Basketbrawl

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Unless your gastrointestinal tract is immune to violence and bad taste -- a distinct possibility given their abundance in society today -- this was a week in sports that could turn your stomach. Rage, racism, sex, alcohol, possible lawsuits and felony charges: We touched 'em all, baby. And what followed the Terrell Owens-Nicollette Sheridan Towel Drop, the Lou Holtz Farewell Donnybrook and the Malice at the Palace Player-Fan Brawl (the nastiest incident in the NBA's 58-year history) was one of our sporadic sessions of head-scratching and soul-searching. What's happened to our games? What's gone wrong with our sporting culture? Aren't sports supposed to be something that kids can enjoy? Aren't they meant to entertain and even inspire us?

--From "The Ugliest Game" by Jack McCallum, Sports Illustrated, Nov. 29, 2004