Brawl at the Palace lives in infamy (AP) Updated: 2005-11-18 08:53
Artest, Jackson, O'Neal and teammates Anthony Johnson and David Harrison were
sentenced to a year of probation after pleading no contest to misdemeanor
assault charges. They also were ordered to perform community service and pay
fines.
For some of the players, the legal battle is not over yet. A spectator
who was punched on the court, Charlie Haddad, is suing O'Neal, Johnson and the
Pacers. Haddad's attorney, Larry Charfoos, said depositions from the players are
expected in December or January and the case could go to court in August 2006.
"Charlie got decked by O'Neal with the punch seen around the world, and he's
still disabled and under medical attention," Charfoos said. "Charlie pleaded no
contest to being on the court and his sentence of two years probation was worse
than the players who punched him, which I still don't understand."
Criminal cases are pending for John Green, the fan accused of lobbing the cup
that ignited the fracas, as well as spectators William Paulson and John
Ackerman. David Wallace, one of Ben Wallace's brothers, was sentenced to a year
of probation and community service for punching Pacers in the stands.
"I just got caught up in the heat of the moment," David Wallace said in a
telephone interview from Selma, Ala. "When you don't have time to think about
something, there's not always a thought process involved."
When Detroit hosted the Boston Celtics on Tuesday, Phil Creglow, a
24-year-old fan from Lansing, was sitting close to the spot from where the cup
was tossed.
"When you buy a ticket, I think you have the right to heckle these
millionaires, but you cross the line when you start throwing stuff," Creglow
said.
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