http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/14300577p-15165365c.html
Critics' words mean little to Artest
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:01 am PDT Friday, August 18, 2006
Ron Artest attended the Detroit Tigers game Thursday night, armed with a broad grin, typical charm and a hearty handshake for the dozens who said hello.
Oh, and he wore a Tigers cap.
The Kings forward, in Detroit as part of his community service assignment from his role in the Nov. 19, 2004, NBA brawl, said he gladly donned the Tigers' colors as a goodwill gesture. As Artest reminded in a cell phone interview during the middle innings, he is a spirited and emotional fellow.
He is not a bad guy, he insisted. But he has been attached to a hideous incident. And when the community service initially was discussed, Artest said he wanted to return to Detroit "to show that there's a lot of good in me."
"I'm glad I'm here, really," he said. "The people here have been really great, very cool. I must have passed 1,000 people already -- and the Tigers' fans are real."
This was one day after Artest's comments to a group of Detroit-area children included him defending his role in the brawl. He said he knew the national media criticized him for his quote, "Someone started trouble, and I ended it."
"I don't expect everyone to like me," he said Thursday. "Some people, like fans here, they're open-minded. Some media, I think they'll stay one-sided forever. It's old. They're not letting it go. But not the fans. They've been great."
Artest said the baseball game was uneventful, sans the handshakes. No harsh words from someone in the cheap seats, and no beer cups hurled his way, unlike the one that landed on him at the Palace of Auburn Hills and prompted him to charge into the stands.
"That wouldn't be very smart," Artest said of any flying projectiles, with a laugh. "No, I don't see that happening again. That cup incident, that came from one bad apple in the batch. No bad apples here. I can't ever see that happening again."
And, heaven forbid, if he was peppered with a beverage again?
"I think security would check it out," he said.
Artest said for the second day in a row his message to Detroit-area children was about sportsmanship, overcoming odds and being strong and proud. Artest spoke of growing up in a broken family, of conquering adversity.
"You know what? I regret that the (brawl) incident happened, but the positive thing is, I had a chance to come here now and talk to a lot of kids and hopefully affect their lives with things I said," Artest said. "I told kids that I messed up growing up. I made mistakes. Some kids said that they messed up and that they'll always mess up. No, you can do better. You can. I did."
With that, Artest said he had to go. More Detroit folks to talk to, more Tigers fans with whom to debate pennant races.
About the writer: The Bee's Joe Davidson can be reached at jdavidson@sacbee.com
Critics' words mean little to Artest
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:01 am PDT Friday, August 18, 2006
Ron Artest attended the Detroit Tigers game Thursday night, armed with a broad grin, typical charm and a hearty handshake for the dozens who said hello.
Oh, and he wore a Tigers cap.
The Kings forward, in Detroit as part of his community service assignment from his role in the Nov. 19, 2004, NBA brawl, said he gladly donned the Tigers' colors as a goodwill gesture. As Artest reminded in a cell phone interview during the middle innings, he is a spirited and emotional fellow.
He is not a bad guy, he insisted. But he has been attached to a hideous incident. And when the community service initially was discussed, Artest said he wanted to return to Detroit "to show that there's a lot of good in me."
"I'm glad I'm here, really," he said. "The people here have been really great, very cool. I must have passed 1,000 people already -- and the Tigers' fans are real."
This was one day after Artest's comments to a group of Detroit-area children included him defending his role in the brawl. He said he knew the national media criticized him for his quote, "Someone started trouble, and I ended it."
"I don't expect everyone to like me," he said Thursday. "Some people, like fans here, they're open-minded. Some media, I think they'll stay one-sided forever. It's old. They're not letting it go. But not the fans. They've been great."
Artest said the baseball game was uneventful, sans the handshakes. No harsh words from someone in the cheap seats, and no beer cups hurled his way, unlike the one that landed on him at the Palace of Auburn Hills and prompted him to charge into the stands.
"That wouldn't be very smart," Artest said of any flying projectiles, with a laugh. "No, I don't see that happening again. That cup incident, that came from one bad apple in the batch. No bad apples here. I can't ever see that happening again."
And, heaven forbid, if he was peppered with a beverage again?
"I think security would check it out," he said.
Artest said for the second day in a row his message to Detroit-area children was about sportsmanship, overcoming odds and being strong and proud. Artest spoke of growing up in a broken family, of conquering adversity.
"You know what? I regret that the (brawl) incident happened, but the positive thing is, I had a chance to come here now and talk to a lot of kids and hopefully affect their lives with things I said," Artest said. "I told kids that I messed up growing up. I made mistakes. Some kids said that they messed up and that they'll always mess up. No, you can do better. You can. I did."
With that, Artest said he had to go. More Detroit folks to talk to, more Tigers fans with whom to debate pennant races.
About the writer: The Bee's Joe Davidson can be reached at jdavidson@sacbee.com
