Charges filed in NBA melee

PONTIAC, Mich. -- Five Indiana Pacers players and five Detroit Pistons fans were charged Wednesday in one of the worst brawls in U.S. sports history -- a melee last month that broke out on the basketball court and spread to the stands.\nNBA players Ron Artest, Stephen Jackson, David Harrison and Anthony Johnson were all charged with one count of assault and battery each, a misdemeanor that could bring three months in jail and a $500 fine. Three-time All-Star Jermaine O'Neal was charged with two counts of the same offense.\nThe five fans were charged with the same offenses. One of them, Bryant Jackson, 35, was also charged with felony assault -- punishable by up to four years in prison for allegedly hurling a chair.\nThe fight broke out Nov. 19 during a game against the Detroit Pistons after an on-court dispute over a foul. A fan tossed a drink at Artest, who then charged into the stands and began beating a man he thought had done it.\nAmong the fans charged was 39-year-old John Green, the man accused of throwing the cup.\n"John Green ... in my mind single-handedly incited this whole interaction between the fans and players and probably is the one that's most culpable," said prosecutor David Gorcyca, who relied in part on video footage of the brawl in bringing charges.\nThe fans charged also included Detroit Pistons star Ben Wallace's brother, David, of Selma, Ala., was in town to watch the game.\nAfter Artest climbed into the stands, Jackson joined him and threw punches at fans, who punched back. O'Neal hit a fan who ran onto the court. Gorcyca said there was no evidence that any Pistons players threw punches during the melee.\nTwo days later, NBA Commissioner David Stern suspended Artest for the rest of the season, Jackson for 30 games and O'Neal for 25. Six other players -- including four members of the Pistons -- received shorter suspensions.\nThe players' union is appealing the suspensions of Artest, Jackson and O'Neal, and a grievance hearing is scheduled for Thursday in New York.