[rotationslim]

I know of no one on this thread... or anywhere for that matter that has ever said the fans were justified in what they did. They were drunk idiots who did something really stupid. The fans were wrong, and hopefully will be charged.

Credit should go to almost all fans not directly involved in brawl, who did not "riot" but moved out and let situation difuse quickly.

Now that is out of the way, can we stop the justifying how the player reacted?

I, and you, are wronged every day of our lives, from the dude cutting us off on the freeway to the jerk down the hall that steals my ideas and passes them off the our boss as his own. It is a fact of life, you can not escape it. However the rules of civilized society says you can not just haul off and hit whoever has wronged you. It is just not acceptable, and in fact illegal. That is what Artest did, an illegal act. Punching another person in non-self defense is illegal. (The self defense argument does not stand up in any way, as he was in no danger whatsoever, surrounded by a quick reacting security force)

And this whole "disrespect" argument is just absurd. Do we live in a land of thugs and gang-bangers. It is clear if you don't respect yourself, than any cross look will be looked at as "disrespect" and worthy of a violent reaction. People disrespect me all the time, but guess what, I don't hit them. I have a little respect for myself, so I am not reliant on that macho caveman attitude.

Bottom line, fan way out of line, and should, and apperantly will be charged. Artest more out of line by pummelling wrong guy, and should, and hopefully will be charged as well. Local prosecutor says all charges will be misdemeanor, except fan who threw chair who faces a felony.

FYI- latest from the Motor City, Pacers players have declined to come up and answer questions about brawl, extradition is likely. I hope it happens, even multi-millionaires shouldn't have the right to thumb their noses at the law.