Bee: Artest must serve 7-game suspension

[VF21]

http://www.sacbee.com/kings/story/468404.html

Artest must serve his seven-game suspension
By Sam Amick - samick@sacbee.com
Last Updated 11:51 am PDT Friday, November 2, 2007

SAN ANTONIO -- Ron Artest's seven-game suspension will not be reduced, according to his agent.

While the Kings small forward had his arbitration hearing Thursday in New York, his agent, Mark Stevens, said Artest came to a "confidential settlement with the league" that does not include games being taken off the suspension and rendered arbitration irrelevant.

"We're satisfied with the settlement," Stevens said, "but I can't go into the terms.

"We preferred the settlement as opposed to a weeks-long arbitration."

According to the league's collective bargaining agreement, an arbitrator would have had 30 days to reach a verdict. Even if Artest would've had games reduced, the decision may have come after the fact and Artest would have been refunded his lost pay.

While it's not know how much of his salary was recouped, he was originally slated to lose $470,909.

Call Sam Amick at (916) 326-5582.

 

[John Galt]

So you figure he got a couple hundred grand just for going through the appeal motions? That agent earned his money urging him to file the appeal i guess.

 

[VF21]

At this point, I honestly think Artest would have preferred to pay a larger fine and be able to return to the team earlier. Stevens pushed this and I have to wonder if his percentage of Artest's salary is affected by the decision...