Artest flips off fans of Cleveland Cavaliers

Indianapolis Pacer Ron Artest, the NBA's newest poster-child for in-your-face antics and excessively physical play, was fined $20,000 by the league on Thursday for making an obscene gesture towards Cleveland Cavalier fans during an April 3 game.

The St. John's University product, who's been suspended a league-high five times this season, has missed a dozen games due to his immature behavior. With the Pacers crusing towards a 21-point victory against the hapless Cavs, Artest shoved Cleveland shooting guard Ricky Davis out of bounds and was whistled for a technical foul.

When teammate Austin Croshere attempted to restrain a fuming Artest, the Pacer forward shoved him aside before slapping away the arm of Head Coach Isiah Thomas.

After Cavs forward Jumaine Jones was ejected minutes later, Cleveland fans began throwing garbage on the court. After being hit by a stray quarter, Artest almost incited a riot by motioning towards the rabid crowd for more.

It's been a rough season for Cleveland fans. Their Cavs, last in the Eastern Conference's Central Division with 15 wins and 61 losses, have basically quit on interim coach Keith Smart, content to land projected lottery pick (and Akron, Ohio native) LeBron James.

Last month, during a rare blowout victory over the Utah Jazz, Cavs guard Davis attempted to earn his first career triple-double by shooting at his own rim and grabbing the rebound.

Suffice to say that type of maneuver is blatantly illegal: Ricky finished with 28 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds.

Cuban's April Fools joke a hit with fans



Controversial Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, who once managed a local Dairy Queen for a day to prove how incompetent NBA referees are, pulled a fast one on Mavs coaches and players Tuesday.

During a timeout in the second quarter of Dallas' home game with the New Orleans Hornets, Cuban inititated a heated argument with a man disguised as a ref. The two began shoving each other before Cuban put the man in a headlock and was dragged off the court by Dallas equipment managers.

Assistant Coach Del Harris, fearing that Cuban was serious and that his actions could cost the owner a lifetime ban from the sport, ran towards the staged melee and began scolding Cuban.

Practice fight leaves Blazer with black eye



Further cementing their notoriously poor reputation as the Portland "Jail" Blazers, a brawl during team practice Wednesday left forward Ruben Patterson with a badly bruised eye and second-year power forward Zach Randolph suspended for two games.

The Blazers, who stand a half-game in front of the Minnesota Timberwolves for the fourth spot in the Western Conference, have experienced more turmoil than any other NBA squad in recent history.

The fight broke out when rookie Qyntel Woods got into a heated exchange with journeyman Patterson. As the third man in, Randolph sucker-punched Patterson in the face as teammates held him away from Woods.

"This instance crossed the line," said embattled Portland general manager Bob Whitsitt, "and this type of behavior will not be tolerated by our organizations without the individuals being held accountable for their actions."

The laundry list of misdemeanors committed by Blazers this season reads like a script of "Cops." In late November, Patterson was fined $100,000 after he was arrested on suspicion of domestic assault. Just last Saturday, Woods (a '02 graduate of Northeast Mississippi Community College) was released on bail after Portland police stopped his vehicle and charged the 22 year-old with marijuana possession.

Fueling rumors that Blazer stars may be auditioning for roles in the sequel to "Half Baked," a Nov. 22 traffic stop in Washington State also found Portland veterans Rasheed Wallace and Damon Stoudamire guilty of marijuana possession.