Basket-brawl
From Mary Snow
CNN
Despite the fallout from Friday's basketball brawl between the Pacers, Pistons and fans -- the Pacers are standing behind their players who threw the punches, including Ron Artest.
"We are standing behind him 100 percent," says Larry Bird, president of basketball operations for the Pacers.
Some were surprised that Artest, who ran into the stands after unruly fans, was suspended for the rest of the season.
"No matter what happens it's not worth running up into the stands and knocking someone out ... I didn't think they were gonna be out for the entire season," says Kobe Bryant of the L.A. Lakers.
Former NBA star Charles Barkley told CNN he's not defending Artest but, "If somebody hits you with an object you should beat the hell out of them."
The NBA has had its share of black eyes.
In 1997, Latrell Sprewell choked a coach. He was suspended for 68 games.
In 1977, Kermit Washington broke the jaw of Rudy Tomjanovich and was suspended for 26 games. In an interview two years ago, he says he was branded for life with no hope of getting hired by the NBA.
Friday night's melee, though, was unprecedented. And some say the way players are treated plays a part.
"Players who have been coddled since early on in their youth, since they showed a spark of athletic ability, have not learned how to act, in many cases, in a civilized, normal society. They think they are special and can get away with all sorts of things," says sports consultant Mark Ganis.
While many applaud NBA Commissioner David Stern's tough stance, there are calls to punish the fans and crack down on drinking at the games.
Jon Wertheim, a Sports Illustrated writer, says, "There are a lot of beer containers for a game in the blowout stages with a few seconds left in the game. I think what really needs to be addressed is alcohol consumption."
