By now, we have heard from many people blaming Ron Artest for the melee that erupted between his team, the Indianapolis Pacers and the Detroit Pistons' fan during Friday nights' game. Also, several individuals have gone on TV saying that his reaction is not one of a normal human.

The world of sports changed when Detroit Pistons' Ben Wallace committed a flagrant foul on the Pacers' Artest with 45 seconds left in the game. Some people have this notion that Artest showed restraint towards Wallace, because he did not want to fight him. However when Wallace hit him across the face with a towel, Artest was held back by teammates. Artest probably would have gone after the Pistons' Ben Wallace. A fan hitting him in the face with a beer was the catalyst for Ron Artest going into the crowd.

Everybody with good sense understand what Ron Artest did was wrong because the end result could be a riot, and also he lost self-control and someone could have really got hurt. Yet if the average person gets shoved by the throat, hit by a towel in the face, and hit by a beer, then you cannot say that a negative reaction to this events is not normal. Not many of us have ever been in that type of situation. It is easy to say what you would not have done. Even Peter, Jesus' disciple denied him three times, so what makes us think we are so righteous. I know people in middle management who have fought at football games against opposing fans.

I hope and pray that the Indianapolis Pacers do stand behind Ron Artest, because he has problem that been manifested in anger on the court. To turn away Artest would not be in his best interest nor his kids, who need a father who is alive to teach them to be responsible individuals. Just because you make millions a year, does not allow you to become invincible towards people's idiotic acts in this society.

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