I agree completely with Gilgamar - Artest, at a minimum, should be banned for life. Any player who enters the stands should be banned for a full season's worth of games, even if it extends into next year's season.

Further, I was really disturbed when I heard that both Artest and the Player's Union President try to explain/justify the fight by saying that there is a war in Iraq, tempers are hot, and there is a culture of violence. {I couldn't find their exact quotes}

This is really disturbing to me. Not only does this indicate that Artest continues to take responsibility for his actions, but now he's trying to place the blame for it on the war in Iraq? COME ON!

Further, Artest BLATANTLY pushed his new rap CD (which is allegedly about "love") during his post-suspension press conference. What horseshit. He should not be able to use this as a launching pad for his rap career or to promote his new rap album (remember, he was benched by Indiana for several games at the start of this season for asking for time off to promote the album).

Overall, I think this is just another very clear example of the idea that American celebrities don't have to take responsibility for their action and, in fact, blame other for their mistakes. First in mind comes Bill Clinton and his new library (and the interview he gave in relation thereto) - he blamed the whole Monica Lewinsky scandal NOT on the fact that he couldnt keep his dick in his pants, but on partisan "out to get him" Republicans.

This makes me sick.