AP: Kings allow Artest to return

[Merdiesel]

This topic is worthy of a post.

I used to believe the Kings were a classy orginization. An orginization led by one the best GM's in all of sports and owned by two brilliant business men who above all else valued honor and integrity. My team has let me down, they are not who I thought they were.

There is absolutely no excuse on this planet to hit a woman or to intimidate her by force. I don't care how good Ron is, I don't care how many steals he gets or if he can hold Manu Ginobli to 2 points. Ron Artest, you do not deserve to wear a Kings jersey. I hope you hear this Geoff and Gavin and Joe, I hope you hear this all around you. We should not compromise our morals for W's and that is what is happening. This is real life, not a game. I can not support a franchise, I can not be a fan, I will no longer be a part of Ron being allowed to do whatever he wants. I truely believe this is lowest day in the history of our franchise.

Wow.

So you know what happened in the Artest family home? You were there? Man, it sure sounds like it... All i know is THANK GOD YOUR NOT A JUDGE!

 

[BRad1055]

I watched the press conference and anyone can say all these things when they are written out for you. Come on now you know his whole speech was scripted and the tears were just there for "effect" lol I don't believe any of what I just wrote , but I bet that is what some people think how all of what he said and the tears and all that yesterday were "staged" and was all just for "effect" to make it look like he is really sorry and is going to do the right thing now and walk the straight and narrow.

Brad

 

[Elise10]

I watched the press conference and anyone can say all these things when they are written out for you. Come on now you know his whole speech was scripted and the tears were just there for "effect" lol I don't believe any of what I just wrote , but I bet that is what some people think how all of what he said and the tears and all that yesterday were "staged" and was all just for "effect" to make it look like he is really sorry and is going to do the right thing now and walk the straight and narrow.

Brad

IMO Ron is probably the last person who'd stage something like that.

 

[John Galt]

People really have to get off the innocent until proven guilty stuff. That's a LEGAL concept. My province as a lawyer,not society's as a whole. An important component of the legal system to prevent the state from removing freedom, or even life, from citizens unless in extremis. But it is a LEGAL concept, applicable as absolute only in the LEGAL world where consequences are final and irrevocable. It is not how the real world works. Nobody was inviting OJ over for dinner after he was arrested...or I should note even now that he has been "proven" innocent. If your neighbor is arrested for child molestation, you would be an immensely irresponsible parent if you let him babysit your 6 yr old daughter the next day. In the real world, innocent until proven guilty is a nice concept, but its not how we operate. You make best judgments every day about everyone without a shred of hard evidence. You hedge your bets, cross the street to avoid the rough looking guy, avoid the bad neighborhood, whatever, without a shred of hard evidence that anyone in particular has done anything.

Hey I grant all that. But my belief is still that we don't know what happened and the facts are not all in.

I think his wife had an extreme tantrum and decided to bring down hell on Ron - provoked him, and exaggerated the scene to the cops.

 

[VarianSyn]

There is absolutely no excuse on this planet to hit a woman or to intimidate her by force. I don't care how good Ron is, I don't care how many steals he gets or if he can hold Manu Ginobli to 2 points. Ron Artest, you do not deserve to wear a Kings jersey. I hope you hear this Geoff and Gavin and Joe, I hope you hear this all around you. We should not compromise our morals for W's and that is what is happening. This is real life, not a game. I can not support a franchise, I can not be a fan, I will no longer be a part of Ron being allowed to do whatever he wants. I truely believe this is lowest day in the history of our franchise.

You know, I've read and heard these types of rants and meetings that usually end up in witchhunts.

Here's the problem with your post. We, as fans do not know what exactly went on in this situation with this woman. Many of things could have happened in a domestic dispute case such as this - and as crazy as Ron is, his woman is crazier.

Now this doesn't give him the right to touch her in a violent manner. As someone who dealt with it for 14 years of my life, even watching a man touch a woman in anger flips a switch inside. But I'm not going to get the rope just yet, when I don't know the facts. The organization obviously felt the situation wasn't anywhere near what you are trying to make it - so they allowed him to come back to the team. Maybe it'd be better suited for you if you'd stop looking for a quick fix, and instead let the individuals handle their corresponding situations of this case.

For me, great guy, great hoop player. I just like the way my team plays without him. If he could somehow mold himself into that, I think we'd be the team our record doesn't show. Either way, it's not about being innocent until proven guilty and I truly believe as human beings we need to at least be understanding. At least until we get the facts. Besides, look how many people are labeled or judged before the facts come to play. Look how many people have been registered as a sex offender wrongly - because they're dating an individual 1-2 years too young.

People have a right to have their side heard. Wait until that time before jumping the gun.

 

[LilMissDiva]

For everyone using the "innocent until proven guilty" card, you must own up to the same.

You can't demand this on others who do not view this scenario the same as you, with you giving your opinion on why you think ron is innocent at the same time.

 

[VF21]

I was gone for the board for a day and just fininshed rieading this thread...

With one or two noteable posts not worthy of further discussion, I'm impressed. The variety of posters who have weighed in on this topic and managed to keep things civil is impressive.

Nice job, fellow Kings fans!

 

[Kingster]

You know, I've read and heard these types of rants and meetings that usually end up in witchhunts.

Here's the problem with your post. We, as fans do not know what exactly went on in this situation with this woman. Many of things could have happened in a domestic dispute case such as this - and as crazy as Ron is, his woman is crazier.

Now this doesn't give him the right to touch her in a violent manner. As someone who dealt with it for 14 years of my life, even watching a man touch a woman in anger flips a switch inside. But I'm not going to get the rope just yet, when I don't know the facts. The organization obviously felt the situation wasn't anywhere near what you are trying to make it - so they allowed him to come back to the team. Maybe it'd be better suited for you if you'd stop looking for a quick fix, and instead let the individuals handle their corresponding situations of this case.

For me, great guy, great hoop player. I just like the way my team plays without him. If he could somehow mold himself into that, I think we'd be the team our record doesn't show. Either way, it's not about being innocent until proven guilty and I truly believe as human beings we need to at least be understanding. At least until we get the facts. Besides, look how many people are labeled or judged before the facts come to play. Look how many people have been registered as a sex offender wrongly - because they're dating an individual 1-2 years too young.

People have a right to have their side heard. Wait until that time before jumping the gun.

We do know that Ron and his wife were arrested and convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence a few years back. We do know there have been several 911 calls made by Ron's household regarding domestic violence. Leaving the legal aspect aside, Artest has shown over several years that he is a catalyst for trouble. Why would you want him on your team? Even if he is innocent in the eyes of the law, he's still not innocent.

 

[John Galt]

Even if he is innocent in the eyes of the law, he's still not innocent.

Well, just consider that his wife is the one with a prior for domestic violence, not Ron. Just consider it is all....

I guess I can pretty much count on not being asked to serve on THIS jury huh?

 

[kingsfanofthemonth]

I'm suprised by the responses. Professional athletes get a pass, Ron has obviously gotten several. It is unfortunate that he can do whatever he wants, simply apoligize, and we can go on like nothing happened. I think the best thing for the orginization, for the team, and for Ron Artest and his family would have been if he did not play the rest of the season.

 

[rhythmless]

professional athletes do get passes, i admit. however, htis situation is entirely different. since were judging ron based on previous incidents, we also must judge his wife on previous incidents. therefore, neither party is completely the victim, nor is one just the agressor.

Ron hinted at the underlying issues of his relationship, citing that he and his wife have been together since they were 14. 14. thats almost 14 years that him and his wife have been together. even though ron is cited as needing counseling, i am sure that marriage counseling for both of them has already been talked about.

im not downplaying this situation, as domestic violence occurs, both physical and mentally, but in the event of domestic violence, the man inherantly incurs much of the blame immediately, warranted or not. we dont even know why they were fighting. so why pretend that we know whats best for him and his family? i think that both him and his wife got in a heated argument, and through escalation, ron got too high. that is not to say his wife did not do the same as well.