Blast from the past: the Pistons - Pacers brawl

[TarHeelNation11]

I had almost forgotten about this thing until I came across something today that reminded me of it. So naturally, instead of working, I had to go watch it on YouTube. I'm glad the NBA keeps its controversial stuff up on the interwebz, unlike MLB who is the most clandestine sports league ever when it comes to video. You cannot find ANY controversial MLB video on the web; they must employ an army of web crawlers.

Anyway, I've posted two links for this. The first one is much better quality and is shorter. I'd recommend that one. I included the second, poorer quality one because I find it laughably hilarious (but not at all surprising) how Stephen A Smith and Tim Legler and Jon Saunders (gross) sternly and steadfastly side with the players and rip the fans. LOLOL okay, Ron Artest and/or Steven Jackson (who may be crazier than Ron Artest) could have literally killed one of those fans with those punches, especially Jackson's punch. You're talking about jacked, enraged 6'6"+ elite athletes fighting several drunk, fat, short fans. **Note, jump ahead to the 8:13 mark on the second video to get to the beginning of the ESPN panel discussion**

But yeah. I just wanted to post this because 1). it's awesome to watch. 2). the ESPN PC spin and very, very thinly-veiled reverse racism against white fans vs. black players caught my attention. This was back in 2003 and I honestly thought ESPN was way less PC back then, compared to now. But it seems like they were back then too.

Primary version -- better picture quality.

Alternate version -- poor picture quality

 

[outkast g]

sup scotty

 

[JuleZ '02 HEEL]

That was ugly. How crazy that Sheed was more or less playing a peacekeeper role.

 

[Hark_The_Sound_2010]

Not to hijack the thread - but I was thinking that maybe the thing that reminded you of this was the Rangers-Blue Jays brawl from this weekend?

How awesome was that, by the way? Finally a scuffle in sports (well, other than hockey) that included some actual punches landing. As opposed to the slap fights in football (OBJ/Norman) and basketball (Carmelo and KG waiting for each other by the team buses but making sure there were 100 other people there who would get in their way).

Bautista said "Gonna take a bigger man than that to knock me down". Ah ok, buddy - Odor straight up stuck him, and if he didn't start staggering backwards - I'm guessing Odor's second punch woulda knocked him out.

 

[gunslingerdick]

I know there were some pretty funny early gifs that ended up coming out because of that.

 

[TarHeelNation11]

That was ugly. How crazy that Sheed was more or less playing a peacekeeper role.

I thought that too.

Not to hijack the thread - but I was thinking that maybe the thing that reminded you of this was the Rangers-Blue Jays brawl from this weekend?

Actually that wasn't it, not directly. I was looking for video of the incident when the two bozos jumped the Royals first base coach and then preceded to get the sh*t beat out of them by players. But like I said, MLB keeps tight wraps on stuff like that.

How awesome was that, by the way? Finally a scuffle in sports (well, other than hockey) that included some actual punches landing. As opposed to the slap fights in football (OBJ/Norman) and basketball (Carmelo and KG waiting for each other by the team buses but making sure there were 100 other people there who would get in their way).

Totally agree. I know PC sports pundits and also league commissioners will disagree, but sports needs more of this. It's fun and no one really gets seriously injured. In a world where these athletes -- especially in baseball -- make absolutely ridiculous sums of money, it's nice to see events like this to show that 1). they give a darn, and 2). they're human.

 

[GACMAN]

Couple of things:

You are crazy to mess with Ben Wallace....that dude would have killed someone given the opportunity.

Al Harrington and Jermaine O'Neal think they are going to take on the whole crowd....should have let them go and seen what happened. I can be tough as hell with security and 5 coaches holding me back!!!!

Never liked Ron Artest and still don't!!!!

 

[TarHeelNation11]

Anyone get to the ESPN panel commentary yet? I'm interested on your thoughts.

 

[TarHeelNation11]

LOL those Pacers dudes lost. their. damn. minds. They went FULL rage and lost all sense of professionalism and just sense of anything. I'm on the second video, go to the 7:00 mark and watch for like half a minute. Someone on the Pacers named Tinsley is trying to get into the crowd after Artest and Jackson go in. Some assistant coach or arena official in a red/salmon shirt is trying his best to hold him back. Tinsley turns around and basically throws the guy (who could be one of his coaches!!) to the ground so he can shake him off and get into the melee. Just crazy,

 

[coolwaterunc]

That was probably the most embarrassing moment in sports history. Not saying it isn't entertaining to watch, though. Thank God I wasn't a father taking his son to the game on that night. Would have scarred the kid for life.

 

[TarHeelNation11]

That was probably the most embarrassing moment in sports history. Not saying it isn't entertaining to watch, though. Thank God I wasn't a father taking his son to the game on that night. Would have scarred the kid for life.

Cool, think about what you just said. For you to have been there with your son would've required three things:

1. For you to live in the upper Midwest (shudders)
2. For you to have left your house
3. For you to have a kid

Those all sound very un-coolwaterunc like. Now, if that game had been at J-Mike's..........it's 50-50

 

[Hark_The_Sound_2010]

Cool, think about what you just said. For you to have been there with your son would've required three things:

1. For you to live in the upper Midwest (shudders)
2. For you to have left your house
3. For you to have a kid

Those all sound very un-coolwaterunc like. Now, if that game had been at J-Mike's..........it's 50-50

Would have had to have been Crystal Pepsi giveaway night at the Palace...

 

[HeelFan58]

I thought that too.


Actually that wasn't it, not directly. I was looking for video of the incident when the two bozos jumped the Royals first base coach and then preceded to get the sh*t beat out of them by players. But like I said, MLB keeps tight wraps on stuff like that.


Totally agree. I know PC sports pundits and also league commissioners will disagree, but sports needs more of this. It's fun and no one really gets seriously injured. In a world where these athletes -- especially in baseball -- make absolutely ridiculous sums of money, it's nice to see events like this to show that 1). they give a darn, and 2). they're human.

Rudy Tomjanovich says hi.

 

[coolwaterunc]

Cool, think about what you just said. For you to have been there with your son would've required three things:

1. For you to live in the upper Midwest (shudders)
2. For you to have left your house
3. For you to have a kid

Those all sound very un-coolwaterunc like. Now, if that game had been at J-Mike's..........it's 50-50

Well, I mean, I was 18 at the time, so how do you know I didn't get some at a young age and became a father? How do you know I'm not some hardcore Pistons fan and decided to fly in for a game with my son? Don't assume.

 

[TarHeelNation11]

Well, I mean, I was 18 at the time, so how do you know I didn't get some at a young age and became a father? How do you know I'm not some hardcore Pistons fan and decided to fly in for a game with my son? Don't assume.

Now I feel like an asshole. A box of Froot Loops on me.

 

[TarHeelNation11]

Rudy Tomjanovich says hi.

Touché.

 

[Blue2010]

...from that to Mr. World Peace. Ah, the irony.