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Artest Has Apologized To Fan For Detroit Brawl
On November 19, 2004, Ron Artest, then with the Pacers, went into the stands in Detroit to go after a fan that had thrown a cup of beer on him. John Green, the fan that helped initiate the incident, spoke on ESPN's "First Take" Thursday. He said that Artest called him several months ago to apologize. "He said that he was sorry, that ... the whole thing embarrassed him as it did me," Green said. "He wanted to do something for the community for troubled youth. Of course, I can't do much on this end without him. "We tried to come up with something to give back to the community and come up with something positive. It's not like it's not always going to be known as the brawl, but maybe we could take something good out of it. We're going to try to do something in inner-city Detroit or L.A., maybe after the season ends and he has more free time on his hands." Green was convicted of misdemeanor assault, ordered to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and banned from Detroit home games for life. Artest was suspended for 73 games, the remainder of the 2004-05 season, and lost roughly $5 million in salary. "I remember throwing the cup, actually a cup of Diet Coke, not a beer, but I had been drinking and I've had issues with alcohol in the past," Green added "I remember [Artest] running into the stands and grabbing the wrong person and I felt bad. I grabbed Artest from behind, the whole thing was kind of a huge blur. It happened so fast." Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Lakers Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Hamilton May Have Signed Last Contract
His current deal runs through the 2012-13 season. "I don't know," Hamilton said in an interview with the Detroit Free-Press. "When you hit 35, you take it one year at a time. I know that at a certain time being around my family (will take precedence). I'm going to walk away. I'm not going to be one of them guys that just sits around and holds on. When I feel as I'm not going out there and playing as hard and the game is not that important to me no more, I'll stop playing." Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Larry Brown Owes A Lot To Kuester
"I don't look at him as my protégé. He's been a big part of my career. I owe a lot to him," said Brown. "But the nice thing is there is a lot of guys in this league that have helped me that are doing quite well and have positions that they deserve. "I am happy for him. He deserves it. Joe (Dumars, the Pistons president of basketball operations) recognized that. He's given him a wonderful opportunity. This is a great place to coach and it's a great organization to work for. John will do a great job. He's done a phenomenal job wherever he's been. He's been loyal. I'm confident he'll do a great job here." Detroit Pistons, Charlotte Bobcats Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Pistons Nov 2009 Archive
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Thursday marked the five-year anniversary of one of the worst brawls in U.S. sports history.
Pistons guard Richard Hamilton isn't sure if he'll sign another contract in the NBA.
John Kuester has frequently mentioned how much he owes his former boss Larry Brown, but the head coach of the Bobcats said on Wednesday that it is mutual.