[Indy_Ref]

I am from Indiana...and I am a Pacers fan...so, I wanted to get that out of the way first. However, I am NOT a fan of the NBA. I simply cannot stand the league...or their so-called game!

Here are my opinions:

Artest: Got what he deserved. This was bound to happen sooner or later. He has a good heart, but he also has a screw loose and needs psychiatric help. NO PLAYER should ever leave the court no matter what!!!! He better pray that no criminal charges are filed against him.

Jackson: Got what he deserved...even if he was trying to help defend his teammate.

O'Neal: Got shafted! He never left the freaking floor with the intent on fighting. He did all his "damage" while protecting himself ON THE FLOOR.

Johnson: Got shafted! He too never left the floor! He only tried to defend his teammate in front of their own bench!

Wallace: Made out like a bandit! His incitement of the crowd...the situation...and his OVER-reaction from a common foul...started the whole fracas. HOW DOES THIS GUY ONLY GET 6 GAMES!?!?!?!?!?!? What about the foul he gave Artest a few plays earlier on the Pacers end of the court? Artest, to his credit, did nothing.

Detroit Security: So woeful that not even words can describe how bad they were. I think I read that there were only 8 uniformed policemen in the Palace?? (Maybe enough for a small college D-I game!) Their biggest concern seemed to be trying to threaten the Pacers players with pepper spray. Gentlemen, what about the several hundred out of control fans that you don't seem to be paying attention to!?!?!?!?!

Detroit Pistons Team: Made out like bandits! The one opponent who is the biggest threat to their Eastern Conference Title will now be severly under-manned for the remainder of the year.

Detroit Pistons Organization: They should incur huge fines & several lawsuits from this mess.

NBA: Brace yourselves for the coming lawsuits!

Officials: Exonerated! What else could they have done? Perhaps Garretson & Donaghy could have come in a bit sooner to try to get players separated...but I think they did about all they could do. I don't blame them ONE BIT!