The Malice At The Palace
This violent brawl that occurred on November 19, 2004 will forever be engraved into sports history. Take a look…
After the incident, the following consequences were imposed:
Ron Artest (Metta World Peace): 86-game suspension
Stephen Jackson: 30-game suspension
Jermaine O’Neal: 15-game suspension
Ben Wallace: 6-game suspension
Anthony Johnson: 5-game suspension
David Harrison, Reggie Miller, Chauncey Billups, and Derrick Coleman all received shorter suspensions.
The suspensions would also lead to a financial loss which wasn’t publicly disclosed.
This event gained significant media traction, becoming a widely discussed topic in the sports industry. It thus had a great impact on the culture surrounding the league. The main takeaway from this altercation was focused on the fan-player relationship and the need for greater boundaries. This could be enhanced through the emphasis that was placed on professionalism and sportsmanship in the sports world, and the improvement in security.
“[David Stern] handled it great. I just think he did the right thing.”
Fast forward to 2020 and Metta now understands and is glad about how he was held accountable for his actions. The enforcement role Stern played helped to keep the league running and professional, especially during the ‘Malice At The Palace’ crisis. Although the violence it encompassed was unfortunate, the event helped address and progress professional behaviour towards the world of sports.
