Indiana Pacers Stephen Jackson Fires Gun At Strip Club

By Mark Hoerrner

Going to a strip club to see your favorite sports legends used to be a pretty safe prospect. Safe meaning that the most dangerous thing in the club was the bouncer. Nowadays, though, it seems that most NBA or NFL stars can't even get in the door of an exotic dancing establishment without being strapped. Just ask Stephen Jackson of the Indiana Pacers: like most professional athletes, their life is full of moments where lives must be put on the line because of the sensitive information they carry when defending our great nation. Oh wait - that's Jack Bauer in the TV series 24.

Jackson's just a basketball player. So what's with the gat?

Apparently, it's becoming standard issue for basketball players as evidenced by the recent antics of Jackson and fellow Pacers players Jimmy Hunter, Marquis Daniels and Jamaal Tinsley. Though the details are not yet in full disclosure, Jackson managed to get into a fight with 23-year-old Deon Willford and Quentin "Fingers" Willford at the club. According to an article in the Indianapolis Star, Jackson and his teammates were trying to ignore the Willfords and that may have prompted Quentin to wrestle with feelings of self-esteem, causing him to lash out physically at Jackson as well as threaten to shoot the four Pacers players. Quentin scored first blood with a punch to the mouth.

The Willfords' continued the assault as Deon hopped into a car and ran down Jackson, hitting him with a car Deon was not legally allowed to drive.

Naturally, Jackson responded by firing into the air. At some point during the fray, Jackson also kicked Quentin.

Now Jackson will be charged with one felony, criminal recklessness, a legal catch-all for behavior that may not have easy classification; and two misdemeanors, disorderly conduct and battery. Deon Willford also met the thin blue line as he'll be charged with the same felony as well as a felony charge of leaving the scene of a personal injury accident and the misdemeanor count of driving without a license.

Luckily for the Pacers' fans, Jackson is sorry for what he has done.

"I want to apologize to my teammates, to the fans and to this organization," Jackson told the Associated Press after his first practice since the event. "It was a very unfortunate incident. I definitely take responsibility for my action and everything I've done. I'm definitely blessed to be here today. I didn't really think I'd be up the next day after I got hit by a car and be walking. But I'm definitely blessed. I'm glad to be on the court. I'm happy to be alive and be able to be with my teammates and my family."

He was also sorry that the police discovered illegal drugs in Tinsley's car that night, but were happy that because four people occupied the vehicle, no one person could be blamed for possessing the substance.

The team's primary concern was whether or not Jackson would be able to play in the upcoming season. Jackson put all he had into his practices, but teammates and coaches said he was a bit rusty.

"He did more today than we expected him to," Indiana coach Rick Carlisle said. "He actually did some medium contact stuff, and he just insisted on doing it. Fortunately, he didn't take any hits or anything."

Fortunately. We certainly wouldn't want our multi-millionaire felons getting hurt and possibly forced into an early retirement where they might have to come down and live by the law like the rest of us.

At least Indiana Pacers legend Reggie Miller weighed in with the only comment of common sense in the saga. He derided the players' actions and then accused Carlisle of holding weak practices viewing that four of his players were out all night touring strip clubs.