Month: January 2006 (Page 5 of 14)

He claims he was defending his family. The NBA claims they took that into account, suspending Antonio Davis for five games.

“We have made it plain to our players and our fans that players may not enter the spectator stands, no matter the provocation, and that violations of this policy will be treated with the utmost seriousness,” Jackson said. “We have concluded, however, that Antonio’s actions were the result of his belief that his family members required his immediate assistance, and have taken those mitigating circumstances into account in setting the length of the suspension.”

I think the suspension is too long, given the circumstances. He didn’t throw any punches, he didn’t attempt to hurt anyone in any discernable manner. He thought his wife was in trouble and he went into the stands to defend her.

Knicks forward Antonio Davis climbed into the stands Wednesday, but not to beat innocent fans.

“I saw my wife being threatened,” Davis said in a statement released immediately after the game. “I felt I had to act. I did not have enough time to alert security.” Davis did not elaborate on why he ascended about 10 rows of seats to reach his wife in the stands. There was no physical confrontation after he got there, but several people were pointing and shouting for a few moments before security arrived and Davis was ejected.

I’m sure this move raised a few thousand eyebrows in the United Center, but I have no problem with his explanation. In fact, it’s refreshing to see a professional athlete have this type of concern for another human being.

The Knicks lost to the Bulls in overtime, 106-104.