The Malice at The Palace

The Malice at The Palace is one of four names given to the on-court altercation at a NBA game between the Detroit Pistons and their arch-rivals, the Indiana Pacers on November 19, 2004 at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan which spread into the stands. This disturbance has led to serious repercussions for those involved from both the NBA and the legal authorities. This incident is also known as The Basket Brawl, The Palace Brawl and The Motown Melee.

Consequences

On November 21, the NBA announced the following suspensions:

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• Ron Artest: Remainder of the season (73 games in the regular season and Indiana's 13 playoff games, for a total of 86 games)
• Stephen Jackson: 30 games
• Jermaine O'Neal: 25 games (later reduced on appeal to 15 games)
• Ben Wallace: six games
• Anthony Johnson: five games
• Reggie Miller, Chauncey Billups, Elden Campbell, Derrick Coleman: one game each

The suspensions of Artest, Jackson and O'Neal were appealed by the NBA Players Association; only O'Neal's appeal was successful.

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The league says it will review security procedures and alcohol policies at all arenas, and Commissioner David Stern has vowed to impose lifetime, leaguewide bans on spectators who cause trouble.

Related Topics:
Alcohol - David Stern

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The Auburn Hills Police Department and Oakland County Prosecutor's Office were also investigating and were considering filing criminal charges against the players and spectators involved. In addition, legal actions may be filed in the civil courts; at least two injured spectators filed lawsuits claiming monetary damage. The final legal consequences of this incident for those involved may take months to determine.

Related Topics:
Police - Oakland County - Prosecutor - Criminal - Civil courts

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On November 20, the Pistons announced they would increase the presence and visibility of security in their arena. The number of armed policemen was to be doubled to about 20, and the number of unarmed security was to be increased by 25 percent. In addition, a protective cover was to be added to the tunnel connecting the court to the dressing rooms. Pistons CEO Tom Wilson said his club was considering banning the spectators involved from the Palace, and revoking their season tickets.

Related Topics:
November 20 - Tunnel - CEO - Tom Wilson - Season ticket

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On November 30, Oakland County Prosecutor David Gorcyca announced that he will seek charges against all players involved in the melee, "Whoever was involved in fisticuffs will be charged, regardless if they were wearing a jersey. It's obvious there were several Pacer players and fans that dealt blows." Pacers players have formally refused to cooperate with the investigation.

Related Topics:
November 30 - David Gorcyca

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On December 2, Green and Haddad were permanently banned from all future events at the Palace, and Artest has filed restraining orders against both from Haddad and Green which rules that they can't be within 60 feet from each other, which is the believed distance from where Green threw the cup at Artest.

Related Topics:
December 2 - Restraining orders

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On December 8, five Pacers and seven Pistons fans were charged, O'Neal was charged with two counts of assault and battery; Artest, Harrison, Jackson, and Johnson were charged with one count each. Five of the fans received one count of the same charge; Bryant Jackson, a 35-year-old fan with prior criminal convictions, was charged with felony assault, for throwing a chair. The two fans that were on the court were charged for trespassing. Gorcyca showed the incident in a press conference, to explain why they were being charged.

Related Topics:
December 8 - Assault and battery - Bryant Jackson - Felony assault

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Later in December, the union's appeal of the longest suspensions went before a federal arbitrator. In a decision handed down on December 22, the arbitrator upheld the full length of all suspensions except that of O'Neal, which was reduced to 15 games. The NBA appealed to federal court; on December 24, a judge issued a temporary injunction allowing O'Neal to play before a full hearing on the NBA's appeal.

Related Topics:
December 22 - December 24

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The Pistons and Pacers next played on December 25 at the Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, with the Pistons winning 98-93 without further incidents. Wallace played, as he had long since completed his suspension. O'Neal, who had already served 15 games of his suspension, also played due to the injunction. Artest and Jackson were still under suspension and unable to participate.

Related Topics:
December 25 - Conseco Fieldhouse - Indianapolis

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O'Neal played in two more games, against the New Orleans Hornets and Charlotte Bobcats, before the NBA's case was brought before the U.S. District Court in Brooklyn, New York on December 30. Judge George B. Daniels upheld the arbitrator's view, stating in his 21-page decision, "Fighting with or striking a fan has never been characterized as conduct on the playing court." The heart of the NBA's argument against O'Neal was that under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, Commissioner David Stern had absolute authority to pass out suspensions and hear appeals for all on-court incidents. But because O'Neal's behavior was classified by the arbitrator and the judge as an off-court incident, arbitration was allowed under the CBA, and thus the arbitrator was within his rights to hear the case.

Related Topics:
New Orleans Hornets - Charlotte Bobcats - U.S. District Court - Brooklyn, New York - December 30

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While the Pacers therefore regained the services of O'Neal earlier than expected, no further appeals were made to reduce Artest's and Jackson's suspensions. The distinction cited by many was that while Artest and Jackson had entered the stands to fight, O'Neal had remained on the court. Jackson returned to the Pacers' lineup on January 26 2005.

Related Topics:
January 26 - 2005

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It was later revealed that Auburn Hills police planned to charge additional fans, once they are positively identified.

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On March 25, 2005, the Pacers played at the Palace for the first time since the brawl. The game was delayed 90 minutes after a series of bomb threats that were aimed at the Pacers locker room. No explosive devices were found. Two of the key figures in the original incident missed the game, as Artest was still suspended and O'Neal had an injured shoulder.

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On March 29, 2005, Bryant Jackson pleaded no contest to a felony assault charge for throwing the chair. On May 3, he was sentenced to two years probation.

Related Topics:
March 29 - May 3

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In May 2005, the Pistons and Pacers met in the second round of the NBA Playoffs. The Pistons were heavy favorites, as the Pacers' status as serious title contenders was seen to have been erased by the absence of Artest. Indeed, the Pacers periodically had called for Stern to reconsider Artest's suspension during the season, despite a marked lack of receptivity by Stern, as the Pacers' play visibly suffered.

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It is currently hoped that, by transpiring without any distracting incidents, the playoff series laid the controversy to rest. The Pistons fell behind 2 games to 1 early, but then clinched the series with three straight wins. The series was mostly memorable for the valiant exit of Pacers icon Reggie Miller, who scored 27 points in his final professional game as the Pacers were eliminated from the playoffs. The Pistons would advance to the NBA Finals, where they lost to the San Antonio Spurs in seven games.

Related Topics:
Reggie Miller - San Antonio Spurs

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