Frankly, I'm glad. Maybe it will reduce other problems as well.
DENVER (AP) -- The NBA is issuing guidelines to limit the size and number of beers sold at games and have teams announce what kind of fan behavior is considered unacceptable, commissioner David Stern said.
The new leaguewide security regulations take effect next week and are an attempt to prevent another brawl like the one in November at a Detroit Pistons-Indiana Pacers game.
They will cover such topics as the number of security officers teams should employ, as well as their tactics and placement in the arenas, Stern said in Thursday's Denver Post.
The league office could penalize teams that do not adhere to the guidelines, and fans who become unruly "might not see the end of the game," Stern told the Post.
"We are not looking to eject fans," he said. "We look at this as an opportunity to remind people that coming to an arena is an opportunity to share an experience of rooting a home team on to victory and booing the opposition, but not doing it in an anti-social way that goes against our civil society."
Many NBA teams already are meeting the new standards, Stern said.
The policies are to take effect after the All-Star break. The league's All-Star Game is set for Sunday in Denver.
Five Indiana Pacers players and seven fans were charged in the Nov. 19 melee at the Palace of Auburn Hills, Mich. Players went into the stands after a fan threw a full cup of beer at the Pacers' Ron Artest.
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"If guns kill people I can blame misspelled words on my pencil!"
So a major isolated incident in the last 70 years of the NBA and now it's time for a security overhaul? Taking the fans toys away(beer) isn't the answer. It will never stick too much money involved.
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Jimmy S: 1/8/09 " I can hardly wait for baseball season to start. I love my Yankees! "
NBA issues new security guidelines...
