EXPLOSION AT ISRAELI BASKETBALL GAME

Serious Trouble on the Court in Israel (ESPN)

A top game in Israel was interrupted by explosives -- apparently fireworks -- tossed onto the court in a paper bag.

An alert security guy scooped up the bag and ran off the court with it, but before he made it too far, the bag exploded, apparently costing the guard a fair percentage of his hand.

The video (use IE) is not for the faint of heart, and nor are the photos.

The International Herald Tribune carried an AP report which reads:

Reports from the scene said he lost three fingers on one hand from the blast. It was not known who threw the device.

Violence in sports has become an issue in Israel. A week ago, Israelis were scandalized when supporters of the Beitar Jerusalem soccer team booed during a minute of silence for assassinated Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.

The game was between Hapoel Jerusalem and Hapoel Holon. Players on hand include names you might recognize like Will Blalock, Marcus Slaughter, PJ Tucker, Tanoka Beard, and Tre Simmons.

Meir Dahadi, Noam Meir of Haaretz report:

"Hapoel Jerusalem will not play basketball again until those who are guilty are found," said club chairman Danny Klein. "If we find out that the guilty party is a Hapoel fan, as far as I am concerned, the team will be dismantled. I will quit. I told [Holon coach and owner Mickey] Dorfman that I would propose that he do the same."

"They tried to tell us that it was not a terrorist attack," said Jerusalem's Jamie Arnold, "but I don't care what they say. That was a terrorist attack and we were all very scared."

UPDATE: Another photo, not as gruesome, but certainly powerful.