Michael Jordan gave way to LeBron James in the NBA of the 2000s, just as traditional forms of communication began to yield to the birth and growth of new media.

Fan interaction with the athletes has always been a component of sporting events, whether it’s been the good, the bad or the ugly, to steal the title from the famous western movie of the 1960s.

2004: A fight that broke out on court during an NBA game between the Indiana Pacers and the Detroit Pistons spills into the stands at The Palace of Auburn Hills when Pacers forward Ron Artest goes after a fan after being hit with a drink thrown by another fan. Artest's actions sparked a massive brawl between players and fans that stretched onto the court and ended with multiple suspensions, including an 86-game ban for Artest, the longest suspension for an on-court incident in NBA history. Hide Caption