To use your example:

In hockey its known as the 3rd man in rule. If someone starts bashing on your teamate, and you jump in, whether to pull your teammate out or kick the crud out of the other guy, you are assessed a 5 minute major and possible game misconduct.

In those cases there are refs there watching the whole time; in REAL life its not like that. As pointed out earlier the mods aren't here 24-7. That is why there is this thing called self defense and the little known thing called citizens arrest.

There is a law that protects those who do cpr to try to save someone; if that person dies it isn't the fault of the person who was trying to save them. Sort of a bit Duh right? I see this as the same, he stepped in to help.
Sure it wasn't text book, but had he not jumped in things would have only got worse.

Not to mention those banned have potential for further abuse where-as the mods have apparently decided that Escalante does not.
I have to agree.