Flagrant Foul: Racism in 'The Ron Artest Fight'
2006; RELX Group (Netherlands); Linguagem: Inglês
ISSN
1556-5068
Autores Tópico(s)Law, Rights, and Freedoms
ResumoWith under a minute left in Indiana Pacers-Detroit Pistons basketball game, Pacer Ron Artest was called for a hard foul on Detroit star Ben Wallace, prompting Wallace to shove Artest forcefully with two hands. Thus began a brawl that would engulf teams, fans, and eventually NBA, NBPA and sports world nation-wide. Media reaction to fight was clear in its focus on Artest but incautious in its entrance into cultural contest, contributing to an acknowledgement that incident was emblematic that lacked an understanding of what precisely it reflected. Flagrant Foul focuses on influence of racial bias in framing the Ron Artest Fight and its impact in severe suspensions that followed. Criminological or economic explanations are lacking, lending clarity to racial dimensions of media and league responses. More, reflection of market bias in addressing player misconduct is widespread, with racially charged incidents attracting increased scrutiny and violence against women and other ills often going unaddressed. League policies should be reformed to be less discretionary and more proportionate to severity of offenses even if, as in steroids debate, federal legislative action is necessary.
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