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eBay users go mad for basketball punch-up memorabilia
But is it the real 'Holy Grail' of US sport?

By Ina Fried

Published: Thursday 25 November 2004

Lord Stanley's Cup may be tough to attain, but it's easy to get one's hands on the most famous cup of this sporting year.

There are now several listings on eBay for cups purported to be the one thrown at Indiana Pacers star Ron Artest.

For those who have not heard the news, a Detroit Pistons fan threw a cup at Artest at the Pacers-Detroit Pistons game on Friday night, prompting Artest to charge into the stands. A melee ensued, with fans and several Pacers players trading blows.

Given that it was a standard-fare stadium cup, there's no way to tell whether any of the ones for sale is actually the cup. But they all look close enough.

In addition to the cups, there were eBay listings for popcorn that was allegedly thrown at Indiana players, as well as a listing for liquid just like the kind spilled on Artest. The latter seller promises it will be shipped in its own plastic container. (Hint: It's called a 20-ounce bottle of Pepsi.)

Of course, eBay is known for being the place where pop culture meets the marketplace. Artest-related gear cropped up on the website almost as soon as the brawl broke up, though the cup auctions are a newer twist. The first auction for a cup said to be the one made famous by ESPN replays reached the absurd level of nearly $100m before being cancelled.

Ina Fried writes for CNET News.com.