I was watching the Piston-Pacers game last Friday night when the brawl broke out. I missed how it actually started, since I was channel-surfing, but I came back to the game just a few seconds after Ron Artest launched himself into the crowd. It was quite a scene.

Yesterday, when Pam and I went to Indianapolis to do some early Christmas shopping, I listened to talk-radio discussions about the game all the way down and back. We now have XM Satellite radio in Pam’s new car, and between the four sports stations, someone was always talking about the fight. Sometimes, all four were. It was quite interesting.

The initial commentary, last Friday night, from the ESPN quartet almost seemed sympathetic to Ron Artest. “He had a right to defend himself.” But my gut told me the NBA would come down hard on any players who went into the stands, where they could tumble over little kids and innocent fans. And on Sunday, Commissioner David Stern took that hard-line approach. I didn’t expect the severity of it‚ÄîArtest out for the season, 30 games for Germaine O’Neill, 25 for Stephen Jackson‚Äîbut I don’t disagree with it. Stern was certainly sending a message.

I do think O’Neill’s suspension might have been excessive. I don’t think he went into the stands, and the fan he plastered was on the floor and, from O’Neill’s view, was evidently threatening someone in the Pacers organization. And then with the abuse he took just getting into the locker room….

But, good for Stern. Stephen Jackson was certainly out of control. A madman. I never liked him when he played for San Antonio, and I still don’t. I don’t really know why, but I don’t.

My only complaint is that Detroit got off easy. I don’t know who DESERVED to get hit harder. Frankly, Ben Wallace’s six-game suspension was probably a bit too much. I guess there’s no real way to penalize fans or the stadium or the Pistons organization. So, they won. And Pistons fans are probably gloating over the ability to say, “Yeah, we’re the baddest fans in the NBA!” It was a total win for them (except that they lost the game).