Police Investigating Karl Malone Incident with Fan in Detroit.

[wilheim]

Police are investigating a confrontation between Karl Malone and a fan who says the Lakers' forward poked him in the face before Game 3 of the NBA Finals. "He was really out of line," Malone said. "Just because you buy a ticket doesn't mean you should be able to get on the court and degrade somebody."

Malone shouted back and jabbed his right index finger at the man, whose head jerked backward. As to whether he made contact, Malone said, "Maybe I did, but he was in my playing field".

Karl Malone says fans have harassed the Lakers since their arrival in Detroit.

"At this time, the investigation is going on and we are not releasing any information about the case," police Lt. James Manning said.

wil.

 

[TheGeneral+]

Pretty sad IMO. But, The American way.

 

[stew]

I sincerely wish that they could lock this fan and Karl Malone in a room so they could settle their differences.

 

[TheGeneral+]

You think lawsuits are somewhat figured into employment contracts for these high rollers?

 

[Journeyman]

A love tap that will net a minimum of 50 grand...as soon as Malone poked him, 100`s of lawyers all over Michigan were scrambling $$$

 

[RobFunk]

i just want to see a fan spit on karl's face. not kobe's. just karl's. i figure karl has to be the biggest dirtbag on that team.

he had a club that could do it all. but he didnt. he goes to the lakers and get hurts all the time. here karl, have some bad karma you loser.

he makes good friends with kobe, a young kid in trouble who would just assume be left alone. they exchange private phone numbers. karl you loser, youre not a kid anymore youre supposed to be a retiring soon to be hall of famer.

he drives big rigs as a hobby. what a dork.

so ya man, forget the finger poke stuff. just spit on the guys face.

barkley did. he spit on a little girls face.

 

[TheGeneral+]

Why would Malone even do this really? Was it a plan to fire up the team or something?

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> but he was in my playing field <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Nice comment.

 

[wilheim]

Update:

Malone won't be charged in dispute with fan
By David N. Goodman, Associated Press, 6/14/2004 16:57

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) Karl Malone will not be charged in a confrontation with a fan who said the Lakers' forward poked him in the face before Game 3 of the NBA Finals.

Oakland County Prosecutor David Gorcyca said Monday that Malone did put a finger on Happy Asker's cheek, but it was ''de minimis'' a legal term meaning minor or technical and therefore did not warrant prosecution.

''All Mr. Malone has to worry about now is guarding Ben and Rasheed Wallace,'' Gorcyca said.

In a dispute shown repeatedly on national television, Asker was at the edge of the court during Los Angeles' layup drill before Thursday night's game, won by the Detroit Pistons 88-68.

Asker, 28, of Southfield heckled and swore at Malone before the player responded and poked at him, Gorcyca said.

The prosecutor also said that Asker, who attended the game with his brother, Diah Asker, 31, of San Diego, claimed to have paid a ticket scalper $25,000 for a pair of tickets to the game. Gorcyca noted that buying the scalped tickets was illegal and therefore the men's presence in The Palace was illegal.

The brothers also violated trespassing laws and an Auburn Hills ordinance by coming onto the playing floor, Gorcyca said.

Malone, a 19-year NBA veteran and the league's second-leading career scorer, said last week that Asker spit in his face while heckling him.

''He was really out of line,'' Malone said. ''Just because you buy a ticket doesn't mean you should be able to get on the court and degrade somebody.''

 

[packer2012]

The Lakers should have just "accidently" hammered the moron it the face with a basketball!

If a guy sets foot on the court they should throw his ass out on the spot.

Then the cops could sit in the $25,000 seats!

 

[TheFunkMonkey]

I certainly don't want Karl Malone to face a silly lawsuit or criminal charge, but he DID poke the guy in the face. Since when did "I don't think he intended to hurt him" (especially when Malone's poke was caught on TV) allow you to poke somebody in the face?

"I'm sorry officer......I didn't intend to drink 15 beers and then drive my car into a tree."

And then the prosecutor basically blamed the fan! Because the fan got the tix from a scalper, the fan's presence @ the game was illegal? So I guess Karl Malone could've kicked him in the nuts too?

I'm dumbfounded by this theory. If you buy a scalped ticket, Detroit's legal system refuses to acknowledge your existence @ said event? Therefore, if somebody stabs a knife in your kidney during halftime, they can't be charged with a crime. After all, how can you stab somebody who isn't really "attending" the event? Nice precedent set by the county prosecutor.

Anyway, the guy is a moron for spending $25,000 on the seats. I'm willing to bet nobody in the floor-seats paid more than him.

 

[TheFunkMonkey]

Wonder if he bought the exact seats listed here. First row on the floor, center court, $13k each.

Game 5 tix $$$