I listened to the morning news on the radio and read the same ugly news in the newspapers. Three stories grabbed the lead in both media:

1) Ron Artest, Indiana Pacer basketball player goes into the stands to attack Detroit fans.

2) Donald Trump enters into bankruptcy as his Atlantic City Hotels are under question.

3) The former Secretary of State Colin Powell goes to Israel and Palestine as a mediator.

I have decided to comment on the sports story. On Friday night I was using my remote control to excess. The NY Knicks were playing the Dallas Mavericks on MSG and Indiana Pacers were playing the Detroit Pistons on ESPN.

Going back and forth was a work of great diligence. A commercial on one station caused me to tune in to catch some play in the other game. Back and forth and forth and back. It took great skill.

The Knick game was close and Walt Frazier was doing a professional announcing job. The Knicks were trailing and could have won the game on a desperation three point shot at the buzzer. They lost 103-101 but it was a valiant attempt.

When I turned back to the Indiana-Detroit game pandemonium had broken loose. Indiana was winning by 15 points; the series of events:

1) Artest pushed Wallace rather hard in the back. It was not called a "flagrant foul" by the refs.

2) Wallace turned on Artest and really pushed him hard in retaliation.

3) Artest and Wallace were separated by coaches, refs and players.

4) Artest laid down on the scorers' table in the supine position. He looked as if he was resting.

5) Detroit fans showered Artest with beer and ice water.

6) Artest jumped off the table and sought to confront the perpetrator by going after him into the stands.

7) More fans tried to block and hit Artest.

8) Stephen Jackson and Jermaine O'Neal went into the stands to help their teammate.

9) The fans were hitting the opposing team players and dousing them with beer. The players were slugging everyone in sight.

10) Back on the court a fan approached Artest. Fearing bodily harm Artest punched and decked him.

Eventually order was restored.

Basketball supposedly is a non-contact sport. On Friday night, there was a sickening display of violence, bad sportsmanship and thuggery. Where is all this violence leading us to? Will future tennis matches break into violence?

The players were at fault.

The fans were at fault.

Is it a sign or signal of something terribly wrong with our society?

I am both puzzled and appalled.

I have no answer!