Ron Artest

[JRutledge]

Originally posted by zebraman
Getting wet and getting pounded do not equate. Self defense from liquid refreshments has never been tried by any lawyer that I've heard of. Everyone involved deserves punishment. The beer throwers deserve punishment, but certainly not permanent impairment or death from blows. The players who left the floor deserve punishment. The fans who came onto the floor deserve punishment. I know someone personally who died from a punch. A punch is in a totally different realm from tossing beer. You are right in that it is lucky that nobody got killed or hurt seriously. In that case, Artest would not just be in jeopardy of assault, but possibly murder.

Z

So what is your point Z?

I never advocated violence or condoned it. I just said I understood the playerÂ’s actions. I have not any sympathy for the position of the fans that threw things. The original altercation was on the floor, not with the fans. If no one threw anything, Artest does not come into the stands. It is that simple. Now if someone died (which they did not) or got hurt seriously (which they did not) then we can talk about that. All I have said from the beginning is I understood why they acted the way they did. Maybe people throwing something at you would never provoke you to take action, but it would for me or several other people I know. Especially if someone threw something at me or folks I know. And I am not talking about thugs or people that like to fight or constantly get in trouble with the law either. I know if I threw something at someone, I would expect them to react with physical violence against me. That is why I would not throw anything at someone. Maybe you would take someone dumping liquid on you (no matter what that liquid might be), but I would not without doing something about it. If it led to a physical altercation, it just might lead to that. This is all I am saying. I am not asking you to agree or disagree. I am just sharing my personal point of view and I do not care if you or others agree with that point of view. I did not say it to have you agree with my point of view. I said what I said just to make a personal point. Take it or leave it.

Peace