Forget the finger-pointing, and ignore the extreme howls on the luncatic fringe of both fan bases turning a blind eye toward to idiotic behavior of the players and coaches on their respective teams.

Everyone is at fault here.

Here's what our city's best sporting event has denigrated into:

Pathetic.  All of it.  Both sides.

I don't know what's worse, that the fight happened, or that it seemed so predictable, with the officials blowing multiple chances to take control of the game.

Yancy Gates' right hooks stand out as the most obvious and sickening displays of aggression, but it ain't like there were many innocent bystanders on the Cintas Center floor.  We had haymakers being thrown by players on both team, total lunacy wearing both black and white.

This was preceeded by mounting trash talk, a halftime altercation near the UC bench, and a sense that the game was spiraling out of control of both officials and coaches.

We had guys talking and players refusing to not respond.  We had a postgame bodybag reference.  We had former Bearcats and Muskies sending profoundly stupid tweets. And now we have the national spotlight shining brightly on an event we used to take great pride in.

I don't know how any fan of either team is proud of what they saw today.  I don't know how anyone can defend player's actions this afternoon.

The consequences for both teams should not be put in the hands of either coach.  Both failed this game and this rivalry and blew their chances to dictate punishments.  The two school presidents should be charged with any suspensions and must together grab ahold of this series if it's going to continue.

And yes, the rivalry should continue.  It's a great rivalry, one of the best in sports, and something that those of us with a sense of perspective enjoy annually.

Unfortunately the lost sense of perspective by many involved has led us to this, a large black eye on two good programs, that has sadly thrust Cincinnati college basketball into a really ugly light.

As a huge college basketball fan, it plain sucks that it took something like this to ignite any discussion of a great sport.

It's time for the Crosstown Shootout to grow up.  The adults involved at both institution need to make that happen.  Now.