Beer-throwing 'fan' identified (West Bloomfield trash)

[Bozita]

Photo available at link:

http://www.clickondetroit.com/sports/3938054/detail.html

Wanted: Fan Who Threw First Cup

Prosecutor Says Fans, Players Could Face Criminal Charges

POSTED: 7:50 AM EST November 22, 2004

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- The Detroit Pistons fan suspected of throwing a beverage on Indiana Pacers' player Ron Artest, reportedly leading to Friday night's brawl, has been identified and is wanted for questioning.


Police have identified this fan -- believed to have thrown the first beer at the Indiana Pacers' Ron Artest -- as John Green, of West Bloomfield.

John Green, of West Bloomfield, was caught on tape throwing his cup of beer, Local 4 reported. The act reportedly sent Artest into a rage in the stands, where players and fans fought during the game between the Pistons and the Pacers at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

more...

[Buzz Clik]

1. Put the idiot in jail.

He was so thrilled with himself for drenching Artest that he continued to taunt Artest even as the first punch was rocketing toward his face.

[eddiebrowns]

2. the guy that Artest punched first

wasn't the guy who threw the cup. The guy in the picture on the site is the one who grabbed Artest from behind and is the one who actually threw the cup. Jim Gray reported this the night of the fight-he said that the guy who was attacked was NOT the one-he identified the man in the white cap as the cup-thrower. The poor schmo who got punched is soon to be a very rich fella.

[Buzz Clik]

5. Good god.

You're right -- I smell a successful lawsuit.

It's easy to see how Artest was confused. The guy he punched first was jawing off and pointing at Artest and daring him to come after him.

Artest is going to be penniless after this mess. No one will want him around.

[RivetJoint]

6. That's one reason you don't go up into

the stands after fans. Artest will be sued. The Pacers will be sued. The Pistons will be sued. The NBA will be sued.

[goclark]

3. He sure lives in an upscale neighborhood

I am shocked I tell you shocked! sarcasm

[Bozita]

4. TV said he's a season ticket holder ($$$)

Those ain't cheap seats!

[sniffa]

13. tv said that!?

[Bozita]

14. yep, that makes it true

[RUDUing2]

7. so? still doesn't excuse, explain or justify the actions of the player(s)

The fan should have been removed and charged, but that is entirely separate from what the players did. However IMO the players who went into the stands and physically assaulted people should be treated exactly the same as any other thug/punk. Arrested, fined and maybe jailed. AND they should be permanently banned from playing professional sports in the US.

[RivetJoint]

10. Finally! Somone who sees this the same as I do

EVERY player who went into the stands and struck a fan should be banned for LIFE.

[jakefrep]

15. No!

What you're saying is that the fans can do whatever they bloody well please to the players and the players are just supposed to shut up and take it. I'm sorry, but that's bullshit.

The fans need to be held accountable for their behavior too.

[RivetJoint]

17. Where did I say that?

The fans should be tried, and if convicted, sentenced to jail. They should also be banned from ANY US sporting venue for life.

The fans should be held accountable just as the players.

[RUDUing2]

19. nope if the fans goes onto the floor and assaults the player they should

have the right to protect themselves.....but sorry otherwise (for throwing items, verbal assaut, etc)the player needs to be an adult and allow security and the law to take care of the fan (there are laws in place and there are stadium/arena rules of behavior that can and are enforce)...

(and even if the fan enters the floor the player only has the right to protect themself from assault, not to launch one or get into a all out fight)

..I don't care what the fan does the player has no excuse for entering the stands and physically assaulting someone.

[jakefrep]

29. You're wrong...

...I think the player has every right to defend himself against the fan...ESPECIALLY WHEN HE IS ASSAULTED BY THE FAN! And throwing an object constitutes assault. I don't care if the fan is in the seats when he throws it either. If the fan hits the player, all bets are off. Not to mention that the security personnel were nowhere to be found to deal effectively with the fan.

I'm sick and tired of the idiot fans who believe that the price of a ticket entitles them to verbally and (apparently now) physically assault a player. All the suspension accomplishes is that the fans can now do whatever they bloody well please to a player, because a player can't retaliate and hold the fan accountable for their actions.

[tx_dem41]

21. Why are the two mutually exclusive?

You make it sound like one can either blame the players or the fans, but not both. C'mon, life is never that simple.

[jakefrep]

30. Well...

...everything was pretty well settled between the players until that douchebag fan threw the beer at Artest.

[lpbk2713]

8. Looks like he's in a trance.

What is that emblem on his jacket? I can't make it out.

[gollygee]

9. Is it an octopus?

could be an octopus - but if it were a Red Wings jacket you'd think it would be red. . . ?

A puzzle.

[bratcatinok]

16. At first glance it looks like a marlin

type of emblem. I'm not much into sports so I'm not saying it's a Marlin's logo. I spent quite a bit of time on the Texas coast and to me it looks similar to some decals and t-shirt designs I saw around Padre Island and Corpus.

[Catchawave]

23. Don't think it's the Fl. marlins emblem...

..which is sort of a seafoam green and black. Though I agree, looks like a big fish, maybe a fishing tournament jacket? Anybody got a shot of the back of the jacket...this is kinda fun:bounce:

[5thGenDemocrat]

24. It looks like a Detroit Tiger "Olde English D" and stalking cat logo

He has his arms folded, so you only see the top half of it. I downloaded the pic and blew it WAY up (to where it pixellated) and that would be my guess.
John
Though I could be wrong. I often am.

[Catchawave]

28. Thanks for going to that trouble 5th!

I think you may be right.

[goclark]

18. I know that area

I'm not saying that his look is drug induced.
I have no idea.

I do know that there are many big time drug dealers that live in that area.

I witnessed a drug bust in that area a few years ago. One police officer told me that there are lots of dealers and buyers in that area because that is where the money is.

Most of the houses are lovely, some by the lakes and lots of trees and space between houses.

Most of the drug activity slips under the radar because the people that live there can buy their way out of most crimes.

The newspaper rarely reports any activity of this nature. You just find out by word of mouth.

[sniffa]

11. that man is a hero

he "instigated" the greatest moment in sports' history.

[Renew Deal]

20. I think it's the best fight I have ever seen.

:nuke:

[sniffa]

22. i think i heard some of the fans

chanting, "ECW! ECW! ECW!" during the meLee.

[KurtNYC]

12. The way he lobs that cup so it stays full - who thinks of that?

He throws it under hand and seems to a little spin on it so that the cup flys with the beer in it unti it lands on Artest. Most beer throwers would throw the beer out of the cup. Meaning I don't know what really -- he's done this before?

[regularguy]

27. He was giving 110%; taking it one melee at a time.

And remember: there's no "I" in "Unruly Mob"!
:)

[Boosterman]

25. This guy should be charged with something.

But so should Artest and the other two pacer players who commited assualt. Jackson and Oneal I believe.

Oh and Artest punches like a weakling considering his size. Not as bad as those two girlie men football players but still bad. ;)

[Susang]

26. Gee, what a surprise.

:eyes:

You mean the person who started the shit that gave Detroiters a bad rep yet again wasn't a Detroiter? Go fucking figure. Now everyone will use this as yet another example of how shitty Detroit is, even though it happened in Auburn Hills and was instigated by a rich bastard from West Bloomfield.

Fucking asshat.