Put yourself in Artest's shoes
We're finding out more about the lowlife Pistons fan who provoked Ron Artest to enter the stands in Detroit over the weekend.
John Green is a Pistons season-ticket holder whose criminal history includes multiple DUIs, felony assault with intent to do great bodily harm and carrying a concealed weapon in addition to other convictions. He went on Good Morning America this morning and described himself as a respected businessman and family man. He said he wasn't drinking Friday night. If I were a betting man, I'd say he's full of you-know-what.
I'm so tired of jagoffs like this who think drinking to the point of intoxication is an excuse to get away with anything and not be held accountable for their actions. And lawyers who think it's OK to defend their carelessness.
"We have no comment on who threw the cup, it's irrelevant," Green's attorney, Shawn Smith, said. He added that fans shouldn't throw things, "but is it a criminal offense? I don't think so."
This jagoff threw a partially filled beverage cup at Artest with the intent to injure him. How is it that that should not be considered a criminal offense? Then he grabbed Artest from behind and sucker-punched him. He's got to be among several fans charged with assault, along with the not yet identified guy who threw the chair, the fans who went down on the court to challenge players and the guy who was wailing on Fred Jones. Unfortunately, as SI's Lester Munson explains, Artest and his teammates will have their feet held to the fire while Green "has no liability either criminally or civilly."
As far as Artest's actions are concerned, I don't agree with all of these people saying he's to blame for the melee. An on-court scuffle between players is one thing...it happens from time to time and has nothing to do with the fans. It was Green's cup toss that sparked the potentially dangerous situation. What would you do if some drunk guy threw something at you that struck you in the chest? Sure, two wrongs don't make a right, but how can you let someone get away with trying to hurt you? Point the finger at Green more so than Artest, who reacted the same way many would. Basketball games and life in general would be a lot better without the John Greens of the world acting careless and wreaking havoc.
John Green is a Pistons season-ticket holder whose criminal history includes multiple DUIs, felony assault with intent to do great bodily harm and carrying a concealed weapon in addition to other convictions. He went on Good Morning America this morning and described himself as a respected businessman and family man. He said he wasn't drinking Friday night. If I were a betting man, I'd say he's full of you-know-what.
I'm so tired of jagoffs like this who think drinking to the point of intoxication is an excuse to get away with anything and not be held accountable for their actions. And lawyers who think it's OK to defend their carelessness.
"We have no comment on who threw the cup, it's irrelevant," Green's attorney, Shawn Smith, said. He added that fans shouldn't throw things, "but is it a criminal offense? I don't think so."
This jagoff threw a partially filled beverage cup at Artest with the intent to injure him. How is it that that should not be considered a criminal offense? Then he grabbed Artest from behind and sucker-punched him. He's got to be among several fans charged with assault, along with the not yet identified guy who threw the chair, the fans who went down on the court to challenge players and the guy who was wailing on Fred Jones. Unfortunately, as SI's Lester Munson explains, Artest and his teammates will have their feet held to the fire while Green "has no liability either criminally or civilly."
As far as Artest's actions are concerned, I don't agree with all of these people saying he's to blame for the melee. An on-court scuffle between players is one thing...it happens from time to time and has nothing to do with the fans. It was Green's cup toss that sparked the potentially dangerous situation. What would you do if some drunk guy threw something at you that struck you in the chest? Sure, two wrongs don't make a right, but how can you let someone get away with trying to hurt you? Point the finger at Green more so than Artest, who reacted the same way many would. Basketball games and life in general would be a lot better without the John Greens of the world acting careless and wreaking havoc.
4 Comments:
The Detroit Free Press has a story that may provide more insight into Mr. Green.
But in any case, even if I put myself in Ron Artest's shoes, there has to be a line. Players cannot go into the stands. Fans cannot be allowed on the field (nevermind the seating plan for premium on-field Barcaloungers).
Stadium security should be beefed up and Oakland County should feel free to prosecute everyone involved in the fisticuffs. You can't turn athletic events into the neighborhood bar brawl.
Does anyone think that maybe Artest was looking for something just like this to happen? With a brand new CD to promote, I'm sure playing basketball would only get in the way. Wasn't he put on a 2 game, team suspension a couple of weeks ago? During his "Today" interview, he didn't seem too heart-broken, in fact, he was probably happy because he got to promote his new CD. He's a punk, just like the majority of the NBA, that seem to care less about anyone or anything around them....unless they've been disrespected. On to the Piston fans....and drunken fans in general. Not suprised at all that while attending a BB game in Detroit a riot broke out. How about a Sunday night game at Paul Brown Stadium? Sit in the upper deck and enjoy the show. Bengals fan vs Bengals fan...beer being spilled and thrown...threats of bodily harm...it was great. Sounds like a fun filled family event....hey honey how about a football game, let's bring the kids! Sorry buddy didn't mean to spill beer on your kid....sorry lady that elbow was for someone else.
Oh well, it makes it much easier to convince the wife to get a big screen tv and subscribe to the NFL Sunday
ticket. Anyone for some World Cup Soccer? Later.
C'mon. Artest is a thug. Most of the NBA are no-class, uneducated thugs. Fan base is declining in the NBA and this will accelerate the decline. Bye-bye million dollar thugs. Good riddance.
Green and Artest share equal blame. They are both losers. As the other blogger said, Artest comes from a long line of thugs in the ranks of the NBA now. My opinion is this is not just exclusive to basketball. Look what happened at the Clemson-South Carolina game the very next day. Why? I point to bad coaches who care more about winning than they do about teacher the players to have some integrity, self-respect and discipline. Look at all the OSU football players who have been arrested and convicted, and we aren't just talking about minor drinking offenses either. The OSU coach could care less, as long as he gets his National Championship. All this is why I rue the people who are calling for Penn State's Joe Paterno to step down, just b/c he's had about four losing season (out of 39, mind you). These players would rather play at OSU than at PSU, where they know JoePa is going to haul them to class, make sure they graduate and teach them how to conduct themselves on and off the field. You don't see PSU players do these self-congratulating jigs in the end zone everytime they score. And you don't see them behaving like animals when a play doesn't go their way (note to Chad Johnson). All these athletes need to grow up and learn how to conduct themselves. And these coaches need to look past winning and see the bigger important picture of teaching players good sportsmanship.
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