Agent says Jermaine O'Neal singled out by Stern

http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/nba/lakers/la-sp-suspend22nov22,1,6
824153.story?coll=la-headlines-sports-nba-lakers

O'Neal's agent, Arn Tellem, also issued a statement, asserting Stern
"singled out Jermaine O'Neal in an arbitrary and capricious way" and saying
they will "vigorously contest the NBA's outrageous decision and demand that
his side of the story be heard."

Pacer co-owner Herb Simon issued a statement saying, "We believe there was a
rush to judgment.. We will vigorously support our players in any available
appeal process."

"To watch the out-of-control fans in the stands was disgusting," Stern said,
"but it doesn't excuse our players going into the stands."

Stern talked to union head Billy Hunter several times over the weekend but
made the decision by himself.

"It was unanimous, one to nothing," Stern said. "I did not strike from my
mind the fact that Ron Artest had been suspended on previous conditions for
loss of self-control..

"Mr. Jackson was well into the stands and certainly anyone who watched any
television this weekend understood he wasn't going in as a peacemaker.

"Jermaine, I think it's fair to say, exceeded any bounds of peacemaking with
the altercation with the fan.. His penalty actually would have been harsher
if he had succeeded in getting into the stands, which he tried to do but was
restrained from."

s_knight8 wrote:
>
> http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/nba/lakers/la-sp-suspend22nov22,1,6
> 824153.story?coll=la-headlines-sports-nba-lakers
>
> O'Neal's agent, Arn Tellem, also issued a statement, asserting Stern
> "singled out Jermaine O'Neal in an arbitrary and capricious way" and saying
> they will "vigorously contest the NBA's outrageous decision and demand that
> his side of the story be heard."

I actually agree with this, assuming that the on-court punch we saw was all
he did. Copied from a post I made to APBR:

....while players going into the stands (obviously exempting peacemakers)
should be given the stiffest of penalties - I would start at 20-40 games
for any such incident - if a fan comes onto the field/court he should be
considered a danger to the player and forfeit any rights of protection.
The player cannot know if the fan is armed, and should not be penalized for
reacting as if he might be.

--
Gary Collard
SABR-L Moderator
gmcollard.DeleteThis@yahoo.com

"Dan Rather received a Turkey of the Year Award for his exclusive on
discovery of the original recipes from the time of the Pilgrims for
the first Thanksgiving dinner. The Pilgrims apparently printed them
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