Fighting everywhere

In March, Vancouver Canuck Todd Bertuzzi sucker-punched some guy who had put a cheap shot on his teammate. In September, Texas Ranger Frank Francisco threw a chair into the stands hitting fans. In October former-Yankees Jeff Nelson and Karim Garcia settled assault and battery charges steming from their fight in the bullpen during the 2003 playoff series between NY and Boston. It was last sunday, the 14th of November, when William Green (noted for being stabbed by his baby's mama) and Joey Porter (who's missed games for a gun-shot wound) threw punches before the Browns-Steelers game. This was the background for the Pacers-Pistons game on friday night, the 19th. After Piston Ben Wallace shoved Pacer Ron Artest after a foul, there was a scuffle between the players which appeared to settle down. Artest, while lying on the scorer's table, was hit with some object thrown from the crowd. Artest immediately charged the crowd, followed by teammate Stephen Jackson. Artest slammed some fan to the ground and chaos ensued, with players in the stands and fans on the court. But the physical exchanges between the players and fans was crazy. The NBA bosts the best atheletes in the world and these guys were throwing big, valuable hands at fan's faces. The wildest was Pacer Jermaine O'Neal's sliding punch to some Piston fan who was on the court. Very accurate and athletic move by O'Neal. But when the following day, yesterday, a fight breaks out during the 4th quarter of the South Carolina-Clemson game, it does make you take note.

There have been increasing conflicts between players and fans (and between players and players) over the last several years. The increasing tension in this country is going to spill out somehow. As they say, there's no justice like mob justice. It will be interesting and scary to see just how things proceed.