Bluffing with Nothing

I am sure most of us has seen the PBA (Philippine Basketball Association) incident where a player by the name of Arboleda pummeled a fan who was verbally abusing him. I would like to chime in with my take on the matter. Let me just qualify this by saying that I have no vested interest in any side. I have not watched the PBA games for a long time. I do not know anybody in Burger King and I certainly am not remotely acquainted with the Katigbak guy who was assaulted.

Simply put, I think both guys deserved what they got.

1. Fan being pummeled. If you are going to verbally abuse someone in whatever setting. Then you have to be prepared for the consequences. I'm sure it went something like this. By what I saw, Arboleda did this fake falling down but actually making sahod to the Smart Gilas Player. Katigbak is livid and shouts something to the effect of "Put...ng Ina mo, arboleda, gago ka talaga" Arboleda hears him, has had enough of the abuse since it was not the first time the guy said something abusive, and starts walking towards the fan. I am pretty sure the fan thinking he is safe within the confines of his front row seat does the fake taunt that everyone does when faced with this kind of situation. "Oh ano, laban ka" or some similar phrase. Arboleda vaults the divider to the utter surprise of the fan (you can see it in his face) and starts raining kicks and punches down on him. Fan cowers in fear and covers up his face.

You are rude and obnoxious to somebody who was just doing his job. You get punched in the face. Karma. In poker analogy, you're like the guy with the big stack who keeps pushing players around by going all in, but then somebody decides to call you and you show a 6-3.

2. Arboleda being banned for a year without pay to the tune of around 2 million pesos. Quite extreme, but you assaulted a paying customer. No matter how abusive or haughty the guy was or how hyped up you are with anger. A player has no right to physically engage a fan. It simply cannot be done and tolerated as you are essentially harming the reputation of the whole league you are in.

You violate the rules and cross the line. Fined 2 million pesos. Karma. You decide to call the poker bully with your A-3 and delighted to see his 6-3. Until the flop comes and its 6 6 K. You lose your stack but at least you feel you made the right move and showed that you were not going to be pushed around.

See if it had ended here, then you just say. Both guys got what they deserve and leave it at that. But in a sudden twist to this incident. Lawyer of fan writes the PBA and wants Arboleda banned for life. Now this is just plain pathetic. I am sure that the Katigbak guy's ego was crushed. All his grandstanding and he ends up in the fetal position cowering like a girl. I mean I symphatize with what happened and we all know that Arboleda is bigger. But you could have at least tried to throw out a weak kick or something to save your pride. But you didn't do it and the damage is done. Threatening somebody's livelihood doesn't put back the inches in your dick.

Actually, legally, it was the best thing that could have happened. Trying to retaliate would have made his case weaker and Arboleda might be slightly justified in his actions. But if this was caveman times, the fan would be like the cave guy who ends up sweeping outside the cave while the alpha cave man bonks your girl with his club and drags her inside his cave. You cannot solve the problem by complaining to the elders and having him evicted from his cave. The only way is to pick up your club and battle to the death. LOL.