Another NBA player goes into the stands

[deltachi8]

whats the NBA?

[Matt700wlw]

Ron Artest went into the stands with the intent of hurting a fan for throwing a cup and it happened to hit him....Ron Artest is a punk and deserved everything he recieved as a punishement.

Davis went to help his wife, whom he felt was being threatened by a disorderly idiot. Davis did not cause any disorder, or throw punches....I don't think he did anything differently than you or I would in the same circumstance.

I don't think he deserves any punishment, although he technically broke a rule - however the fan does....drunk and disorderly conduct is a crime...so is public intoxication.

[RFS62]

The NBA is ultimately responsible for the safety of his wife in the stands. They apparently failed. Or at least, it appeared to him that they had failed, in the brief few seconds he had to decide what to do.

If the NBA fines him for taking reasonable steps to protect his wife when they failed to do so, they will receive a firestorm of criticism.

If he went into the stands like a raving idiot, it would be different.

[It8ifyifitsgrif]

Now the fan has his say.... and he is sueing :thumbdown

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2298240

Fan says he did nothing wrong, plans to sue Davis, wife

Associated Press

CHICAGO -- As New York Knicks forward Antonio Davis awaited word Thursday on whether he will be suspended for climbing into the stands to confront a man during a game in Chicago, that fan said he did nothing wrong and was attacked by Davis' wife.

The altercation came in overtime Wednesday night of the Bulls' 106-104 victory. Davis said he thought his wife was in danger and later released a statement saying the fan was drunk.

"It's a lie," 22-year-old Michael Axelrod said in a phone interview with The Associated Press.

Unlike last season's melee when Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons and fans were involved in perhaps the worst brawl in U.S. sports history, order was quickly restored. No punches were thrown, there were no arrests and Davis was ejected.

The Knicks were home Thursday night against Detroit. An NBA spokesman said decisions on penalties are usually made before a team plays its next game.

Davis, president of the NBA players' association, jumped over the scorer's table to get in the stands at the United Center.

"I witnessed my wife being threatened by a man that I learned later to be intoxicated," he said in a statement after the game. "I saw him touch her, and I know I should not have acted the way I did, but I would have felt terrible if I didn't react. There was no time to call security. It happened too quickly."

But Axelrod said Kendra Davis tried to scratch him after he protested a call. Axelrod said he never laid a hand on Davis' wife and said he was not drunk.

Axelrod's father, David, is a prominent Democratic political consultant in Chicago who has worked with Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton and Chicago mayor Richard M. Daley.

"When I go to games, I cheer as hard as I can for the Bulls, and I boo as hard as I can for whoever they're playing," Michael Axelrod said. "I don't feel comfortable if players are allowed to easily jump into the crowd whenever they feel like it's necessary."

Axelrod's attorney, Jay Paul Deratany, said he planned to sue Davis and his wife for more than $1 million. Deratany said he was writing the papers Thursday for a battery suit against Kendra Davis and a slander case against Antonio Davis, and planned to file them Friday.

According to Axelrod, he was sitting in the seventh row and booed an official's call. Kendra Davis "came out of her seat. I didn't even pay attention to her. I thought she was just going to the bathroom or something," he said.

Axelrod, who was sitting a couple of rows behind her, said she yelled at him to be quiet. Axelrod said he did not know she was Davis' wife until the player ran into the stands.

Axelrod said Kendra Davis put both hands on his face, and that he motioned for security. He said she later went after another fan.

"I was glad she was done hitting me, but I didn't want her to hit anyone else," Axelrod said.

Antonio Davis appeared calm throughout and walked away willingly when security arrived. He returned to the bench and took his seat before being ejected. The game resumed after about a five-minute delay.

Axelrod was escorted to the concourse by security, but said he was allowed back into the arena and saw Ben Gordon's winning shot at the buzzer.

"His wife and kids were up there," Knicks guard Jamal Crawford said. "If you see your family in harm's way, you're going to go protect them. You're the man of the house, and at that point you're thinking like a regular human instead of an athlete."

United Center security remained in the stands for a few more minutes, and other fans appeared to be explaining what they had seen. Guards in suits and yellow jackets then escorted a group of people from the area.

Knicks coach Larry Brown said Davis went into the stands because he saw his wife "falling back."

Brown was coaching the Pistons in November 2004 when that ugly fight broke out in the stands between fans and Pacers during a Detroit home game. An embarrassment for the NBA, the brawl led to criminal charges and lengthy suspensions for Ron Artest, Jermaine O'Neal and Stephen Jackson.

But Brown was adamant that this situation should be viewed differently.

"Come on, that's his wife," Brown said. "That's entirely different. I was worried about Kendra. That's why he went in the stands, he saw her falling back.

"That thing that happened in the stands had nothing to do with the two teams. That's a man concerned about his family."

[NJReds]

I don't know about the battery charges, but I don't think he can win a slander case. He'd have to prove that Davis called him drunk intentionally in an attempt to hurt his character. If the guy didn't take a breath test at the time to prove his sobriety, I don't see how a court could fairly rule in his favor. (In the case of slander, only).

[Crash Davis]

ESPN had been covering this story all day as if it was a major sports news story.

A player went into the stands. Nothing happened therein. He got suspended for 5 games. Now, how can we wring our hands over this for 24+ hours of debate and counterdebate?

Dear ESPN: There's nothing to see here. Please move on. Thank you.

Sincerely,
American Sportsfans

[captainmorgan07]

this suspension is ridiculous yes he went into the stands suspend teh guy a game though 5 is to harsh i gurantee u if david stern was in teh same situation as antonio davis he'd do the same thing the guy is the head of the players association and a veteran he's not just gonna run into the stands and start swinging

[CrackerJack]

Call security from the court - his macho act was a bad decision, ecspecially as head of the Player's Union. Surely they would've responded immediately and removed the fan, I'm sure she isn't the first player's wife to be heckled by a drunk. Not so sure I put my wife in the stands by herself either if I'm a player.

[RedFanAlways1966]

<devil's advocate comes back feeling kinda smug>

Now we have heard both sides of the story. Who is lying and who is telling the truth? Seems as though a lot of us are quick to jump to the "drunk-hecking-fan-who-is-out-of-control-and threatening". Video has been released showing Kendra Davis poking her finger in the face of Mr. Axelrod and Mr. Axelrod trying to summon security to get the woman away from him. And it seems that security was there before Antonio Davis decided to jump into the stands (for those who think the NBA is lax on protection/security). Security decided that Mr. Axelrod did not do anything that would warrant ejection from the arena.

Now I doubt that any of us know Kendra Davis or Mr. Axelrod... the two "combatants". But could any of us imagine a woman who enjoys her husband's $13.8 million a year salary? A woman who perhaps is not really living in the real world b/c of all the wealth that she enjoys. A woman who is used to telling people (nannys, maids, butlers, gardeners, pool cleaners, chauffers, etc.) what to do and used to being in control and having people heed to her commands. And there she sits in the middle of a bunch of Bulls fans (they were in Chicago). And there she sits hearing Bulls fans badmouthing her husband and/or his team. She is not used to people saying things she does not like to hear... she is used to people heeding to her commands. She decides she will take matters into her own hands and Mr. Axelrod (who claims that he had no idea that this lady was a Knicks player's wife) will heed to her commands to shut his mouth on the Knicks negative comments.

Naturally Antonio, trying to deflect his actions and minimize the fine/suspension, makes comments that "he heard Mr. Axelrod was drunk". Oh yeah... who told you this? Mr. Axelrrod's friend who attended the game with him... not. Did Kendra Davis tell her husband this? Video does not prove how much alcohol Mr. Axelrod ingested, but it does show Kendra Davis acting like Mr. Axelrod's boss and it shows her pointing her finger in his face (and remember it shows him trying to get security to get this woman away from him).

Such is life in the soap opera known as the NBA. The Davis family will lose out on $700,000 b/c of the 5-game suspension. They might lose more if Mr. Axelrod's attorney convinces a jury that he was wronged. My advice to Antonio Davis... stay out of the stands. Keep your wife home from now on. You will be able to give the team 100% of your attention and your wife can put her finger in the face of one of your hired-hands at home and not worry about it.

Always nice to get both sides of the story. Don't know who is lying (someone is). But things seem a lot different 24 hours later.

[NJReds]

<devils advocate part 2>

What happened before the video of Ms. Davis verbal confrontation with Mr. Million Dollar lawsuit? Some in the stands said that he was the aggressor, and that the video only shows her reaction to his intial actions.

Disclaimer: I am a Knicks fan, and I don't have a problem with the 5 game suspension. Rules are rules. I think that Davis should serve his time, and that everything else should be dropped. It will remain a story until the lawsuit is dropped, or is over. In any event, I don't think this merits Mr. Axelrod becoming a 'lottery winner'.

[RedFanAlways1966]

I think it is definitely fair to hear all the witnesses too (and may be more truthful). All stories need to be heard. 24-hours ago we had only heard one side... Antonio's side. Videos can be very damning. But, as you stated, they are only as good as the time they captured (Rodney King anyone!??!).

I don't think we (the rest of society) will ever know the whole truth. I do not think Mr. Axelrod deserves a penny. I despise lawsuits like this. I also despise any athlete (any sport) going into the stands.

If I made $13.8 million per year, I'd probably have my loved-ones sitting elsewhere. I am sure I could afford this. Is it fair that the Davis family cannot sit where they want? Hell no! But reality is not always fair. But enjoying $13.8 million per year can help ease the pains that reality brings us.

Isn't it silly too that grown people act like this? Mr. Axelod, his attorney, Mrs. Davis, drunk fans, etc. But most of know that is a reality too.

[TeamBoone]

Regardless of which side of the story is true (maybe bits and pieces of both sides are true, maybe not), what Davis saw in that snapshot of time is all that matters.

I would have done the same thing if I were him and thought I saw someone I love in danger. Screw the rule! In his eyes, her safety was on the line. I can't believe that most of you would not have done the same thing in his shoes... and if not, then shame on you!

I know that rules are rules and he can be no exception. Again, if I were him, I'd be ok with that too. But in my mind, I'd know that I did what I had to do regardless of the rule. It could have ended tragically if what he thought he saw was correct, and he might just have saved her life.

Hindsight is nearly always 20/20.

[RFS62]

Regardless of which side of the story is true (maybe bits and pieces of both sides are true, maybe not), what Davis saw in that snapshot of time is all that matters.

I would have done the same thing if I were him and thought I saw someone I love in danger. Screw the rule! In his eyes, her safety was on the line. I can't believe that most of you would have done the same thing in his shoes... and if not, then shame on you!

I know that rules are rules and he can be no exception. Again, if I were him, I'd be ok with that too. But in my mind, I'd know that I did what I had to do regardless of the rule. It could have ended tragically if what he thought he saw was correct, and he might just have saved her life.

Hindsight is nearly always 20/20.

Boy howdy. This is a total no-brainer to me.

Well said, TB.

[CrackerJack]

I'm trying to think of the last time a drunk heckler physically assaulted an unknown female fan in front of thousands of people at an NBA game in the stands as the game was going on?

Never. Davis broke up an argument - apparently his wife is a pathetically helpless individual who needs "a man" to stand up for her in verbal confrontations.

Just cut through all the emotional, knee jerk machismo stuff and anyone with common sense would've kept an eye on the situation from the bench and called security immediately to calm the two down and have her walk down to him at courtside to make sure she was ok if necessary.

Sorry but heading into the stands every time a heckler goes after a friend or family member is not acceptable to me. Don't put your wife in that situation in the first place if you're that uptight about it - he shares responsibility for it.

And yes the "diagnosing" of this situation by ESPN is so utterly ridiculous, just have to turn if off - hate the NBA any ways.

[NJReds]

Just cut through all the emotional, knee jerk machismo stuff and anyone with common sense would've kept an eye on the situation from the bench and called security immediately to calm the two down and have her walk down to him at courtside to make sure she was ok if necessary.

That's apparently the worst part. Security was called and did nothing. If anyone here should be penalized, it should be the Chicago Bulls/arena staff.