm. That's when I first found out about the true seriousness of the happenings in Detroit.

I saw first-hand - in one of the editing suites - the unedited footage of the melee. From Ben Wallace's initial reaction to Ron Artest's hard foul, to the shower of beer and pop raining down on Jermaine O'Neal as he left the floor, I saw it all.

Wallace and Artest exchange words as the incident began Friday night. (Ron Turenne/NBAE/Getty Images)

And I was disgusted.

Did Wallace overreact to Artest's hard foul? Absolutely. But I've seen players go after opponents many times in the past. I - like all of you - have seen punches thrown and elbows sharpened on a number of occasions in NBA history.

Whether its Chris Childs and Kobe Bryant going toe-to-toe a few seasons back, or Kermit Washington and Rudy Tomjanovich squaring off in one of the ugliest moments since the league's inception.

But this was the ugliest. Nothing can (and hopefully nothing ever will) compare to the severity of NBA players entering the stands to confront local fans. Nor can we compare anything in NBA history with the images of O'Neal sucker-punching an unsuspecting fan with a running roundhouse. If he hadn't have slipped, I can only imagine the kind of damage O'Neal would have done to that fan.

On Global that night, I guessed that Artest, O'Neal, and Stephen Jackson would each receive a 20-game suspension, minimum. Yet upon further review - later that night - and into the day Saturday, I was convinced that all three should be suspended for the year (including the playoffs).

While none of Artest's actions can be condoned, I do recognize the fact that he was provoked. Though he should have had greater control of his emotions, Artest was provoked when that fan's beverage hit him in the chest.

The same cannot be said regarding O'Neal and Jackson. O'Neal went after some of the Pistons' faithful on his own. Nobody was coming after him. He later attempted to enter the stands as well - near the tunnel - well after the initial ruckus had broken out. As for Jackson, he was just as quick as Artest to enter the stands - and he was not defending his teammate. He was immediately throwing haymakers, and taking on anyone he could get his hands on.

Thus, Jackson and O'Neal, in my eyes, deserved to be punished just as hard. Their lack of control was worse than Artest's.

Apparently, the league didn't think so.

On Sunday evening, the NBA announced their decision: 30 games for Jackson, 25 games for O'Neal, six for Wallace, and the rest of the season for Artest!

While two of the four got off light in my books, I credit the Association for acting quickly and issuing punishment without any apparent bias.

"The penalties issued today deal only with one aspect of this incident -- that of player misconduct," said NBA Commissioner David Stern. "The actions of the players involved wildly exceeded the professionalism and self-control that should fairly be expected from NBA players."

Former Pacer and current Raptors' coach Sam Mitchell agreed that the NBA had to take action against the players.

Sam Mitchell knows the players have to stay on the floor no matter what the circumstances. (NBAE/Getty Images)

"As players we're told regardless of what happens on the court you can't go into the stands. You just can't do it," he said. "Do I think the fans have to share some of the blame? Yeah. But as professionals ... you cannot go into the stands."

Stern's ruling could easily put an end to what was supposed to be a big year for the Pacers' organization. Though the NBA's Players Association will surely appeal the ruling, it's hard to imagine that any of the suspensions will be significantly lessened (O'Neal's agent - Arn Tellem - plans an appeal on behalf of his client as well). As a result, Indiana will lose three-fifths of their starting line up until almost February! The Pacers lose their top three scorers as well.

"I'm just embarrassed for our league and I'm disappointed in being part of this and having young people see that," said Pistons' coach Larry Brown on Friday night.

There's no doubt in my mind that this ordeal is far from over. From fans' lawsuits against the players, to players' lawsuits against the Pistons organization and the Palace of Auburn Hills, this black eye on the NBA will likely be settled IN the court instead of ON the court.

And that's probably a good thing. While you don't want to turn your back on what has happened, it's best to move on - and focus on the game itself again. Basketball is still the greatest sport in the world with an intimate setting of close quarters between players and fans. It's the fans that matter most in the end.

"The fan is the number one thing because players come and go," said Raptors' forward Jalen Rose. "There's going to be an NBA without all of those guys (Jackson, O'Neal, Artest, etc.); there's going to be an NBA without Jalen Rose. But you still want that fan to come back."