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Cup thrown at Artest for sale on e-Bay
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-11-25 09:03
The cup that ignited the biggest brawl in US sports history could have been
yours.
John Green of West
Bloomfield Township, Mich., is seen here on Monday, Nov. 22, 2004. Oakland
County Prosecutor David Gorcyca said that Green was the fan who threw a
cup that hit Indiana forward Ron Artest and started the brawl at The
Palace on Friday. [AP] | An item purported to be
the cup thrown from the stands at Pacers player Ron Artest last Friday night was
on eBay for less than 24 hours after bidding went out of control. The cup,
listed for sale by someone from Sterling Heights, Michigan, was put up for
auction Monday, but the bidding was closed on Tuesday afternoon when the price
went to US$99,999,999 (euro76,400,030).
In the description of the cup, the seller wrote: "No sports collection will
be complete without the addition of this vintage championship collector's
edition beer cup. Simply a must for all Artest fans." There were also several
photos of the cup hitting Artest, though there is no way to prove its
authenticity.
After Artest was hit with it, he went into the stands, setting off a melee
between players and fans.
The NBA players' union filed an appeal on behalf of Artest and two teammates
on the Indiana Pacers.
The union asked that an arbitrator decide whether there should be reductions
in the suspensions of Artest, Stephen Jackson and Jermaine O'Neal. Artest was
banned for the season, or 72 games, Jackson for 30 games and O'Neal for 25.
Artest said on Tuesday he wished he had not got into the fight but felt the
punishment was too harsh. The suspension means he will lose about US$5 million
(euro3.82 million) in pay.
Ron Artest of the
Indiana Pacers is escorted out of the Palace by Chuck Person following a
melee during their game against the Detroit Pistons.
[AFP] | "I don't think it was fair - that many games," Artest said.
Union director Billy Hunter has called the penalties excessive, saying a
suspension of about 35 games would have been more appropriate for Artest.
Commissioner David Stern, who issued the suspensions, has sole discretion
under collective-bargaining rules over penalties for on-court behaviour, and
appeals also go through him.
The union, however, asked that the case go to an arbitrator.
"The action taken by the commissioner sets a new high-water mark in terms of
the kind of discipline he feels he can impose," Hunter said in a telephone
interview. "I think he has exceeded his authority and should be subject to
review and challenge."
Stern would normally have 20 days to rule on an appeal of an on-court
discipline matter.
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