When it comes to daylight thuggery, it hardly matters whether the culprit strikes someone with an open hand or closed fist although the damage is likely to be more with the latter.
It's a given everyone "is a nice guy" until something like that happens.
I must confess even I missed the off-the-ball punch between the eyes because the sponsors' banners were planted directly in line with the media table near the hoop at the Pettigrew-Green Arena, Taradale.
Somehow blinker-clad observers seem to think the end result somehow justifies the degree of culpability.
Hey, Stinnett bled in an eye, was concussed and had butterfly stitches to show for it.
It seems by the way James Blond Super City Rangers players were reacting on Monday in Napier, Stinnett should have simply taken it on the noggin "like a man".
Without doubt the guard from Guam, in his Hawk and NBL debut, is lippy but since when did that become a crime?
What is suspect is NBL board's calculated delay in passing sentence to enable the Taranaki franchise to dish out a two-match suspension for the April 16 attack as a mitigating factor.
The concurrent term from the NBL board makes a mockery of the judicial system as does a match ban each for Mika Vukona (Rangers) who tried to choke Tai Wesley (Wellington Saints) in another match in that same round.
The punishment for "striking with a clenched fist" is 5 to 24 weeks so one can deduce O'Riley got away with a rap on the knuckle because he'll be back in 2.5 weeks on May 6.
In the last few games at the PG Arena what was blatantly obvious was the way in which players derided match officials.
To walk away amid gestures of perplexity following decisions is tantamount to calling referees inept, if not cheats.
Any code that openly ridicules its officials and questions its presence is standing on a wobbly foundation.
It's reassuring that Rangers coach Jeff Green believes the NBL protagonists need to put their money where their mouth is to invest in developing officials.
Should officials be considered part of the entertainment process amid some jousting? Absolutely.
Should they be held accountable? Most definitely.
What they shouldn't be subjected to is humiliation, especially from players who continuously make blunders and need at least three neutrals on the court to mediate.
Rugby and rugby league fall in that category, too.
Crusader Nemani Nadolo's tip tackle of Brumbies halfback Tomas Cubelli in Canberra in the 39th minute on Sunday is under scrutiny.
The Fijian left winger will miss the Super Rugby matches against the Reds, Highlanders and Waratahs but somehow fans seem to think the ruling is harsh when juxtaposed with Highlanders midfielder Jason Emery.
Would anyone make a big song and dance about Nadolo if the remaining games were against the Sunwolves, Jaguares, Force or Kings?
Emery's night was well and truly done in just the 12th minute when he burrowed into airborne Sharks fullback Willie Le Roux in Dunedin last Friday night.
Like Nadolo, Emery was guilty of recklessness because TV and video footage replays show the halfback had all the time to pull out of the "collision".
Sanzaar judiciary's decisions are acceptable, if not leaning towards leniency.
Do players have to come out with career-ending or life-threatening injuries to quell futile debates on referees and Sanzaar favouring one country or another?
The rules are explicit in both incidents and, in the face of overwhelming evidence, Nadolo and Emery must dance to the music.
The right to appeal should always be there but it isn't a tool to manipulate or override a system that is there to protect the health and safety of players.
The very fabric on which the NRL is built on is fast fraying after Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson was slapped a $40,000 fine this week for questioning the integrity of referee Ben Cummins.
I've always considered rugby league to be at the forefront of innovation in officiating but it seems even their $2 million "bunker" system to monitor infringements isn't enough to counter human frailties.
In soccer football, players and coaches seem to think officials are fair game when it comes to abusing and manhandling them every time a decision doesn't go their way.
It's time for the transgressors to take a hard look at themselves on TV after each game.
It's also time for the judiciary to put the powder puffs away and read the riot act.
