ESPN Artest Interview

[LPKingsFan]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=stein_marc&id=1921048


Here are two of my favorite quotes :

ESPN.com: So why would you even think about retirement? You were off to such a good start this season.


Artest: Sometimes I think I'm in a position to do what I want. If I think I want to retire, it doesn't make me crazy. What's so crazy about being home with your family? I don't see anything so crazy about that. If people think that's crazy, maybe they don't know what it's like to be with their family. Family is more important than money.

Artest: I think I'm one of the few guys who gets better every year. I'm on my way to being an MVP and champion.

I don't think he's that crazy.

 

[Bricklayer]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=stein_marc&id=1921048


Here are two of my favorite quotes :

ESPN.com: So why would you even think about retirement? You were off to such a good start this season.


Artest: Sometimes I think I'm in a position to do what I want. If I think I want to retire, it doesn't make me crazy. What's so crazy about being home with your family? I don't see anything so crazy about that. If people think that's crazy, maybe they don't know what it's like to be with their family. Family is more important than money.

Artest: I think I'm one of the few guys who gets better every year. I'm on my way to being an MVP and champion.

I don't think he's that crazy.

No. Just immature, unfocused, and...confused.

And also NOT someone I would ever want to depend upon for anything.

Edit: Actually that's not entirely true -- I do think he is a little nuts. His decisionmaking does not equate with what 99% of the population would call normal. Call it aberrant.

 

[Evenstar]

i don't find that comment to be crazy. i do thing he has some screws lose, but it's not becuase he's thinking about retiring. it's the throwing of the TV's, that kind of stuff.

if his heart isn't fully in the game, then by all means, retire. let someone else have a chance. it would be a shame considering he is a very talented player who keeps on getting better, but if he feels that he needs to step away, all power to him.

 

[slugking50]

I think he has been doing most of this stuff on purpose to promote his label. Notice the Sportscenter piece yesterday about Artest he just happened to have a copy of his and his groups albums on him pretty at all times? Even to the point talking to ESPN pimping them both tween words about him and the Pacers.

Hes not as crazy as everybody thinks he is.

 

[Kev.in]

Ron Artest is (and always has been) as crazy as a fox.

 

[Evenstar]

I think he has been doing most of this stuff on purpose to promote his label. Notice the Sportscenter piece yesterday about Artest he just happened to have a copy of his and his groups albums on him pretty at all times? Even to the point talking to ESPN pimping them both tween words about him and the Pacers.

Hes not as crazy as everybody thinks he is.

that is a very big possiblity. if thats what he was trying to do, that was very very clever of him. the guys on NBA shootaround won't get over it. they have been clowning on him ever since it was annouced.

 

[bibbyweb]

He has definitely been successful in his publicity which might very much be one of the reasons why he must have been doing all this. But that does not deny the fact that he is a little messed up in his head.

You know sometimes I think that Kings do need someone who is a little messed up in his head. Everyone on the team is a bit too mild. Well we do have O-Tag now.

 

[VF21]

Ron Artest is (and always has been) as crazy as a fox.

One of the little voices in my head is telling me there may be a lot of truth to that statement...

And I have no problem with him saying he's thinking about retiring and spending time with his family. Just how much money do these guys need anyway?

"Family is more important than money."

That's a pretty sane statement, all things considered.

He's made a lot of money; he could make a lot more as a rap artist. He doesn't need to play the game of basketball and be on the road a lot of the time.

What's nuts is the guys who've already made millions - and millions - and yet say they have to go elsewhere for the money. Yeah, how much money does it take to live?

I'm rethinking my whole attitude about Ron Artest, although I do admit I still fine the idea of him asking for time off to promote his CD (whether true or not) to be incredibly funny - and shrewd.

 

[Bricklayer]

Oh lord.


Look at all the people falling for the "time for my family" line. Its about the oldest cliche in the book -- mention "family" and it doesn't matter how outrageous your conduct, its somehow sacrosanct.

Bull Hooey. Artest has repeatedly shown himself to be selfish, irresponsible and immature. That's before we even get to nutty. And evoking the "family" boondoggle (at the ripe old age of 24 no less!) as an excuse doesn't magically change that.

 

[VF21]

You're entitled to your opinion, dear Brickie.

All I said was I have no problem with him saying he wants to take more time for his family. If it is hooey, so be it. If it's true, it's nice to see someone who puts family first. Sorry if that is so old-fashioned that it offends you.

 

[LPKingsFan]

I'd take Ron Artest taking time off for his family instead of Spree's I need more than $14 million to feed my family...

 

[Bricklayer]

I'd take Ron Artest taking time off for his family instead of Spree's I need more than $14 million to feed my family...

Its exactly the same phenomenon -- say or do something asinine, cite family, have everybody go "oh aren't his family values sweet?"

Hooey.

 

[VF21]

Cynic...

 

[TheSerbianQueen]

I've always thought the guys was .... strange.

He is all over the place with his stories, he is waaaaaaaayyyyy too full of himself and his qualities as a player and certainly doesn't seem reliable.

And these are just some of the reasons I couldn't understand all the interest in trading Pedja for HIM, the guy who you can never seem to be able to count on, since he is always so unpredictable...... too many personal issues I think that could cost him his game

 

[sloter]

Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't remember Artest doing anything really unusual in the first two seasons with the Bulls (or at least in the first one) when he was still nobody. He strikes me as nothing else but an attention freak.

 

[ivey]

Other then 2 seasons ago when he got suspensions for his on court antics, I dont see how his off court drama is effecting his game. The guy is a true baller on court, I think that makes up for it... somewhat.

 

[RangerC]

Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't remember Artest doing anything really unusual in the first two seasons with the Bulls (or at least in the first one) when he was still nobody. He strikes me as nothing else but an attention freak.

Nope, he was nuts then. During his first season, he tried to apply for a job at Circuit City because "he wasn't playing much and the employee discount would come in handy". On his application, his only reference was Jerry Krause.

 

[sloter]

From what I know from people from Chicago that was either only a rumor or an isolated incident - or his incidents didn't receive that much attention *shrugs*

 

[iheartBrad]

ya know whatever

he's really starting to become the biggest joke of a lifetime

he's a great player...but his personality and attitude sucks....and it was just last season that everyone was saying how much he matured since his rookie days and what have you....he needs to open his eyes and smell the coffee...otherwise he's gonna be one of the players ten years from now that foxsports or espn does those specials on talking about a guy that could of been the best of the best but dropped it over something stupid

if they guy wants to retire to spend more time with his family...thats great...im happy for him and his family...but personally and honestly i don't think thats the real reason he wants to drop the NBA he's just hiding behind that cuz he knows that its a plausible (sp?) excuse or reason.