Keyon Dooling of the Orlando Magic and Seattle's own Ray Allen were both ejected from the Sonics' home game at the Key Arena last night, in the second period. for fighting. The series of events involved an elbow to the chin by Augmon (though he may have thought it was Dooling), an elbow to the chest by Allen, then Dooling chasing and knocking Allen down, at which point Ray tackled Dooling and drove him into the front row of courtside season ticket holders' seats.

To their credit, despite some adult beverages being accidentally propelled in the direction of the fighting players, the fans stayed quiet and out of the fight. The two were ultimately separated and ejected from the game. Dooling attempted to follow Allen to the Sonics locker room to continue the "dialogue" but was prevented from doing so by Seattle PD.

Was this on the scale of the Malice at the Palace in November 2004--not hardly. Could it have been? I don't believe that potential even existed, as fans at the Key are vocal, but not nearly as physical as those at the Q, or even those at the Safe. 

 To begin with, we are talking seats that START at $200.00 per for a game, with ticket holders that have had their seats, on average, for many years, and don't want to risk losing them.  Secondly, unless the Blazers are in town, the fans generally don't come into the game looking for a confrontation, verbal or otherwise.  (Now, if these same people go to a T'Birds game, they tend to behave in a more hockey fan like manner).

Ray is normally not physically confrontational, but this WAS the second time in less than 10 days that he was on the receiving end of an elbow, the first time injuring his eye and still not completely returned to normal. According to sources on his side, Dooling is reportedly not a fighter, either.

Order was restored promptly, and the Sonics went on to win the game by a score of 113-104.