In a post on October 26, NBA Attempts to Fill NHL Void, I took a tongue-in-cheek poke at the increasing violence in the NBA and suggested (somewhat jokingly) that the NBA was trying to fill the void for violence left by the NHL lockout. 

Now we have what could be the worst "riot" in NBA history in the Friday night game between the Pacers and the Pistons at Detroit.  Here's the story at Fox Sports.  My sarcasm from October 26 should not mask the fact that I truly think that these types of outbreaks are very bad for the game of basketball, my favorite sport.  The NBA lost its hope for a successor to Michael Jordan in Kobe Bryant.  It seems now that Lebron James is the newly anointed role model, quite a burden for such a young man.

The NBA is in trouble.  There's more talent than ever before, but there seems to be a great deficit in character.  This latest crisis is going to cause weeks and months of soul-searching throughout the league from the commissioner's office to every locker in every locker room.  Let's hope they come up with some answers.  A great game is at stake.

Meanwhile there's college basketball, which is rapidly becoming my solid favorite to watch.