Although I, too, have a problem with these "prima-donnas", what you say above is NOT what happened.
The fight was on the court between players, and once Artest was laying on the scorer's table and things had settled down, he got nailed by an object from the stands. He did not pick that fight, but he sure did pounce like a wild animal.
What is even worse: the Clemson/S Carolina brawl which some blamed on the brawl in the motor city.
https://forums.windrivers.com/images.../2005/03/1.gif
People are getting worse, and sports become an outlet for aggression.
https://forums.windrivers.com/images.../2005/03/1.gif