Hopewell Valley Student Podcasting Network Show Name: Interesting World of SportsEpisode 2: Malice at the PalaceYou are listening to The Interesting World of Sports podcast with your host(s) Dylan Yasher, and Connor Batcha.
In this episode of the Podcast we will be discussing: what led up to the fight, the game and fight itself, and the aftermath.
Segment 1: What led up to the fight- The date is November 19 2004 and the Indiana Pacers are playing the Detroit pistons.
- The Pistons ended the Pacers amazing 2003-2004 season after eliminating them in the playoffs
- The Pacers felt like that was their Championship, they came out fired up for the 04 - 05 season
- One player however, was a ticking time bomb. He was known for his unusual behavior, that included fighting opponents, smashing TV cameras, applying for a job at Circuit City so he could get an employee discount, and even asking for time off from the NBA season to promote his rap album. That man would be 6’7 Ron Artest
- The 24 year old Artest surpassed the Pistons Ben Wallace to win 2004 defensive player of the Year so a rivalry was already brewing.
- Like we mentioned, the Pacers came out fired up for the 04-05 season. That included Artest more than anyone, and he was playing like an MVP to start off the new season
- The Pacers wanted to show that they were the better team, and with just 45 seconds left in the game, they were up by double digits, the game was pretty much over
- And that's when Ron Artest put up a big foul on Pistons All-Star Center, Ben Wallace and everything went south.
Segment 2: The game and fight- While players and refs were trying to defuse the situation ron artest is seen lying down on the scores table and putting on the announcer's headset which fits right in with his personality.
- At this point, Artest has done nothing other than foul Ben Wallace
- The refs, Ron Garretson, Tommy Nunez, and Tim Donaghy did a poor job managing the situation
- At that moment, the teammates of Artest and Wallace seemed to have settled things down
- That's when am angry fan threw their drink at a calmed down Ron Artest
- If he were to engage this fan it could spell then end to the Pacers season. Its crucial that he is calmed down for the whole team's sake.
- That's when Artest lost it,with no one to hold him back he jumped onto the scores table and into the stand throwing punches and attacking any fan that got in his way. (Audio)
- Artest was already on the leagues bad side for multiple suspensions for fighting, on the court, however the punishment for going into the stands is much more severe. If his...