Antonio Davis was born on Halloween. Surely, he’s had his share of practical jokes and April Fools-like horrors regarding his birthday. He is one of the most respected players in the league mentally as well as physically. The thirteen year veteran and President of the Player’s Association couldn’t have been more terror stricken than to see his family involved in an altercation during his team’s visit to a hostile arena. It should be noted that Davis is a former Bull player, so fans of Chicago are familiar with him. Could you imagine? What would you do? What the hell would be going through your mind? Would you have the mental strength to slow down the moment and breathe before reacting? It’s a man’s nature to protect what is close to him regardless of the circumstances and the consequences that are most assuredly to come thereafter. Most men would die for their family at the drop of a hat. They would smile doing it if they could somehow know that their family was safe and everything was all right. Any man who wouldn’t react in a similar fashion to Davis better get off the porch and run with the pups.
Why did he then get suspended five games for going into the stands to protect his family? "I witnessed my wife being threatened by a man that I learned later to be intoxicated," Davis said in a statement issued after the game. "I saw him touch her, and I know I should not have acted the way I did, but I would have felt terrible if I didn’t react. There was no time to call security. It happened too quickly." Who are you trying to protect David Stern? The insecure fan, one who enviously mocks player salaries while still forking out money for games, or the reason why you have a league to begin with, the players? You continuously sit back and greedily make absurd amounts of money by instigating a perceived confrontational relationship between fans and players. I guess money is the root of all evil!
Think of you and your daughter sharing some quality time in the park. The phone rings. It’s your boss. You walk to the car to examine the contents in your brief case. Your boss is stressing, hoping you are successfully going to meet the proposed deadline the next day. You take a deep breath and assure him/her that all the I’s are dotted and all the T’s are crossed. Out of the corner of your eye you see a strange man giving your daughter a lollipop! How fast would your run to her? Would you trip? Would you see the car passing in front of you?
This is David Stern’s dilemma. If the NBA, realistic sports writers, fans, and parents had immediately criticized the opportunistic fan that actually threw the now infamous beer, as well as Ron Artest, this wouldn’t be such a problem. In the NBA’s present state of nullifying fans dysfunctional behavior, it will most definitely continue to be. David Stern should understand that he has to protect players as well as their families. The fans aren’t your sell. The players are. You are fully aware that any arena is society’s mirror. Stops listening to all the bull crap your marketers are handing you and face the facts. This is not the Roman Coliseum. Why are commissioners of professional sports leagues trying so hard to emulate such a sick society driven event? Fans, in paying good money to see their sports heroes perform, sometimes are way overzealous in their reaction to one play. Even though that one play could leave the result of a game in the balance, it is merely a game. In any arena in this entire fanatical world there are fans that would smack their momma in the head if she criticized their favorite player. Some have absolutely no regard for their fellow humans and it shows continuously. Someone is seriously going to get hurt one day in the stands. I’m sure the mainstream press will clamor quickly to put blame on the players and their outrageous salaries that constantly put pressure on the average consumer to enjoy a "family" night out. Foolishness!
Larry Brown was coach of the Pistons when the "brawl" took place. He was quick to point out that this current incident should in no way be comparatively described to last years incident. "Come on, that’s his wife," Brown said. "That’s entirely different. I was worried about Kendra. That’s why he went in the stands, he saw her falling back. That thing that happened in the stands had nothing to do with the two teams. That’s a man concerned about his family." He also stated almost in a rebellious way–mocking the NBA’s brass–that he was sure David Stern and Stu Jackson would do the same thing if their wives were involved. Maurice Taylor, who was ejected for getting into it with Chris Duhon, said Davis noticed something amiss a trip and a half up the floor before the altercation occurred. "He took care of family first," Taylor said. "He’s got his wife and young kids up there." Asked about Davis’ demeanor in the locker room after the game, Taylor said: "He was upset, but he was clear headed. Everyone watches where their family is." Taylor said Davis told him it looked as if his wife was involved in some kind of altercation in the stands, but wasn’t sure what it was about. "He didn’t know what was going on, he just knew something was going on," Taylor said. Isiah Thomas was one NBA company man who was disappointingly judicious in his response that the punishment fit the crime. Wow Zeke! Tsk, tsk.
When incidents like this one happen, we as media need to state facts and not hyped up ludicrous embellishments of his-story. These unfortunate flash points are too many times used as an excuse for sports writers to stand on their proverbial soapbox and speak about the NBA’s image problem for the sake of fans. While there are players that are ridiculously impersonal, the majority of them smile and greet fans after games in the tunnel win or lose. Basketball players are closer to the game than any other sport. They should be complimented for their people skills that most other professional sports wish they had. They instead are outrageously criticized every time they react to a hypothetical brick being thrown their way. They are humans and not animals for some of you to poke and prod like you do at the local zoo. As long as there are sports, athletes are going to make sick amounts of money-period!
Go to the game, drink a beer or two if you choose to and forget about what went on in the office or at home. The way you speak of professional athletes you should in the same breath criticize Brad Pitt or Ashley Simpson for any alleged bad choices they might make. Why do they get a pass? Why is Hollywood or the music world characterized any differently than professional sports? It’s all entertainment. Why are all Black athletes measured with the same stick? What is the real reason why you want Davis suspended?
If you really paid attention to Kendra Davis, you would have seen she was trying to get the guy involved to relax and breathe. Now this clown is suing Antonio Davis and his wife for slander and battery for at least a million dollars? Come on! Get back in the pet store cage, you puppy!
Michael Tillery is a Maryland writer. He can be reached via email at [email protected]