Agreed with both of you to an extent. Yes it wouldnt have happened if the fan didnt throw the cup. But it also wouldnt have happened if Wallace wouldnt have pushed ARtest,, and if ARtest wouldnt have fouled Wallace hard,, and Wallace wouldnt have done that if Artest wasnt so notorious for being a thug,, on and on.
So I think you have to look at the point where all hell broke loose, and the direct cause for that. Which was ARtest going into the stands. I dont give a rats a$$ what happens to you, grow the F up and let security sort it out. I realize security seemed like they were probably doing keg stands in the back but Artest is the one that caused all this.
And i know this is irrelevant, but he's such a punk b**ch for not just squaring off with wallace and getting it over with. No, he had to take it out on the smallest guy with glasses he could find, he didnt even throw teh cup,, if you notice that kid still had his drink in his hand when ARtest jacked him up. Then the punk decided to pop a couple of fat mexicans to show how tough he was. Yes they deserved what they got for coming onto the court,, in most situations. But this wasnt most situations. this was chaos. And when the players break the "veil" and go into the stands, its a free for all, so I dont blame the fans for being on the court. Again I blame artest, b/c he didnt have to pop that guy,,, he couldve walked in the other direction,, he was half his size and fat and drunk,,, and not exactly threatening him.
Bottom line, ARtest and O Neal and jackson were the genesis for the whole fiasco and should be bounced for the season to make a point.