If you were one of the unfortunate ones that had to witness the brawl between the Pacers and Pistons, you know the background already. If not here is how it was reported:
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) -- Players and fans exchanged punches in the stands near the end of a Pacers-Pistons game in one of the worst brawls in NBA history. The mayhem left several people injured and prompted a police investigation.
Indiana's Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson charged into the crowd and fought with fans in the final minute of Friday night's game, forcing an early end to the Pacers' 97-82 victory.
"I felt like I was fighting for my life out there," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. "I'm sorry the game had to end this way."
Officials stopped the game with 45.9 seconds remaining after pushing and shoving between the teams spilled into the stands once fans started throwing things at the players near the scorer's table.
The NBA said it would issue a statement Saturday about the brawl.
"There's no place in the game for what went on with this incident," said Joe Dumars, the Pistons' president of basketball operations.
About three hours following the startling finish, Auburn Hills police walked out of a television trailer with videotapes gathered from media outlets. Officers interviewed witnesses at the arena in suburban Detroit and planned to talk to the players involved.
"We'll put it all together, take it to the Oakland County Prosecutors Office and have them review it and they'll decide if there are any charges," Auburn Hills Deputy Chief Jim Mynsberge said. "I hope we can do it before Thanksgiving."
One of the half-dozen people treated for injuries at The Palace was taken to a hospital by ambulance and another sought treatment, police said.
"At this time, we don't have any indication of major injuries, Mynsberge said.
On Saturday, Pistons spokesman Tom Wilson said The Palace plans to use "playoff-level security" starting with Sunday's game against Charlotte. He said there will be about twice as many armed police as usual and 20- to 30-percent more arena security, but couldn't say how many police and security that would be.
Detroit's Larry Brown, who started coaching in 1972 after his playing career ended, said it was the ugliest thing he had seen as a coach or player.
After several minutes of players fighting with fans in the stands, a chair, beer, ice and popcorn were thrown at the Pacers as they made their way to the locker room.
The melee started when Detroit's Ben Wallace went in for a layup and was fouled hard by Artest from behind, and escalated when Artest stormed into the stands after being hit by a full cup. After being fouled, Wallace wheeled around and pushed Artest in the face. The benches emptied and punches were thrown.
As the players continued shoving each other near center court and coaches tried to restore order, Artest sprawled out on his back on the scorer's table, looking relaxed.
Just when it appeared tempers died down, Artest was struck by a cup thrown from the stands and jumped up and charged into the stands, throwing punches as he climbed over seats.
"He was on top of me, pummeling me," fan Mike Ryan of Clarkston said. "He asked me, 'Did you do it? I said, 'No, man. No!"'
Jackson joined Artest in the melee and threw punches at fans, who punched back at them.
Security personnel and ushers tried to break it up. Former Pistons player Rick Mahorn, who was seated courtside as a Detroit radio analyst, tried to stop the brawl in the stands. Detroit's Rasheed Wallace and Indiana's David Harrison were also in or near the stands trying to break up the fights.
Later, a man in a Pistons jersey approached Artest on the court, shouting at him. Artest punched him in the face, knocking him to the floor. Teammate Jermaine O'Neal stepped in and punched another man who joined the scrum.
"The NBA is withholding comment until it can review the incident," NBA spokesman Tim Frank said.
Players from both teams left the arena without comment.
Quentin Richardson of the Phoenix Suns watched the brawl on TV.
"I have never seen a fight like that in a game since I was in high school," he said. "Man, there are going to be some lawsuits. You don't think some of those fans aren't going to want some NBA money?"
Police prevented reporters from crossing the loading dock to get to Indiana's locker room or the area where the Pacers' bus was located.
"I'm just embarrassed for our league and disappointed for our young people to see that," Brown said.
Artest has been involved in some bizarre situations and has been suspended frequently, but his latest antics topped them all.
Earlier this month, he was benched for two games for asking Carlisle for time off because of a busy schedule that included promoting a soon-to-be released rap album.
Artest also destroyed TV monitors at Madison Square Garden two years ago and missed the team flight to Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals at Detroit last season.
In addition to all that I have heard it reported on both TV and radio that the State Attorney for the area is looking at wether any fans should be charged or not. HELLO!!! What about charging the athletes involved?? I reviewed the video myself about 20 times and it looks pretty easy to me to see that the idiot Artest should be charged with Battery, as well as Jackson. Its not that hard of a call on the State Attorney's part. But will they charge these giys? I will venture to say here that they will not. You see there is a double standard when it comes to these overpaid crybaby athletes. They think they can get away with things that the normal people would be hammered in the courts with. These criminals should be charged and prosecuted and put in jail. naybe that would send a message to these idiots that the game is a game and the type of action that they took will not be tolerated. Suspending them from the game really hurts when you have millions of dollars already. Oh ouch. Please.
You see this is a problem with our society these days, some people are treated differently by the courts because of who they are. Well now is a good chance for our courts to show the people they are supposed to protect that they are really trying to do their job with that old blindfold on, is justice truely blind? I think not.