The Palace Brawl 2

This past week a "brawl" broke out between the LA Sparks and Detroit Shock at the Palace of Auburn Hills (sight of the infamous Palace Brawl between the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers). Many things have been written and debated over the past few days about the brawl, but the majority has focused on Shock assistant coach Rick Mahorn and his "man-handling" of Sparks center Lisa Leslie. Here are a few of my thoughts, both interesting and humorous:

1. I agree with Rick and those present who said that Mahorn was obviously trying to be a peacemaker. He did not shove Leslie. He pushed her back and she lost her balace, falling in the process.

2. Watching the replay, I guess Lisa Leslie forgot that when confronted by Mahorn she took a swing at him. To me it looked like she took the swing and was trying to retreat, maybe trying to get a quick blow in. I'd probably be trying to get away if I saw Rick coming towards me as well.

3. How about the 2 other Sparks players who attack Mahorn? One gets him from behind, and the other comes over another assistant "restraining" him. What were they thinking? Did they really think they were going to fight him, or were they just trying to get in shots?

4. What do you think was really said between Mahorn and Sparks coach Michael Cooper (and former Laker forward):
Cooper: What are you doing?
Mahorn: About to kill that nappy-hea.... (insert Don Imus quote, just kidding)

5. In all seriousness...did no one in the NBA or WNBA not think to put in a rule about bench decorum in the event of a fight or altercation? Seriously? In over 10 years of competition, no one thought that, "Hey, you know one day there might be a fight, maybe we should put in the NBA rule about leaving the bench."
Maybe they did think about it but decided against it on the off chance that Jeff Van Gundy might get a job in the WNBA. He'd be the only coach in history to hang on someone's leg in a NBA and WNBA game.