Fan Who Ignited Brawl Forever Banned, Green Not Allowed at Another Pistons Home Game
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Fan Who Ignited Brawl Forever Banned
Green Not Allowed at Another Pistons Home Game
By MICHAEL McCARTHY
USA Today
The fan who sparked one of the worst brawls in sports history has been banned for life from Detroit Pistons home games.
John Green, who threw the cup that struck then-Indiana Pacer Ron Artest in the chest at the Palace of Auburn Hills nearly two years ago, received a letter from the Pistons threatening arrest for trespassing if he shows up there, according to a copy obtained by USA TODAY.
"You are forever banned from attending any Detroit Pistons home games," reads the letter from John Ciszewski, executive vice president of the Pistons.
Within days of the Pistons-Pacers melee, the Pistons banned Green from the Palace, revoked his season tickets and gave him a refund. With the Nov. 19 anniversary of the brawl approaching, the NBA "directed" the Pistons to banish Green permanently, according to the letter. It adds, however, it's OK for Green to spend his money on non-Pistons events at the Palace if he conducts himself in "a responsible and lawful manner."
Pistons spokesman Kevin Grigg would only say: "The decision with John Green was made by our organization after discussions with league officials."
The ban is the latest example of authorities cracking down on out-of-control fans. Hooman Hamzehloui, the Orlando Magic fan who taunted Houston Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo with a racial slur at a preseason game in October, had his season tickets revoked by the club. The NBA banned him from all other arenas for the 2006-2007 season.
Scott Harper, the fan who jumped from the third deck of Yankee Stadium into the netting behind home plate in August 2005, was banned for life from the ballpark by New York state judge Troy Webber. Harper pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment and was sentenced to three years probation.
Green, a 41-year old contractor from West Bloomfield, Mich., was convicted of misdemeanor assault for punching Artest but not for throwing the cup. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail, two years probation, Alcoholics Anonymous and anger management counseling and slapped with a $500 fine by district judge Lisa Asadoorian.
Artest, who attacked the wrong fan when he charged into the stands, ended up with one of the lightest sentences of the five Pacers charged for the brawl: 50 hours of community service, a year of probation and a $250 fine.
But NBA Commissioner David Stern gave him the harshest league punishment: a 73-game suspension that cost him $5 million in lost salary.
In a telephone interview, Green says he's completed his jail sentence through a work-release program. But he can't set foot in the Palace until he completes probation in a year or so. He still has to finish his AA and anger management counseling.
"It was the dumbest thing I've ever done. I would never do it again," he says. "I got home that night, and my wife was tapping her foot, asking what the hell happened. She said 'You're all over ESPN.' "
Green says he'd apologize to Artest in person and buy him dinner if the Sacramento Kings star would lift a restraining order against him. As for the banishment letter, Green says he'll try to sell it on eBay.
"I'm the fall guy, no doubt about it. I got my 15 minutes of fame," says Green.
Green Not Allowed at Another Pistons Home Game
By MICHAEL McCARTHY
USA Today
The fan who sparked one of the worst brawls in sports history has been banned for life from Detroit Pistons home games.
John Green, who threw the cup that struck then-Indiana Pacer Ron Artest in the chest at the Palace of Auburn Hills nearly two years ago, received a letter from the Pistons threatening arrest for trespassing if he shows up there, according to a copy obtained by USA TODAY.
"You are forever banned from attending any Detroit Pistons home games," reads the letter from John Ciszewski, executive vice president of the Pistons.
Within days of the Pistons-Pacers melee, the Pistons banned Green from the Palace, revoked his season tickets and gave him a refund. With the Nov. 19 anniversary of the brawl approaching, the NBA "directed" the Pistons to banish Green permanently, according to the letter. It adds, however, it's OK for Green to spend his money on non-Pistons events at the Palace if he conducts himself in "a responsible and lawful manner."
Pistons spokesman Kevin Grigg would only say: "The decision with John Green was made by our organization after discussions with league officials."
The ban is the latest example of authorities cracking down on out-of-control fans. Hooman Hamzehloui, the Orlando Magic fan who taunted Houston Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo with a racial slur at a preseason game in October, had his season tickets revoked by the club. The NBA banned him from all other arenas for the 2006-2007 season.
Scott Harper, the fan who jumped from the third deck of Yankee Stadium into the netting behind home plate in August 2005, was banned for life from the ballpark by New York state judge Troy Webber. Harper pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment and was sentenced to three years probation.
Green, a 41-year old contractor from West Bloomfield, Mich., was convicted of misdemeanor assault for punching Artest but not for throwing the cup. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail, two years probation, Alcoholics Anonymous and anger management counseling and slapped with a $500 fine by district judge Lisa Asadoorian.
Artest, who attacked the wrong fan when he charged into the stands, ended up with one of the lightest sentences of the five Pacers charged for the brawl: 50 hours of community service, a year of probation and a $250 fine.
But NBA Commissioner David Stern gave him the harshest league punishment: a 73-game suspension that cost him $5 million in lost salary.
In a telephone interview, Green says he's completed his jail sentence through a work-release program. But he can't set foot in the Palace until he completes probation in a year or so. He still has to finish his AA and anger management counseling.
"It was the dumbest thing I've ever done. I would never do it again," he says. "I got home that night, and my wife was tapping her foot, asking what the hell happened. She said 'You're all over ESPN.' "
Green says he'd apologize to Artest in person and buy him dinner if the Sacramento Kings star would lift a restraining order against him. As for the banishment letter, Green says he'll try to sell it on eBay.
"I'm the fall guy, no doubt about it. I got my 15 minutes of fame," says Green.
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That's about as ignorant a statement as I've heard on these boards since hardcorehockeyfan's tribute to John Rocker.
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That guy should be banned from every NBA game for life
<< <i>That's what the NBA is! They carry guns to strip clubs, they get busted for drugs........
That's about as ignorant a statement as I've heard on these boards since hardcorehockeyfan's tribute to John Rocker. >>
Someone actually made a tribute to Rocker?? The succesor of Albert Belle as the Dennis Rodman of Baseball??? That I gotta see.
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