ATHLETES IN TROUBLE WITH THE LAW
...sort in Eagle, Colo., where he was staying in late June of 2003. Bryant admitted to having sex with her but said it was consensual. Bryant's unnamed accuser was described as a 19-year-old college student from Eagle, Colo. Bryant apologized to his accuser, but will still face a civil lawsuit filed by her, which will occur in the near future. ARTEST - Verbal abuse is just part of the job in major sports. As a player in a major sport you are criticized and harrased for every little mistake that you make. Now imagine that abuse turns physical. Instead of hurling vulgar comments, the observers hurl objects. Maybe a bucket of popcorn, maybe a cup of beer. This is not part of the job. This is assault. What do you do? On Nov. 19th of this year that is exactly what occurred at the palace in a game between the Detroit Pistons and the Indiana Pacers. A skirmish between the Pistons and Pacers devolved into a bizarre and revolting display after Artest stormed into the crowd seeking revenge for the apparently shocking crime of being hit in the chest by a plastic cup. Fans and players fought in the seats and on the floor, and nearly every kind of food product available at the Palace was hurled at Pacers players. Blame fans. Blame alcohol. Blame a security force that was not prepared for widespread chaos. But most of all, blame Artest. The NBA did, suspending him for the rest of the season. Th...