<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Police are investigating a confrontation between Karl Malone and a fan who says the Lakers' forward poked him in the face before Game 3 of the NBA Finals. In a dispute shown repeatedly on national television, the man was at the edge of the court during Los Angeles' layup drill before Thursday night's game, won by the Detroit Pistons 88-68. Malone, a 19-year NBA veteran and the league's second-leading career scorer, said Friday that the fan had obviously been drinking and spit in his face while heckling him.</div> http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2004...tory?id=1820204 Looks like the Laker fans aren't the only ones who "have no class"..
wow i got to see, those fans have no class whatsoever.....given that the spitting thing hasn't be proven true yet....but fans at a hotel ....disturbing the lakers?....what are they? 3 year olds?
from what i saw, the fan was heckling Malone from his seat. Malone turned around and approached him. they exchanged words and then Malone poked the fan in the head with his finger. i didn't see any attempt to spit on Malone. Heckling is part of the game. Malone looked like he lost his cool in this situation. if the fan did spit on Malone, i fully agree that he should have been kicked out and Malone has a legit complaint. however, from the replays that i saw, it didn't look like the fan tried to spit on him.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting McGrady^1:</div><div class="quote_post">disturbing the lakers?....what are they? 3 year olds?</div> IMO, Karl Malone acted like the 3 year old for engaging the fan face to face.. Let your game prove it, theres no need to go shove around a rich 20 year old 5 foot nothing prick. But I know i would have done the same thing if I was Karl. And if the fan did spit on Malone, i think he had all the right to confront him. But just the usual heckling, there is no need to go do that.
when you get in to this profession, you should already expect the worse from the fans, especially when you get to this stage of the season. this isn't the first time that fans have heckled players at hotels either, this happens in all sports, all the time. malone was wrong for putting his hands on the guy, regardless of what the guy may have said to malone. be the man, let an authoritive figure know about the situation, and let them handle it accordingly. If i had those seats in that game, you better believe i woulda been all up in the players faces yelling at them as well. You don't see shaq going in to the stands in sacramento and poking people in the face who ring cow bells. Reggie Miller never went in to the stands and got physical w/ spike lee.
I agree. Very unclassy act by BOTH the fan(if he did spit on Malone) and Malone for jumping in hs face. Like jigga said, Reggie never got in Spike Lee's face during the Kincks/Pacers rivalry. I must admit, It was funny hearing about the Piston fans disturbing the Lakers at their hotel, I mean it hilarious. Im not saying its childish or im not saying its right, but its funny how the Laker fans didnt think to do that to the Pistons. --And before all THESE disputes start, IM NOT SAYING ITS RIGHT!
Looks like both Malone,and the Fan are quite frankly stupid Stupidity comes in all shapes and forms and ways...No wonder why sports fans get a bad rap on general :thumbsdow
Karl acts like this is the first time that someone has heckled him. He been in the league a no time and there is no reason for him to act in that manner. The man was wrong for spitting on Malone if he did but no need to put your hands on the guy.
Well Malone was playing pretty hurt and he was supposedly in pain every step he took out there. From what I heard from friends the guy was making fun of the way Malone was playing, or something in that manner. I'd have to say that would also piss the hell out of me if someone was mocking my game when I shouldn't even be playing. Though I don't support what he did, I don't blame him for it. As for fans of the other team harassing the Lakers in their hotels, that is nothing new. We saw this from Portland and a couple of other teams in the playoffs in the past. From what I know Laker fans have never done anything like this. I just posted this to let everyone know that Laker fans aren't the only ones with "no class" as some T-Wolve fans said we were after the series against them.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting iamme:</div><div class="quote_post">from what i saw, the fan was heckling Malone from his seat. Malone turned around and approached him. they exchanged words and then Malone poked the fan in the head with his finger. i didn't see any attempt to spit on Malone. Heckling is part of the game. Malone looked like he lost his cool in this situation. if the fan did spit on Malone, i fully agree that he should have been kicked out and Malone has a legit complaint. however, from the replays that i saw, it didn't look like the fan tried to spit on him.</div> i agree with you 100% you took the words right out of my mouth <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Kobe=DaMan:</div><div class="quote_post">Karl acts like this is the first time that someone has heckled him. He been in the league a no time and there is no reason for him to act in that manner. The man was wrong for spitting on Malone if he did but no need to put your hands on the guy.</div> mmhm....i agree with that too
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Phreeze:</div><div class="quote_post">Well Malone was playing pretty hurt and he was supposedly in pain every step he took out there. From what I heard from friends the guy was making fun of the way Malone was playing, or something in that manner. I'd have to say that would also piss the hell out of me if someone was mocking my game when I shouldn't even be playing. Though I don't support what he did, I don't blame him for it. As for fans of the other team harassing the Lakers in their hotels, that is nothing new. We saw this from Portland and a couple of other teams in the playoffs in the past. From what I know Laker fans have never done anything like this. I just posted this to let everyone know that Laker fans aren't the only ones with "no class" as some T-Wolve fans said we were after the series against them.</div> it's hard to do that in beverly hills like rivers stated, as the cops will be out there in a matter of seconds.
Malone should have just ignored him and should have let security handle the situation. Malone will definatly cough up some chips for this incident.
My first post. I saw Malone poke the guy in the face but i didnt see the guy spit at him. The guy might of spit at Malone. Malone might of just lost his cool at w/e the guy said and poked the guy.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting dee still ballin:</div><div class="quote_post">I agree. Very unclassy act by BOTH the fan(if he did spit on Malone) and Malone for jumping in hs face.</div> Let me ask you. If the fan actually did spit in Malone's face, you wouldn't get into the fan's face yourself?? It's all retaliation and common instinct. That fan deserved everything that came to him. And now the police are getting involved into this?? Unbelieveable. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting dee still ballin:</div><div class="quote_post">I must admit, It was funny hearing about the Piston fans disturbing the Lakers at their hotel, I mean it hilarious. Im not saying its childish or im not saying its right, but its funny how the Laker fans didnt think to do that to the Pistons.</div> Why would Laker fans want to return the favor? Why would Laker fans want to go stand outside the Piston hotel room looking stupid, ridiculous, and pathetic just to try to rattle the Piston heads?? I think Laker fans in my opinion whether diehard or a bandwagoner would rather get their tickets and seat in their respectable seats at the Staples Center just in time for the tipoff rather than kick it outside a parking lot. Would that make a Laker fan more of a diehard fan?? So what's your definition of unclassy now?
IF the fan did indeed spit on Karl, his reactions were understandable. However - As the professional, he should have ingored the actions and let his play silence the crazy fan. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">from what i saw, the fan was heckling Malone from his seat. Malone turned around and approached him. they exchanged words and then Malone poked the fan in the head with his finger. i didn't see any attempt to spit on Malone. </div> Thats what I saw too, and in that case, Malone is the one at fault. One hecking fan shouldn't cause you to lose your cool. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Why would Laker fans want to return the favor? Why would Laker fans want to go stand outside the Piston hotel room looking stupid, ridiculous, and pathetic just to try to rattle the Piston heads?? I think Laker fans in my opinion whether diehard or a bandwagoner would rather get their tickets and seat in their respectable seats at the Staples Center just in time for the tipoff rather than kick it outside a parking lot. Would that make a Laker fan more of a diehard fan?? So what's your definition of unclassy now?</div> No, I'm sure theres Laker fans out there who would want to sit outside and kick it outside a parking lot. Theres unclassy fans supporting every team, and the precious Lakers have unclassy fans as well.
