Jermaine O'Neal Suspension reduced

[WC64]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1951675

NEW YORK -- Jermaine O'Neal won a 10-game reduction Wednesday in his suspension for fighting with fans during the Nov. 19 Pacers-Pistons brawl, but an arbitrator upheld NBA commissioner David Stern's bans on Ron Artest and two other Indiana players.


Arbitrator Roger Kaplan's decision makes O'Neal eligible to return Saturday, when the Pacers host the Pistons in the teams' first matchup since one of the most violent melees in NBA history.


It was unclear whether the NBA would recognize Kaplan's authority to intervene. The league refused to participate in the arbitration hearing Kaplan conducted Dec. 9.


The NBA had no immediate comment.

[CCx]

that's nuts...i wonder if the NBA will go along with it...? also i wonder what the reasoning was for reducing o'neals and not anyone else's....and how convenient that he's allowed to return for the christmas game...should be interesting!

[ThaSaltCracka]

probably because he didn't run into the stands?

[jdl22]

I always thought his suspension was too long. He nailed a guy, but it was on the freaking court. If you go on the court you deserve a beat down. If the NBA really wanted to create an invisible barrier between fans and players they shouldn't punish O'neill at anywhere near the same level as the others. Remember the streaker at the super bowl that got smashed? Can't remember who hit him but I would assume that guy got absolutely nothing which would be right.

[CCx]

[ QUOTE ]
probably because he didn't run into the stands?

[/ QUOTE ]

wow, how about that?

[stabn]

I think it got reduced because of how great his punch was. He laid that guy out man. Definitely one of the nastiest hits i've ever seen, and i think i'd give the guy points for that.

[ThaSaltCracka]

haha, good point.