NBA
Notebook: Pistons ban 2 from Palace

By Seattle Times news services

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AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Two men were banned from events at The Palace for what the Detroit Pistons say is their involvement in last month's brawl during an NBA game.

John Green and Charlie Haddad have been sent letters informing them of the ban, which also includes events at DTE Energy Music Theatre in Clarkston, Pistons spokesman Matt Dobek said yesterday. The Clarkston location is another holding of the Palace Sports and Entertainment organization.

Green, of Oakland County's West Bloomfield Township, is accused of lobbing a cup at Indiana Pacers forward Ron Artest on Nov. 19, sparking the brawl. Haddad, of Burt, ran onto the court that night, Dobek said.

The brawl spilled into the stands and led to three Indiana players being suspended for 25 or more games — including a season-long penalty for Artest.

"That's ridiculous. Are they going to ban Artest and the other Pacers who ran into the stands and beat up on our fans and the people that live in this community?" Shawn Smith, Green's attorney, said. "They're completely picking on the little guy. ... It's not fair."

No criminal charges have been filed in the brawl.

Accuser's lawyers

dispute Bryant stance

DENVER — Lawyers for the woman accusing Kobe Bryant of sexual assault filed documents disputing his argument that others were at least partly responsible for any emotional injuries she suffered.
 
A motion filed in Denver federal court accused the NBA star of trying to shift responsibility to the media, state courts and others.

The woman's lawsuit seeks unspecified money damages from Bryant for alleged pain and emotional injuries after her encounter with Bryant at a Vail-area hotel in July 2003.

His attorneys have argued the woman's alleged emotional injuries could have been caused by media organizations that published information about the case.

Defense attorneys also said responsibility could extend to individuals who threatened the woman and to the state courts, which mistakenly released her name and details about her personal life when Bryant faced a criminal charge of sexual assault.

Notes

• Prosecutors filed a drug charge against a friend of NBA star Carmelo Anthony who said he accidentally left marijuana in the player's backpack before it was found during an airport luggage search.

James Cunningham of St. Louis faces a charge of possessing less than one ounce of marijuana. If convicted, he could be fined $100 but would face no jail time.

• Denver Nuggets forward Rodney White pleaded guilty to two weapons charges and agreed to 100 hours of community service to have a third charge dropped. He spent two weeks in jail after he and two other men were arrested in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 5 for allegedly shooting randomly into the air.

• Memphis Grizzlies president Jerry West was in talks with representatives for Mike Fratello, a candidate to take over for departed coach Hubie Brown, but the sides had not finalized a deal.

• Malik Allen, Miami Heat reserve forward, will miss six to eight weeks after undergoing back surgery.

• New Jersey lost Zoran Planinic in the second quarter with a broken left hand last night against Washington.

• Boston placed guard Delonte West on the injured list with a broken right ring finger and activated forward Tom Gugliotta.