The NBA and its players represent a game of extraordinary skill, athleticism and grace, and, for good or bad, set an example for the entire basketball world, on the court and off of it. Like everything there must be balance between the positive side of things and the negative and it is even better if the positive side outweighs the negative.

On the NBA we have on the positive side, the players’ passion for the game, their commitment to the fans and respect for the history and tradition of the game. In regards to the negative, while the NBA has worked meticulously to eliminate fighting from the game, incidents such as that Saturday night at Madison Square Garden between the Denver Nuggets and the New York Knicks show the public there is still much more to be done, or maybe tell us that the solutions are not being the ideal ones.

As a result NBA scoring leader Carmelo Anthony was suspended for 15 games and six other players were penalized as commissioner David Stern came down hard on both teams after the Nuggets and Knicks brawled at Madison Square Garden.

It is a shame for the fun of the game but the NBA is in it’s obligation to take the strongest possible measures to avoid such spectacles in the future and to make a statement to all who follow the game of basketball that they understand their obligations and take them seriously.

The main concern should be for the safety of the players and the fans, because when things such as these get out of hand you cannot predict or project where they're going to go.