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Who Does Ron Artest Think He Is Without Basketball?
By L. Sinclair
You have to hand it to Ron Artest. This guy really just gets
under the skins of many NBA fans. Mr. Artest, exactly who do you
think you were prior to your basketball career and when you
throw it all away, exactly who do you think you’ll be after
basketball? It’s time to grow up and make your fans, what few of
them you have left, proud again. Don’t you think?
He’s graced the covers of some of the biggest magazines on the
newsstands today. Don’t you know that the executives of
Penthouse, Sports Illustrated and GQ all sold large amounts of
magazines just because Artest doesn’t know how to behave? When
you think about it, it really is disturbing, especially when you
visit his website. He boasts about providing the funds for 6
college scholarships and naturally, he is very active with
children through his charities, summer camps and general love
for children. And why wouldn’t he love children? He certainly
can relate to them, right down to the temper tantrums.
In the day where celebrities act like drunkards strung out on
drugs in night clubs while divorcing their parents, the general
public should demand more from athletes and frankly so should
the commissioners who slap them on the wrists with a fat fine
and send them to the bench. As commissioner David Stern sternly
impressed upon the media in 2004 after the infamous Artest
incident, “The line is drawn,” Stern said as he referred to the
suspension of players for the Indiana Pacers after Artest fought
his way into a suspension which carried some of the heaviest of
fines. Yes, David, the line was drawn and the chaos has
continued but don’t feel too bad, it’s the norm among
professional sports.
In fact, professionals are making such a name for themselves
acting out with little self-control that even the college
players are getting in on the act. This year in College
Football, baby Vick really made his big brother proud when he
stomped the leg of another player. He didn’t learn this behavior
from big brother but he may be under the false assumption that
bad behavior is a special prerequisite for making ‘a go of being
a pro’. And we won’t talk about the asinine behavior of T.O. By
the way, is he still around?
To add insult to injury, its people like Artest that REALLY
needed the break that the NBA gave not only him but his entire
family. Artest, now too big for himself has all but forgotten
his most humble beginnings. He grew up with two brothers and six
sisters, and from his own accounts in his auto-biography on his
website, he tells of living in the projects of New York City.
Less than seven years ago, he was drafted by the Bulls and a few
short years later signed a multi-million dollar deal for a
basketball lifestyle brand and gained the kind of money most
only dream about. And yes, Artest, considering you started out
in the projects, this NBA stuff has been fairly lucrative for
you, wouldn’t you agree?
Still, in 2004, Artest commanded $6,158,000.00 in salary, but
because he apparently has lost the need for money, he lost over
4.9 million because of suspensions. And true, he probably
doesn’t need the money now but some other well deserving athlete
did. Someone who would have been glad to sign autographs, shake
hands, smile and do what they are paid to do which is play ball
and please crowds.
What’s more, when professional players, like Artest, get by
with a bad attitude once, they continue to revel in it. For
instance, way before Ron Artest became a notorious bad guy, he
had another scuffle. Two years prior to his fight on the courts
with NBA fans, he grabbed a camera from a television station’s
crew and destroyed it after a defeat to the Knicks.
Recently, his tantrum hurt only his own plans when he decided
he wanted to go to Sacramento and then he didn’t want to go, and
then he did and then he didn’t. In fact, Artest did go because
he was made to go, just like a child is made to do something.
Here’s an innovative idea for the powers that be in professional
sports, if you are going to hire oversized kids to play in an
adult game, why not send them to a behavioral psychologist
before turning them loose on the general public?
On his website Artest says of his time with one of his teams,
“At times I felt like I had to lead more…like Michael Jordan.”
Well darling, I can tell you, you are no Michael Jordan. No,
Michael Jordan knew how to act like a gentleman and he knew how
fortunate he was. Michael Jordan appreciated what the NBA
delivered to him and his family and he never disrespected his
game. I really wish Ron Artest, given your talent, were a little
more like Mike. And I’m sure your fans do too.
Sadly, I was a huge Ron Artest fan and I cheered him on from my
home computer and television. However, with his attitude and the
mounting chips on his shoulder, I fear he is at the beginning of
the end of his career. However, the housing projects of
Sacramento will welcome him back to his similar humble
beginnings should he decide to stay there when basketball is no
longer an option.
About the Author: This article was written by Leslie Sinclair
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