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Olympic snub irks Artest
Doug Haller
The Arizona Republic
Feb. 11, 2006 12:00 AM
The last time Ron Artest came to Phoenix, he had "'Tru Warier" shaved into his hair.
Before the game, he stood in a hallway, dressed in a suit, talking on his cellphone. Teammates walked past on their way to loosen up. Artest kept talking, not entering the Pacers locker room until 30 minutes before tip-off.
On Friday, Artest returned to US Airways Center. His hair had grown, erasing the name of his record label. And this time, Artest entered the locker room on time, plopping next to rookie Francisco Garcia more than an hour before tip.
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He said he's refreshed by his new job. After four years, it was time to leave Indiana and start fresh. He feels he can do that with Sacramento. He feels he can lead Kings to the playoffs, even though after Friday's loss they sit 11 games back in the Pacific Division.
Switching conferences wasn't all that big of a deal, Artest said. Teams like the Clippers play more of an Eastern Conference style. Teams like Milwaukee play more like a West Coast team. In the end, basketball is basketball. And no matter where he plays, Artest knows what he brings.
"A bunch of things," he said. "I do a lot. I don't do everything perfect, but I do a lot of things."
What he can't figure out is why USA Basketball hasn't extended an invitation to try out for the men's national team.
"How do you say his name? Collangelina?" Artest said, referring to national team Managing Director Jerry Colangelo. "I think (he thinks) I'm too hood for the Olympics. I'm too ghetto for the Olympics."
Artest is well aware of his reputation. He's the NBA's official bad boy. The guy who once asked for time off to promote a rap CD. The guy who charged into the stands in Detroit. The sour apple who asked to be traded from the Pacers.
The reputation follows him wherever he goes, and he seems fine with that.
"The media do what they do, and I do what I do," he said, later adding, "I am who I am."
Going into Friday night, he had averaged 16.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and three assists since coming to the Kings on Jan. 25 for Peja Stojakovic. The Kings are 4-4 with him after having a three-game winning streak snapped on Friday. Artest thinks that should count for something, as should all the teams that wanted his services.
"All I know is all the stars in the NBA, they want to play with me," Artest said. "The Kobe Bryants, the Kevin Garnetts, the Carmelo Anthonys, they all want to play with me, so why can't I play in the Olympics? I would like to, but they just want to hold me back."
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/0211sunsside0211.html
Olympic snub irks Artest
Doug Haller
The Arizona Republic
Feb. 11, 2006 12:00 AM
The last time Ron Artest came to Phoenix, he had "'Tru Warier" shaved into his hair.
Before the game, he stood in a hallway, dressed in a suit, talking on his cellphone. Teammates walked past on their way to loosen up. Artest kept talking, not entering the Pacers locker room until 30 minutes before tip-off.
On Friday, Artest returned to US Airways Center. His hair had grown, erasing the name of his record label. And this time, Artest entered the locker room on time, plopping next to rookie Francisco Garcia more than an hour before tip.
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He said he's refreshed by his new job. After four years, it was time to leave Indiana and start fresh. He feels he can do that with Sacramento. He feels he can lead Kings to the playoffs, even though after Friday's loss they sit 11 games back in the Pacific Division.
Switching conferences wasn't all that big of a deal, Artest said. Teams like the Clippers play more of an Eastern Conference style. Teams like Milwaukee play more like a West Coast team. In the end, basketball is basketball. And no matter where he plays, Artest knows what he brings.
"A bunch of things," he said. "I do a lot. I don't do everything perfect, but I do a lot of things."
What he can't figure out is why USA Basketball hasn't extended an invitation to try out for the men's national team.
"How do you say his name? Collangelina?" Artest said, referring to national team Managing Director Jerry Colangelo. "I think (he thinks) I'm too hood for the Olympics. I'm too ghetto for the Olympics."
Artest is well aware of his reputation. He's the NBA's official bad boy. The guy who once asked for time off to promote a rap CD. The guy who charged into the stands in Detroit. The sour apple who asked to be traded from the Pacers.
The reputation follows him wherever he goes, and he seems fine with that.
"The media do what they do, and I do what I do," he said, later adding, "I am who I am."
Going into Friday night, he had averaged 16.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and three assists since coming to the Kings on Jan. 25 for Peja Stojakovic. The Kings are 4-4 with him after having a three-game winning streak snapped on Friday. Artest thinks that should count for something, as should all the teams that wanted his services.
"All I know is all the stars in the NBA, they want to play with me," Artest said. "The Kobe Bryants, the Kevin Garnetts, the Carmelo Anthonys, they all want to play with me, so why can't I play in the Olympics? I would like to, but they just want to hold me back."
