THat game was a messed up one. The Fans are the Fans.... F*^k they don't care about the opposing players. Just because the fans become offensive don't mean an athlete should go and try to bring his ass down. What does that say about Sportsmanship?? Fans throwing objects (especially those beer cups) at opposing players is nothing new to the professional sports. Well, if someone needs more explanation in this issue then it's advisable to follow Yanks and the RED SOx games next season. We can all tell that Artest was more than anxious to knock out someone after Big Ben Wallace intimidated him physically. You bet if it was Hamilton, Artest would have beaten the hell out of Him right there on the court. Yet, Wallace was almost an impossible opponent to confront. WHy would he confront him?? same as saying why would he get his own ass beaten right in front of so many fans (including the TV watchers)? And what can be a better opportunity to pour his frustaions than someone throwing a beer cup on his face??? We can alll tell why Artest erupted so badly?? And to me that's very unprofessional and unsportsmanship like conduct. Sooner or later Artest should have learnt a lesson. Hopefully, he will learn something out of this. As of fans, its stupid enough to throw stuffs at the athletes on the floor. Verbal confrontation is okie but challenge the athletes physically... that's beyond limitations. I am sure even if Artest and company hadn't confronted the fans (the stupid ones) security would have definitely done thier job. There wasn't much time for the security personnels to react since Artest immediately jumped on to the seats... so one shouldn't raise questions about security! All the players and their respective professional organizations should realize (I bet most of them do) that it's the fans who fill their pockets. Not the other way around. The athletes should have much more tolerance towards fans offensve activities than the ordinary people. Physical confrontation is never good. One shouldn't go bite a mad dog just because the dog did so. That will make him inferior than the dog itself. Just as Artest or Wallace.. the fans were pumped up also. While thier home team was losing so disappointingly, Artest provoked the fans (silly ones) to throw stuffs at him by laying on the scorer's table. What was he thinking??? Of course those stupid fans will like to throw stuffs at him... well they were also trying to pour their frustrations. The issues on the court are resolved on the court in NBA and in any other professional sports. Wallace was out of control. HE was gonna get thrown out of the game anyways. Artest couldn't maintain his cool amongst the circumstances (I understand his emotions at that point... maybe I would have done the same). But that doesn't make him innocent. He forgot what he was and where he was. So he payed the ultimate penalty. Too me most of those suspensions look too small given the dimensionality of that brawl. Some of usthink Wallace should have been suspended more?? I ask why?? Yeah, he started the altercation. But, altercations amongst athletes are nothing new. There had been plenty of evidences where athletes fought on the court and got suspended. Wallace is suspened for comparingly the same amount of time as were other athletes. THe recent one is of course A-ROD VS VAritek... how many games did each of them get suspended?? about 5-8. Now, people don't tell me this is not basketball!!! I am just using an analogy here. CRIMINAL charges are far from over. I won't be surprised if some of the fans and the athletes involved in that brawl find themselves in the prison in the coming months. THis incidence had disappinted biilions of basketball fans. Especially the younger ones. How many of them got scared?? I like Artest as a basketball player. His Hussels, defensive as well as offensive skills are fun to watch. Until now, he was hero in the eyes of many many basketball fans. see.. what he earned for himself now?? Forget about some $5.4 million he is not gonna earn this season from the Pacers, his image... it will take a long time for him to make it. By the way weren't he talking about Retirement!!!!!!!! .. NO... Artest shouldn't give up. He should come back and become an Example for the rest of the league. GO CELTICS JAi Nepal