http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/40540.html
Marty Mac's World: Artest might talk crazy, but he works like crazy
By Martin McNeal - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 12:01 am PDT Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C2
The bus leaving the Kings' practice facility Monday afternoon to take the squad to Las Vegas for tonight's preseason game against the Los Angeles Lakers was scheduled to depart at 2:30 p.m.
Ron Artest was on the floor working with rookie guard Quincy Douby. The veteran forward asked what time the bus was leaving and was told 2:30. Artest asked what time it was now. He was told 2 p.m.
Artest turned around and went back to work with Douby. Thirty minutes? Ahh, plenty of time to squeeze in a little more work.
The man is a worker, and when your leaders possess that characteristic, it's all good.
Now, Artest is prone to saying some wacky things, such as, "We're going to the NBA Finals, and we're going to win the championship."
Even if he's the only one who actually feels such a lofty prediction is attainable, it's all good.
Somebody has to believe. Ask the 2006 Detroit Tigers. The 2005 Chicago White Sox. The 2004 Boston Red Sox. You feel me?
However, it's Artest's will that might become more important than his belief. Or, it could be that his will has to be tapered.
Artest long has had trouble with a sore back. That's something many of us have experienced, and we're not facing an 82-game NBA regular season.
Yet there's Artest after practice, on his own, working with Douby. Second-year swingman Francisco García often has said how much Artest has helped his development. Artest barely had put on his Kings uniform last season when he started going out of his way to encourage third-year shooting guard Kevin Martin to take shots.
"The dude is crazy," veteran forward Corliss Williamson said of Artest. "His back is hurting him every day, and here he is out there banging and bumping every day.
"After practice, he's taking extra shots every day. And most of the time, he's one of the first people here."
Said Artest of his back: "It's sore, but it's OK. I'm still able to practice and work out, before and after practice."
Artest is 6-foot-7 and weighs 260 pounds, just the perfect height and weight for a tight end.
"Yeah, I played a little football coming up, but I had to give that up," he said. "Maybe I'll do it again in a couple of years."
See, wacky. But are you going to tell him he can't or won't do it? Not I, says the old man.
About the writer: The Bee's Martin McNeal can be reached at mmcneal@sacbee.com.
Marty Mac's World: Artest might talk crazy, but he works like crazy
By Martin McNeal - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 12:01 am PDT Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C2
The bus leaving the Kings' practice facility Monday afternoon to take the squad to Las Vegas for tonight's preseason game against the Los Angeles Lakers was scheduled to depart at 2:30 p.m.
Ron Artest was on the floor working with rookie guard Quincy Douby. The veteran forward asked what time the bus was leaving and was told 2:30. Artest asked what time it was now. He was told 2 p.m.
Artest turned around and went back to work with Douby. Thirty minutes? Ahh, plenty of time to squeeze in a little more work.
The man is a worker, and when your leaders possess that characteristic, it's all good.
Now, Artest is prone to saying some wacky things, such as, "We're going to the NBA Finals, and we're going to win the championship."
Even if he's the only one who actually feels such a lofty prediction is attainable, it's all good.
Somebody has to believe. Ask the 2006 Detroit Tigers. The 2005 Chicago White Sox. The 2004 Boston Red Sox. You feel me?
However, it's Artest's will that might become more important than his belief. Or, it could be that his will has to be tapered.
Artest long has had trouble with a sore back. That's something many of us have experienced, and we're not facing an 82-game NBA regular season.
Yet there's Artest after practice, on his own, working with Douby. Second-year swingman Francisco García often has said how much Artest has helped his development. Artest barely had put on his Kings uniform last season when he started going out of his way to encourage third-year shooting guard Kevin Martin to take shots.
"The dude is crazy," veteran forward Corliss Williamson said of Artest. "His back is hurting him every day, and here he is out there banging and bumping every day.
"After practice, he's taking extra shots every day. And most of the time, he's one of the first people here."
Said Artest of his back: "It's sore, but it's OK. I'm still able to practice and work out, before and after practice."
Artest is 6-foot-7 and weighs 260 pounds, just the perfect height and weight for a tight end.
"Yeah, I played a little football coming up, but I had to give that up," he said. "Maybe I'll do it again in a couple of years."
See, wacky. But are you going to tell him he can't or won't do it? Not I, says the old man.
About the writer: The Bee's Martin McNeal can be reached at mmcneal@sacbee.com.
