Marty Mac: Artest headed to Honduras

[VF21]

http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/323982.html

Marty Mac: Artest headed to Honduras
By Martin McNeal - Bee Columnist
Last Updated 1:55 am PDT Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C2

Kings forward Ron Artest said Monday that he'll spend four days in Honduras this week as part of the Feed the Children group.

"I got to know Larry Jones from that organization when we were in Africa, and told him I wanted to be a part of the effort," said Artest, who was in Kenya last month with National Basketball Players Association director Billy Hunter. "I know I can't do too much, but I want to try and do little things I think will help.

"Seeing all that poverty and suffering on the trip to Africa was hard to swallow and made me want to keep trying to help people of all cultures.

"That was an eye-opener for me, and I think we all can do a little something to help out those who need it if we think about more than ourselves. I just want to see what I can do."

 

[VF21]

I've never shied away from criticizing Ron, so I'm going to applaud him for this trip.

WTG, Ron-Ron!!

 

[Circa_1985_Fan]

I've never shied away from criticizing Ron

You and everyone else outside of Sacramento...ah hell, probably everyone in Sacramento too, besides me. I bet the national media will find a way to put a negative spin on this. lol

edit: good for you Ron for wanting to help those who aren't as fortunate as you or I. Bravo!

 

[G_M]

I was just thinking when you read a partial headline that says, "Artest Headed To...." that there are sooooooooooo many possibilities.

 

[Kingzrool]

I told you that that Africa trip would change Rons outlook.

 

[VF21]

Let's hope it carries over longer than a few weeks.

 

[Kingzrool]

Let's hope it carries over longer than a few weeks.

As I said before, once you witness a third world country, you are never the same again. This could end up being really good for Ron and whatever team he ends up on.

 

[Circa_1985_Fan]

...whatever team he ends up on.

Do you know something I dont?? Last time I checked Ron wasnt going anywhere. He's a member of the Sacramento Kings...and I dont see that changing anytime soon.

 

[Kevin MartinFan]

As I said before, once you witness a third world country, you are never the same again. This could end up being really good for Ron and whatever team he ends up on.

Yup, my dad is from Sudan and i definitely couldnt beleive my eyes when i went there for the first time in january. The only thing i was happy about was missing the kings downward spiral that month.

Now these trips will not change ron because there is obviously somethign wrong with the poor guy but i commend him for trying.

 

[Bricklayer]

And damn -- from the title here I thought we had pulled off some sort of really unique trade.

 

[Kingzrool]

Do you know something I dont?? Last time I checked Ron wasnt going anywhere. He's a member of the Sacramento Kings...and I dont see that changing anytime soon.

I believe that GP will try his best. It has been obvious that trying to move Artest and Bibby are high on GP's list. And that there is a chance Ron might end up elsewhere, if, and only if, someone will offer what GP feels he is worth.

 

[BMiller52]

Man if that really did change Ron he would be such a good player... I mean damn if he "changed" we might as well keep him. Problem is you never know if he's really changed or if he'll pull a Ron Ron again.

 

[VF21]

Do you know something I dont?? Last time I checked Ron wasnt going anywhere. He's a member of the Sacramento Kings...and I dont see that changing anytime soon.

And what did you see in Webber's future on Feb. 20, 2005?

...

My point is that we rarely see the big deals coming.

 

[kingsfan916]

good for you ron

 

[Circa_1985_Fan]

And what did you see in Webber's future on Feb. 20, 2005?

...

My point is that we rarely see the big deals coming.

Thanks for reminding me of the Webber trade, VF. *sigh*

p.s.: and yes, you're correct, we usually can never see the crappy trades of late coming beforehand.

 

[Oscar]

Man if that really did change Ron he would be such a good player... I mean damn if he "changed" we might as well keep him. Problem is you never know if he's really changed or if he'll pull a Ron Ron again.

Artest won't change. He's a hair-trigger away from going postal again. If that's something that Kings fans can live with, then by all means, keep him. However, if the last 2 years have taught anything, it's that this guy is unstable, and 2 trips to Africa won't make any difference.

 

[PurpleHaze]

Artest won't change. He's a hair-trigger away from going postal again. If that's something that Kings fans can live with, then by all means, keep him. However, if the last 2 years have taught anything, it's that this guy is unstable, and 2 trips to Africa won't make any difference.

Hopefully, Ron Artest knows that Honduras is located in the Western Hemisphere, and is one of the poorer nations of Central America - not somewhere on the African Continent. The guy will be 28 in couple of months and maybe finally growing up - we can hope!

 

[Circa_1985_Fan]

The guy will be 28 in couple of months and maybe finally growing up - we can hope!

I've been saying this all along for about the last year and a half since he's been here. Is Ron still crazy? Yes...but am I afraid of him letting off like a loose cannon and running up in the stands trying to punch people's lights out like he used to? Nope. I dont care what anyone says...the guy has matured quite a bit since he's been here...and that's saying alot, too...it's just too bad that most people in the world still throw him under the bus before they get their facts straight. I'm sure everyone will totally disagree with me, as they have in the recent past...but thats ok, we can agree to disagree.

 

[Bricklayer]

You don't grow out of what is wrong with Ron. This is not a case of immaturity. Its a case of instability. When the going gets tough, Ron freaks out. Its utterly asinine to submit your team, your rebuilding team at that, to that soprt of instability. Completely and utterly asinine.

I was for the Artest trade, thought it was a deal worth making, and a way to alleviate my fears of Geoff's Peja-fetish leading to a near max contract. Now I've seen him play up close and personal, and sorry, no. Not even close to yes. Just no. Wish him no particular ill will. Still do not believe he is truly a person of malice -- think much more of him for instance than I do of a piece of garbage like Terrell Owens. Think he, not Kevin, was our best player last year after the first of the year. But Ron Artest can not and will not help himself. He is unstable. A loonie who simply does not think or respond to stimuli like normal fully developed human beings. That's not going to change. And maybe he really should retire. Find something nice, calm, unstressful to do. And under those circumstances maybe he could find peace enough to be ok. But he will never, never, NEVER be able to be a reliable actor in a high stakes pressure filled environment. Ron Artest, great musclebound tough guy that he is, is in actuality extraordinarily weak and unstable emotionally. Some people just are. And its not for struggling rebuilding franchises to hitch themselves to such a mess.

 

[PurpleHaze]

No doubt Ron Artest is a mercurial guy, maybe a bit crazy (he's admitted as much), but he's not insane. In fact, he has something no other Sac King has - leadership qualities on the court. I'm not saying he's the be all end all leader of the team - just that next to Bibby, Miller, etal, he looks like Alexander the Great. When Ron-Ron boldly pronounced on the day of arrival here that "his Kings" would make the playoffs no one believed him - but the team rallied to grab the 8th spot and astonishingly pushed top seed San Antonio to 6 games.

Is last season's Kings debacle all to be blamed on big bad fall guy Ron Artest? Or was it mostly Musselman's fault? Was it Brad Miller's foot? How about Mike Bibby's nagging injuries, horrible shooting slump, all lumped into one big "chemistry problem" with Artest? Lot's of things went wrong last year, from top of the organization on down. One of the few bright spots was the continued progression of Kevin Martin who was quoted praising Artest's determination, toughness, defensive mind-set - as an example for him and teammates.

Artest's biggest critics in Sac like to constantly rag on his so-called selfish play, his thuggish rap records, his dog near starving, and his relatively minor domestic dispute. None of that, nor all of it combined come within light years of his (and other Pacer players) meltdown of historic proportions at Auburn Hills.

If Artest keeps his nose clean this year and I think Reggie Theus will demand it or else, he could once again claim NBA defensive player of the year or at least first team all defense - because on that side of the ball no one in the league disputes he's a lock-down monster.

I think his drama will calm and hopefully end all together this season. Maybe he's now facing up to his family and team responsibilities and perhaps these 3rd world trips are indeed life-changing for him. Fans and Americans in general like the underdog, 2nd chances, even 3rd chances, and a rise from the ashes story. Artest has the opportunity now to write such a script for himself and the Kings under Theus.

 

[Kings113]

Very cool stuff by Ron. Good for him.

His charity work in general doesn't get publicized by the NBA or ESPN really at all (during games, website). Outside of paper articles. Just when he happened to be in the picture/video on Kings "NBA Cares" commercials.

I've been saying this all along for about the last year and a half since he's been here. Is Ron still crazy? Yes...but am I afraid of him letting off like a loose cannon and running up in the stands trying to punch people's lights out like he used to? Nope. I dont care what anyone says...the guy has matured quite a bit since he's been here...and that's saying alot, too...it's just too bad that most people in the world still throw him under the bus before they get their facts straight. I'm sure everyone will totally disagree with me, as they have in the recent past...but thats ok, we can agree to disagree.

I totally agree, actually, and have felt similar since 2005. Having a few personal problems with his wife doesn't make him nuts. From all that I've read that deal in March wasn't severe (still iffy), and Kimsha wasn't innocent at all. Same for supposedy a certain amount of other lesser disputes in the past. It's his personal situation and he's been handling it.

Petrie hasn't made it obvious at all he's looking to move Artest. From what's been put out by the Bee, he'll listen to offers and see if the deal is solid for the team long-term, sure. Just like with Mike Bibby. Also the other team taking Kenny Thomas on is a key factor. Everything else is news-make, speculation, and re-hash from New York/Miami papers. Aside from the report by a NY paper about Isiah's stance on an Artest deal, aka "No Lee and Balkman".

Overall I think it's an average to zero chance Ron's dealt. So far, and unless things change, it's pretty unfavoring for Miami/New York to get Artest with their stances and offers. The Lakes? What they're willing to give, plus being a divisional foe basically rules them out and always has. Getting JO is the Lake Show's priority, anyway. I think they're fine at SF with Walton, and can sign Posey if they want.

Grant Napear's a clown off the air from what I've gathered, and he hasn't been right much. Semi-regularily this guy gets too worried and nitpicks during the games. Usually a good announcer on TV outside of the latter, though.