a Basketball game broke out yesterday...

[snoopy1@pig.net]

You've all heard the old saw--usually in reference to hockey games (exhibit 
A: Yesterday's Philly/NYR game, where the first fight started in the 
pregame skate).

Now, we have thuggery going on in the NBA.  Not that this is anything new, 
as anyone who remembers Bill Laimbeer's playing days knows all to 
well.  But last night it went to an all time low in Chicago.

Late in the game, Chicago, playing against the Lakers, was practicing it's 
usual form of defense against Shaq--foul him and watch him miss from the 
line.  Shaq is not the only recipient of this kind of defensive strategy, 
but the problem is magnified given his sheer size--you can't just "nudge" 
him while he takes his shot, he wouldn't notice it as he slammed the ball 
through the hoop.

But this time, it was really bad.  Brad Miller of Chicago wrapped his arms 
around Shaq's shoulder, near his neck, sot of hanging on for dear 
life.  Yes, a flagrant foul, and even Shaq will slow down while dragging a 
couple hundred pounds off his shooting arm.  But then Charles Oakley 
literally jumped on Shaq's back, apparently forgetting this was basketball 
and not football.

Needless to say, the flagrant foul was being called, but Shaq shrugged the 
people off, and lurched after Miller, who was walking away.  Shaq proceeded 
to unlimber two roundhouse punches to the back of Miller's head.  Two 
Chicago players made a flying tackle and brought Shaq down on top of 
Miller, and the fight was on.  It took several minutes to sort things out, 
during which Time Rick Fox started harassing the refs and was promptly 
booted.  Shaq, Miller, and Oakley were also tossed.

In the past, I've been of a mind to say, "If Shaq doesn't want to be fouled 
so often, then he should make his free throws more than once a year."  Paul 
Pierce takes a beating under the basket, too, but he sinks his shots, so 
fouling him is not a smart percentage play the way it is against Shaq.

But there's a difference between a hard foul and a flagrant one--no matter 
what I think of the Lakers, I'm not in favor of anyone getting deliberately 
hurt, that's why they have the flagrant foul rules.  There should be a 
clear line and Miller crossed it.  Oakley did nothing but make matters worse.

But hard fouls or not, there's no excuse to come up swinging, much less 
doing so from behind.  He could have crippled or killed Miller had Miller 
not moved his head slightly to clear the cobwebs, inadvertently denying 
Shaq a solid punch.  Anywhere but on the court (or ice, if applicable), 
Shaq's actions were aggravated assault and battery at the least.  I 
wouldn't have had him ejected, I'd have called the police.

Suspending Shaq does little harm to the Lakers, as with Kobe Bryant they're 
a lock for the playoffs even if they keep goofing off.  A fine of anything 
less then seven figures won't even dent his bank account.

But a clear message has to be sent--this is not acceptable.  Do this and 
you will suffer appropriately serious consequences.  I don't want to wait 
until someone gets seriously injured or killed in an NBA game before action 
is taken.

Shaq should be ejected for the season and Oakley as well.  I personally 
think Shaq SHOULD be arrested and charged, probably Oakley too, but I know 
that won't happen.  Both should forfeit the year's salary and be required 
to take anger management courses, and do public service announcements 
against the use of violence.  ALL NBA teams should be clearly told that the 
difference between a foul and flagrant foul will be closely scrutinized and 
serious punishment meted out to violators.

Think it couldn't happen here?  Think again.  Let's not wait for the 
Celtics or any other team to fall victim to thuggery, theirs or anyone else's.