An Eye for an Eye

eclipses the Suns.

Ron Artest retaliated, rather gently, with a forearm to Manu Ginobli's noggin in game 1 of the Spurs v. Kings series and was suspended. Yesterday, Raja Bell took Kobe down, admittedly with more force than he should have given the current, suspension-happy, climate. However, Bell's foul of Bryant was no worse than some of the elbows Kobe has hit Bell with during the series. Raja Bell was responsible for the incident yesterday, which resulted in a one game suspension being issued today. Kobe Bryant is also to blame and the league either a) fails to recognize that fact or b) is ignoring it, just like they did when they penalized Ron Artest and not Manu Ginobli.

There has been some physical play in the playoffs this year. But, it's bound to happen when you see the same team over and over again. That is just the way it is. The problem is the league is overreacting. They overreacted to the Artest incident (possibly because of Arte! st's history) and have been hamstrung by it ever since. Dana Jacobsen reasoned, on Cold Pizza this morning, that because Artest got one game, Bell has to get one game. Well, Bell isn't Artest. I don't think it should matter who does what, but it does ... the league cares, at least usually. Each incident is different, despite similarities, so blanket application of rules does not make sense.

Physical play will continue and the referees need to continue to give flagrant and technical fouls for actions that are out-of-line. The league doesn't need to intervene after the fact and automatically suspend guys. What the league should do is look at the entire body of work that leads up to an act before deciding what to do. Artest didn't hurt Ginobli, Bell didn't hurt Bryant, Posey didn't hurt Hinrich. None of these incidents were Kermit Washington - Rudy T. I think Artest and Bell were both within the limits of acceptable action and the league office is shaping! the playoffs ... decreasing the friction the Lakers and Spurs are fac ing in the first round. Maybe the league is trying to create buzz with Spurs v. Mavs and Lakers v. Clippers, battles of LA and TX.

One final note: Reggie Evans should receive a very harsh suspension. If I were handing out suspensions, Evans would get 20 games to start next season and 5 games the next time his team reached the playoffs. Players shouldn't have to worry about having their private parts attacked during games and the league needs to take a stand. Bell and Artest were sending messages in the open. Evans tried to hurt Kaman without the refs seeing. If Kaman had not shoved Evans (which he was penalized for) and brought attention to the event, Evans might have gotten away with it. I know I didn't notice what happened at full speed. I'd compare this to a hitter corking his bat or a pitcher scuffing the ball in baseball, actions that are done deceitfully. Plus, add in the bodily harm that can be done when you are grabbing! and pulling at someone's privates and you realize the league should take a stern position, pardon the pun. So far? Nothing! Maybe they're busy debating whether or not tights violate the on-court dress code.