If you haven't yet heard about the brawl at Madison Square Garden, then tune in to ESPNews or any other news source to check it out. It isn't as bad as the "Malice In The Palace"....but it isn't a shining moment that the NBA wants to put in it's cap.
I will say this: while the brawl was ugly....it isn't like this hadn't happened before. We've all seen ugly fights occur in the NBA ranging from Jeff Van Gundy holding on for dear life during a Heat/Knicks brawl several years ago to Kermit Washington's punch on Rudy Tomjanovic three decades ago.
But we live in a time after that Pistons/Pacers brawl. The difference with that brawl was the fact that it was players and fans fighting....which tore down the imaginary wall between the performers and the spectators. Aside from the this fight spilling into the first courtside rows, fans weren't involved. Still, after the "Malice in the Palace" and the subsequent regualtions on players afterwards....this was ugly.
Of course, what it shows is that no matter what you do.....this crap can happen.
After "the Malice", the NBA has gone overboard on trying to polish it's image. Last year, they forced players to dress a certain professional way when on company time. Players complained...but eventually caved in. Last summer, the NBA fought for and won the right to restrict who can enter the draft....essentially ensuring the league is bringing in somewhat experienced players with a little time away from home into the league. Players complained....but compromised. This year, players were informed to not constantly whine to the officials. Players complained....but they are caving in. Now, the NBA is regulating all kinds of uniform codes....from headbands to wristbands.
All of this was done to clean up the NBA's image. Huh? Why? The NBA is trying to bridge the gap from the younger, black, hip-hop culture and the paying fans....mostly middle/upper class and white.
Of course, Michael Jordan introduced the baggy shorts and he wore a wristband above his elbow and no one cared.
It's a shame that Stern views the NBA like this. Just like I said in the intro, the NBA is essentially the same as it ever was....just younger. When Stern took over....the great players left college in the junior or even [gasp] their sophomore year. Now, if you are a college senior in the draft, you may as well be washed up.
He began his tenure during the heart of the Magic-Bird rivalry and at the beginning of Michael Jordan's career. I'm a big fan of Stern, so I don't subscribe to the "Stern just got lucky because he got in when the getting was good." Stern has done a stellar job at running his league and help use it to make his sport global.....so much so that the NBA is filled with international players and Team USA doesn't dominate international competition anymore.
But just like we all have these great memories of that Magic/Bird/Jordan era.....it is the same as now. Magic acknowledged participating in wild sex parties...and eventually contracted HIV. Bird has an illegitimate child. Jordan has a well chronicled gambling addiction and was outed as having an extra marital affair. We also had potheads and hotheads as we do now. We have Ron Artest now....we had Dennis Rodman then. Bling?? Didn't Michael Jordan used to play with a big chain around his neck??
Are the cornrows any worse than the afros or porn 'staches worn years ago?? Tattoos?? Everyone has a tattoo now. No big deal. I mean, those crazy 80s NBAers broke in that earring thing. Allen Iverson whining out of Philly?? Didn't Magic Johnson get coach Paul Westhead fired from the Lakers?? The draft busts of recent years because of their youth?? What about the Curse of the 1986 Draft??
Give me your Darius Miles....and I'll give you Isaiah Rider. Give me Kwame Brown....and I'll give you Pervis Ellison.
This was an ugly brawl???? Did you ever see the Dr J v Larry Bird fight??? And those two players are among the most beloved NBA players ever.
My point is that just dressing it up nicely doesn't change what's inside. And I'm not implying that NBA players are the thugs people think they are. They aren't. They are, essentially, the same young men as ever played the game before. And just like before, they make mistakesand lose their cool from time to time.
Now, that isn't an excuse....just a fact. What the NBA should do to curb this crap is lay down strict punishments. Why not? Putting it out there that anyone fighting will face serious consequences would help limit this kind of garbage. In the NCAA, if you get in two altercations....of any kind....you are done.
But here is the thing: even if they lay down a law that makes player very weary of doing anything....something still could pop off. After "The Malice", Ron Artest has done nothing to warrant any kind of worry [well, aside from making rap albums]. But Stephen Jackson, who was also a big time instigator in "The Malice", has had problems come up ever since....including a incident that saw him firing a gun outside a club. You can't keep everyone in line.
However, you can do your best to see that everything can be done to limit it. These things happen. So punish them severly so that they don't happen as much.
And when it eventually happens again....punish them again.
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