Bee: Artest Sr. knew son would bounce back

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Artest Sr. knew son would bounce back

Ron's father gets a chance to watch Games 5 and 6 in person.

By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer

Published 2:15 am PDT Thursday, May 4, 2006

Before there was Ron-Ron, there was Ron.

And Tuesday night in San Antonio, there was the original Ron Artest, the only No. 93 in the building bigger than the one wearing the authentic jersey.

The Kings small forward wasn't all frowns after falling behind 3-2 in the series against the Spurs. He was overjoyed at the company he kept before and after, as the Kings arranged for his father to join the team's playoff ride. Artest Sr. flew on the charter plane from Sacramento to Texas, rode on the team bus and enjoyed a virtual bring-your-dad-to-work day.

"He got a chance to sit first row, right next to the team," Artest said. "He's having the time of his life right now."

The smile of Artest Sr. overshadowed even that stout chin, those - dare we say it? - Piston-like arms, and the frame that comes in handy with his job as a bouncer in Manhattan. The Kings' gesture came as a surprise to Artest, who was the last to hear the news.

"All I know is my Pops was telling me he's coming with me on the plane, and I said, 'Oh, OK, cool, thanks,' " Artest said. "He said, 'Don't tell me thanks.'... It was a great experience. I've been in the league seven years, and that's the first time."

It was the third game Artest Sr. has seen in person this season, a better alternative to recording the games from television as he does other times. He will also be at Game 6 Friday at Arco Arena. The Game 5 outcome aside, the man who watched his son's journey - working his way into the NBA, then making a name that's been bad, good and places in between - has enjoyed the Sacramento stop as much as his boy.

When Artest was suspended last season for 73 games and the playoffs for his role in the Detroit brawl, Artest Sr. said he never doubted his son would return strong.

"It was rough (last year), but believe it or not, in New York he's got a lot of support from people," Artest Sr. said. "The average person on the street, or at my job, were really on Ron's side because they felt an injustice was being done.... For some reason, a lot of things always work out for Ron. Ever since he was younger, things work out for him."

From afar, Artest Sr. watched as his son and his new team pulled U-turns - bad situations turned good in unlikely fashion.

Artest Sr. has moved from the tough Queensbridge area of New York City in which Artest grew up, now living and working in Manhattan as a bouncer at a French bistro named Pastis.

It's a hotspot for celebrities, who come and go not realizing the hired muscle is a second-tier celeb himself.

"I've seen Bill Cartwright, Bruce Willis, Adam Sandler, Kate Winslet, Michael Strahan," Artest Sr. said. "Sometimes I'll say, 'How you doing, nice to see you.' And I might say, 'Do you know my son?' They'll say 'Who's your son?' I'll say, 'Ron Artest.'

And they'll say, 'Oh, Mr. Artest, how you doing? Ron's a great player.' "

And that much, truth be told, never stops surprising the proud father.

Artest Sr. said he was, at best, an average athlete. He struggled for playing time as a shooting guard in high school and had a short-lived boxing career that ended with a 3-1 record.

"I wasn't like Kobe Bryant's father," Artest Sr. said. "He was a good player. Or (Clippers coach) Mike Dunleavy, an NBA father. That's why I'm really surprised it turned out for him like that."

Artest's mother, Sarah, (who long ago split with his father) was no athlete, either, Artest Sr. said. Yet among Artest Sr.'s four children, two sons play basketball as a profession. And while the notion of the 270-pound Artest not even being the strongest member of his own family seems absurd, his father said it's true.

Daniel Artest, 23, is a 6-foot-5 power forward who, just months ago, nearly signed with the Albuquerque Thunderbirds, the NBA Development League team affiliated with the Kings. He played this year in the American Basketball Association.

"Ron is strong, but (Daniel is) much stronger than Ron," Artest Sr. said. "He's trying to make a career out of basketball."

While the other son's career continues to be remade.

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