10-year anniversary is November 19th...

[lakersrule]

Yeah I get it, but suspended for the FULL SEASON???

I agree. That was an extreme punishment.

 

[trojanfan12]

It's incredible that the hands of time have no effect on my feelings about the situation.

The NBA was suffering from Jordan withdrawal in the mid-2000's. Detroit was simply a bigger market than Indianapolis and Ben Wallace was a more-marketable player than anyone on the Pacers, especially with Reggie being well past his prime. There was simply more media upside with him being in the Finals.

Even Shaq has voiced his frustrations with the league (also in 2004):

Shaq curses on TV (uncensored) - YouTube

It's the same reason why $tern installed this ridiculous best-of-seven first round format, and the same reason why the league suspended Jerry Stackhouse (another one of my boys) for a critical Finals game in 2006 for a hard foul - There was simply more marketing upside with Shaq (everyone and their mother's favorite name-recognition player at the time) and flash-and-dash Wade hoisting the trophy than there was for an erratic and temperamental Stackhouse or a soft European Dirk.

While I agree that RonRon was punished unfairly, Jordan withdrawal?!? Really?!? By the time the brawl happened, he had already retired (twice) and the league was doing just fine with stars like Shaq, Kobe, D-Wade and Vince Carter (to name a few).

The NBA expanded the playoffs to 7 games in each round for the exact same reason they increased the number of teams that could make the playoffs and the same reason the 1st round expanded from 3 games to 5 games and then to 7 games.................money. More teams in the playoffs and more playoff games played, means more money for the league.

 

[jayfan]

I never understood why the fans at the Palace took quite so much heat for this (minus the guy who threw the plastic cup). If a bunch of players run up into the stands and start wailing on the innocent guy sitting next to me, I'm going to his defense. I would think all of you would, too. Ron and Stephen Jackson got exactly what they deserved. Ron's display was the epitome of gutless. Cowering away from the guy who wanted to fight him because he knew he'd get his ass beat, then taking out his frustration over his own cowardice on the fans.

 

[HurricaneDij39]

Ben Wallace more marketable for the NBA!? Really? That is what you are going with? Because the NBA so often markets defense!? Yes, the NBA punished the Pacers so they wouldn't lose their cash cow, Ben Wallace, who fans tuned in nation-wide to catch.

$tern would have commit suicide over a Pacers/Spurs Final and you know it. Ben Wallace instigated a scuffle with Artest because it was obvious to him that Ron had beat him at his own game that night (winning ugly and playing to the final buzzer regardless of score).

Even during my early message board days (2007-2008) when he was with the Bulls and past his prime, people had always overrated Ben Wallace. The cash cow was his hair, his mimick of Dr. J.

 

[HurricaneDij39]

While I agree that RonRon was punished unfairly, Jordan withdrawal?!? Really?!? By the time the brawl happened, he had already retired (twice) and the league was doing just fine with stars like Shaq, Kobe, D-Wade and Vince Carter (to name a few).

The NBA expanded the playoffs to 7 games in each round for the exact same reason they increased the number of teams that could make the playoffs and the same reason the 1st round expanded from 3 games to 5 games and then to 7 games.................money. More teams in the playoffs and more playoff games played, means more money for the league.

And as a result, players today are complaining that there are too many games in a season.

If the NBA was doing so great financially in the 2000's, why was MJ awarded two completely undeserving All-Star nods when he was with the Wizards?

$tern was spoiled during the Jordan Era of the 90's to the point that he thought revenues should be as such every year.

And please, no one give me that BS that Artest was suspended for the integrity of the game. $tern never gave a fuck about the integrity of the game.

 

[logic]

$tern would have commit suicide over a Pacers/Spurs Final and you know it.

Ummm, the pacers at least had some offense. The defense-minded Pistons against the "boring" Spurs was probably more of his nightmare.

If it was all markets to Stern NY would not have sucked for so long.

 

[logic]

If the NBA was doing so great financially in the 2000's, why was MJ awarded two completely undeserving All-Star nods when he was with the Wizards?

Fan votes

 

[trojanfan12]

And as a result, players today are complaining that there are too many games in a season.

True, they do complain, but that doesn't change the fact that the playoff format changes are money driven, not to favor certain teams over others.

If the NBA was doing so great financially in the 2000's, why was MJ awarded two completely undeserving All-Star nods when he was with the Wizards?

For the same reason that Kobe was voted in last year even though he only played 6 games and the why he will probably be voted in this year even though, so far, his play is not All-Star worthy. MJ was a superstar player and that's who the fans wanted to see. You know as well as I do that the All-Star game isn't about who the best players are at the time, it's about who the fans want to see.

$tern was spoiled during the Jordan Era of the 90's to the point that he thought revenues should be as such every year.

The league has reached worldwide popularity, has unprecedented t.v. deals in place and the freakin' Clippers of all teams just sold for $2 billion. I'd say the league has been doing just fine, post MJ. I despise Stern as a commissioner. However, his main goal as commissioner was to dramatically increase the leagues revenue and to that end, he was very successful.

And please, no one give me that BS that Artest was suspended for the integrity of the game. $tern never gave a fuck about the integrity of the game.

Where the hell do you get that last sentence from. I've never once said anything about Stern in regards to the integrity of the game and agree that the integrity of the game has never been his primary (or even secondary) motive. Stern has been about money since the day he took over as commissioner and it drove virtually every decision he made.

Heck, my first sentence in the post that you responded to was: "While I agree that RonRon was punished unfairly......"

You might want to try to argue points that were actually made, not whatever happens to pop into your head.

 

[Lakers+USC=#1]

It's incredible that the hands of time have no effect on my feelings about the situation.

The NBA was suffering from Jordan withdrawal in the mid-2000's. Detroit was simply a bigger market than Indianapolis and Ben Wallace was a more-marketable player than anyone on the Pacers, especially with Reggie being well past his prime. There was simply more media upside with him being in the Finals.

Even Shaq has voiced his frustrations with the league (also in 2004):

Shaq curses on TV (uncensored) - YouTube

It's the same reason why $tern installed this ridiculous best-of-seven first round format, and the same reason why the league suspended Jerry Stackhouse (another one of my boys) for a critical Finals game in 2006 for a hard foul - There was simply more marketing upside with Shaq (everyone and their mother's favorite name-recognition player at the time) and flash-and-dash Wade hoisting the trophy than there was for an erratic and temperamental Stackhouse or a soft European Dirk.

Lol I remember watching that game live. It was a 9am Sunday morning game. Even though the Lakers won, Shaq was so pissed at the refs.

 

[HammerDown]

Oh wow, now Artest is the victim.

O. M. G.

Hurriane, we need you on the SportsHoopla Blog staff.

 

[trojanfan12]

Lol I remember watching that game live. It was a 9am Sunday morning game. Even though the Lakers won, Shaq was so pissed at the refs.

Meh, he was probably just pissed that he had to get up early.

 

[Lakers+USC=#1]

Meh, he was probably just pissed that he had to get up early.

So, you are trying to say Shaq is lazy? I never heard that one.

 

[trojanfan12]

So, you are trying to say Shaq is lazy? I never heard that one.

 

[DJ]

Damn, it's been that long? Shit.

I wasn't on any message boards at the time either...

 

[HurricaneDij39]

Remembering "The Brawl" - From My Experience

Obviously tonight marks the 10-year anniversary, of what was my most iconic memory as a Pacers fan, basketball fan, and sports fan in general.

It was a Friday night. The game, the brawl, and the after-effects had consumed my entire weekend. It was in my junior year of high school, we were still living in Hobart, and obviously it was before I was a message board poster.

During the 2003-04 season, the Pacers had sealed home-court advantage throughout the entire Playoffs, the only time in franchise history they have done that. In came the Pistons into the Fieldhouse for the Eastern Conference Finals, who were riding the momentum of a midseason trade for Rasheed Wallace, who had previously been to the conference finals with Portland.

That series, they were the more-disciplined team. They had schooled us. Our guys had grown up too fast. They had spoiled our golden opportunity.

Our first meeting with Detroit for the 2004-05 season came that November 19th night. It was personal for our players, as it was for myself as a fan. Never before and never again as a fan had I ever taken one game or a rivalry so personally. I hated Detroit and everything about them with a passion. Never before as a fan had I ever taken one game or a rivalry so personally. Yet, in spite of that, the two teams very much shared a similar style of play, centered around defense. If we were to face the Cavs, another division rival, the Pacers would even get by using Fred Jones, who stood at just 6'2" and a bulky 218, to guard LeBron on occasion, in order to preserve Artest and others for the other end of the floor.

Against the Pistons on the 19th, the Pacers led by 20 (53-33) in the first half. We had destroyed the so-called "defending champs". The Palace was our court that night. We had the place all to ourselves. Though Detroit had slowly chipped away and cut the lead to six early in the 4th, the game was never really in doubt. Late threes by Stephen Jackson and Austin Croshere had essentially put the game out of reach. Even with the Pacers up 15 with 45 seconds left in the game, Ron Artest played hard until the final buzzer, a buzzer on this night that never actually occurred. Artest had fouled Ben Wallace, a poor free throw shooter, from behind in order to prevent a dunk. Wallace, who had been beaten at his own game, let out his frustration. The rest is history:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVvxTQD2PrI]Detroit Pistons vs. Indiana Pacers Brawl - YouTube[/ame]

As a result of the incident, the league seemingly and ultimately would to no longer welcome intense or physical play. Advantage: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant, and superstars alike.

 

[HurricaneDij39]

http://sports.yahoo.com//blogs/nba-...e-at-the-palace---ten-years-on-181226969.html

As a Pacers fan, I can at least take solice in the fact that the basketball gods have gotten their revenge on the Pistons. Haven't been to the Playoffs since 2009.

 

[bksballer89]

Make your blog already

 

[HurricaneDij39]

Make your blog already

OK, I'll finally bite. How does one create a blog around here?

 

[bksballer89]

I'm not sure lol but they're starting it up and needed someone for nba blogs. Hammer knows and I believe they have more information up on the sites & announcement board

 

[bksballer89]

http://www.sportshoopla.com/forums/site-announcements-help-suggestions/170749-sportshoopla-blog.html