Basketbrawl --

Yeah, I got angry. First I was disgusted. Then angry.

It was the image of a small frightened child being comforted by an older child in a supposedly safe venue in the stands above a basketball court that did it for me.

First of all, I don't even like men's pro basketball. Grown men with body tattoos, gold chains and god-that-had-to-hurt-looking body piercings running up and down a court in baggy shorts (playing noooo defense while) swishing a ball through a net for money. B.O.R.I.N.G. Except for maybe a last nano-second of the 7th game in a best-of-seven series with the score tied 200-200. (When I was in retail, we used to be leery of young men in baggy pants -- into which they could stuff merchandise when they thought no one was looking.)

Maybe those over-paid kazillion dollar boyz in baggy shorts who play-for-pay will have to forfeit some of those big bucks in damages while sitting out the season. Or maybe they can hit the pro wrestling circuit. (Forget it -- they wear tight pants in that league ....) Or take the rest of the season off (instead of a few games, as one bozo asked) to promote his music career. At least NOW we know why some brawlball players put their hands into those baggy shorts while standing at the free-throw line (i.e., as baseball players are known for "adjusting" themselves) .... These bozos are SEARCHING for their brains!

Fans (including lots of impressionable kids who probably look at some of those idiots as role models) PAY to sit in designated seats where they have the right to cheer, holler and taunt (not throw things at, btw) players who perform less than professionally. (Remember all those re-runs from the Christians vs Lions series and the original gladiator league? Even then, there were rules of engagement.)

Players don't, however, have the right to leave the court to enter the stands and attack fans. Under any circumstances. (I bet if we really really delved into word history, we'd find that the word "stadium" once meant, sta-di-heck-outta-um-stands.) That's why the court has lines around it. That's why the bench is also designated for players and team personnel ONLY. That's why locker rooms are closed to fans. Fans pay to see you play. Get it?

I hope the NBA commissioner has the guts to bounce a few balls himself. (I doubt it. But I still hope.) I'd hate to see modern-day Rome-dome fall.

Maybe someone will show the commish that image of those kids in the stands.