[kgruber]

I think it all boils down to to things a lack of class and a sense of entitlement. The drunk fans in the stands didn't have enough class to keep their fannies in their seats, no, they had to throw their beer and come out on the court showing no class. They have not been taught or shown by example that this isn't the way that you deal with things. Why did they do this? Because they paid $80/ticket to come and they feel like it is their right to be this way and their lack of class doesn't stop them.

The same class argument can be applied to the players. Many (certainly not all) NBA players don't have much class. Sure, many of them are millionaires but money doesn't equal class. Many NBA players grew up in the projects with little or no role models who taught them how to treat others with dignity and respect. Their only role models were other thugs and drug dealers and we all know what they taught them. Once the NBA star comes emerges, they have "made it" they are now the juice and they can act with impunity because they are millionaires and they are justified with just about any action, including clubbing fans at games.

Now when these low-class groups get together, add alcohol, competition, wrap music, loud speaker systems, yelling, screaming, and a sense of entitlement by both groups....POW....we wonder why this sort of thing doesn't happen more often.

As officials we are in the cross-hairs. Game management, anger management, and situation management become supremely important as the overall society's class degrades. All we can do is work on our games and be vigilent in dealing with the little parts of officiating so that things don't blow sky high.