Ron Artest on ESPN First Take RIGHT NOW

[BMiller52]

Really this is what it all comes down to. Ron wants a long term deal and Sacramento wont give it to him. He wants out. I dont blame either side, but let's get guys who actually WANT to play in a Kings uniform. Ron is obviously not part of the rebuilding process, so even his supporters have to admit it would be benificial for both sides to part ways. Some people get too emotional defending a player. It's a business of winning and having a player like Ron that doesnt want to be here and isnt part of the plan, just doesnt make sense. Add in his constant media chatter, it doesnt help the team's cause.

I agree with everything you said. When you say "some people get too emotional defending a player", it goes both ways. The post just below yours is a perfect example of that. People telling Ron they dislike him/don't want him/etc. is just overkill IMO. I don't really care 1 way or the other, it just gets annoying seeing topic after topic have the same replies about Artest, addressed to him, dissing him, rather than having a meaningful discussion even about him or the subject at hand.

I agree that him being on the Kings isn't best for us right now. He'd do well on a team like Detroit(ironically), where they slow the tempo on offense, have a bunch of passive players(so he can be the agressive guy), and pride themselves on their defense. We're trying to be a rebuilding team that wants to get up and down, pass the ball, play good D, rebound, etc. The only thing he does on that list is play defense. He doesn't help us rebound, he doesn't help our offense, and I'll admit that every now and then he gets too aggressive. He's not a shotblocker(our main defensive weakness) either. Even a vet like Tayshaun Prince would be a much better fit here. I'm all for a trade. But it's not because I "hate" Ron, or dislike him personally, I just recognize that it's best for both parties to move on. This bridge has more or less been burned. But it doesn't mean I'll hate him for the rest of his career, I'll still probably root for him if he's on another team I like(like Houston/Detroit). I actually like him, I used to be a huge fan, but now I couldn't really care less whether Ron Artest THE PERSON is traded. But yeah, for the team it's best he moves on. Doesn't mean people have to "hate" Ron. That's overkill.

 

[Kingsgurl]

I'm all for a trade. But it's not because I "hate" Ron, or dislike him personally, I just recognize that it's best for both parties to move on. This bridge has more or less been burned. But it doesn't mean I'll hate him for the rest of his career, I'll still probably root for him if he's on another team I like(like Houston/Detroit). I actually like him, I used to be a huge fan, but now I couldn't really care less whether Ron Artest THE PERSON is traded. But yeah, for the team it's best he moves on

I would agree with most of this. I don't hate Ron. I feel little, if anything, for him. I thank him for his contributions, and wish him well in his future endeavors.........away from here. I don't think he fits with the future vision/continued development of the TEAM. Team, in and of itself, may be a concept that Ron (or whomever he is this week) and I don't see eye to eye on, and that's fine. He's more than welcome to be the team for another franchise.

 

[AleksandarN]

The hate on this man makes me laugh.

He's a player on a basketball team whom none of us actually know yet if you read this board he's being portrayed as the second coming of Satan rather than a man with some issues who talks to much.

Im exodusing off the NBA/Kings board again because the hate on this guy is actually getting to be offensive.

Yeesh.

some issues! some issues!

 

[Gary]

The polls don't lie.. It's like 90+% of the people want him out..

I have had time to think from what I had posted earlier, and I can see both sides of it. Yes it's just a game.. You will always have your die hards though in any sport for any team. It does not mean don't have a life, it just means they're passionate about their team. I am one of those. I love the Bengals too, and the Dodgers.

Do I enjoy watching Ron on the Kings? Nah not at all. When we are down by like 5-8pts and I see Ron holding the ball I usually call it a loss and turn the channel. I never used to do that not even in the early 90s. A lot of these younger fans don't know what it was like back in the crappy days. The bottom line is that there are many many reasons why people like myself don't really care for him as a player. The only argument I have really seen in favor is that he's our best player (which is totally not true if you understand the 'team cocept'). Being a Bengal fan I have had my fair share of malcontents. You get tired of it after a while. Ron exhibits a lot of the negative qualities which embody athletes these days. He's good, but selfish, and has delusions of grandeur.

Why is it so hard for Artest to be a good boy like K-Mart, or Garcia? Also... Why does he not get that there are 4 others on the floor with him? These questions keep me up at night..

 

[BMiller52]

The polls don't lie.. It's like 90+% of the people want him out..

I have had time to think from what I had posted earlier, and I can see both sides of it. Yes it's just a game.. You will always have your die hards though in any sport for any team. It does not mean don't have a life, it just means they're passionate about their team. I am one of those. I love the Bengals too, and the Dodgers.

Do I enjoy watching Ron on the Kings? Nah not at all. When we are down by like 5-8pts and I see Ron holding the ball I usually call it a loss and turn the channel. I never used to do that not even in the early 90s. A lot of these younger fans don't know what it was like back in the crappy days. The bottom line is that there are many many reasons why people like myself don't really care for him as a player. The only argument I have really seen in favor is that he's our best player (which is totally not true if you understand the 'team cocept'). Being a Bengal fan I have had my fair share of malcontents. You get tired of it after a while. Ron exhibits a lot of the negative qualities which embody athletes these days. He's good, but selfish, and has delusions of grandeur.

Why is it so hard for Artest to be a good boy like K-Mart, or Garcia? Also... Why does he not get that there are 4 others on the floor with him? These questions keep me up at night..

Eh I don't think it's that you don't have a life, you just have a different opinion and some people exaggerate things they say. I didn't miss a game last year, I spend way too much time on this website+other NFL/NBA sites, and I think about this stuff all day. I have just been so frustrated before with my teams(when 9ers let Rice go, when Owens forced his way out, when we traded CWebb) that my emotions have become a little more mellow and indifferent. I still love watching my teams though.

 

[Smills91]

put me in that 10% then. I really enjoy Ron the basketball player, A LOT. I love the fact that he punks the Melo's and Kobe's of the league on a consistent basis, it's pure enjoyment for me. And really I can't blame Ron for acting the way he has, Management DID punk him over by misleading him for their own gain...and this isn't the first time our management has done this either.

 

[Gary]

put me in that 10% then. I really enjoy Ron the basketball player, A LOT. I love the fact that he punks the Melo's and Kobe's of the league on a consistent basis, it's pure enjoyment for me. And really I can't blame Ron for acting the way he has, Management DID punk him over by misleading him for their own gain...and this isn't the first time our management has done this either.

It's not about the management punking Ron though.. It's about all the stupid things Ron has done since being a King. Watching the Kings for 20+ years I have never seen a character on the floor like Ron trying to call his own timeouts, or jumping up and down (basically throwing a fit my 2 year old neice would throw if she didn't get her way). That was actually the last straw for me when it comes to Ron..

Here is what happened.. Bibby had the ball to the left of the FT line, and Ron kept clapping as he stood above the FT line because he wanted the ball. Bibby proceeded to work the left side in a two man game with Miller which I am sure was the called play. Artest just stood there at the top of the screen (my TV screen) jumping up and down waving his arms. It was quite comical. Not sure if Grant said anything about it... But I remember the actual play very well because we scored and Ron was still throwing a fit during the time out a couple plays later. There are many other times this has happened, but that was the last time I gave a crap about Artest. He may be the best defender we have, but I don't like watchig games where grown men throw fits like little kids because they don't get their way. It's not just that either.. It's all the things one on top of another.. Brad Miller is on that list of mine as well. But Kings fans have wanted him out for years too.

I am a Bengal fan.. I have seen so much of this that I have a low tolerance for spoiled athletes who constantly screw up. It's their own fault they act the way they do. It is Rons fault. Look, if I don't get my raise I am not going to go around bashing my company publically.. I just wait until I am out with a few close friends, then I talk crap about them.. Ron should take that advice and shut up

 

[bajaden]

put me in that 10% then. I really enjoy Ron the basketball player, A LOT. I love the fact that he punks the Melo's and Kobe's of the league on a consistent basis, it's pure enjoyment for me. And really I can't blame Ron for acting the way he has, Management DID punk him over by misleading him for their own gain...and this isn't the first time our management has done this either.

I'm happy for you. Your one of the few that actually were intertained when Artest dribbled the ball for 15 or 20 seconds of the shot clock and then forced a shot. I'm not sure what punking has to do with basketball. Sounds like something that should be in a boxing ring.

As far as management misleading him, you know this how? Because Ron said so. We're susposed to believe him over Petrie. If there's one thing I know about Petrie, is that he's very guarded with him comments. He's also careful not to hang players out to dry publicly. He was a player once, and knows what it feels like. Thats one of the reasons he's so closed mouth about trades. He dosn't want a players name bandied about, because he knows that any talks could fall apart.

But getting back to Ron. All his off court activities aside. The main reason I want him traded is because of how he plays the game. I'm not into primadonna's in any sport, and Artest fancies himself one. I agree with Gary 100% on how Artest plays the game, and its not the style I prefer. Your welcome to it.

 

[bajaden]

It's not about the management punking Ron though.. It's about all the stupid things Ron has done since being a King. Watching the Kings for 20+ years I have never seen a character on the floor like Ron trying to call his own timeouts, or jumping up and down (basically throwing a fit my 2 year old neice would throw if she didn't get her way). That was actually the last straw for me when it comes to Ron..

Here is what happened.. Bibby had the ball to the left of the FT line, and Ron kept clapping as he stood above the FT line because he wanted the ball. Bibby proceeded to work the left side in a two man game with Miller which I am sure was the called play. Artest just stood there at the top of the screen (my TV screen) jumping up and down waving his arms. It was quite comical. Not sure if Grant said anything about it... But I remember the actual play very well because we scored and Ron was still throwing a fit during the time out a couple plays later. There are many other times this has happened, but that was the last time I gave a crap about Artest. He may be the best defender we have, but I don't like watchig games where grown men throw fits like little kids because they don't get their way. It's not just that either.. It's all the things one on top of another.. Brad Miller is on that list of mine as well. But Kings fans have wanted him out for years too.

I am a Bengal fan.. I have seen so much of this that I have a low tolerance for spoiled athletes who constantly screw up. It's their own fault they act the way they do. It is Rons fault. Look, if I don't get my raise I am not going to go around bashing my company publically.. I just wait until I am out with a few close friends, then I talk crap about them.. Ron should take that advice and shut up

I would like to add to your story, that it was reported also the there were times when Reggie called a play, and Artest ignored him and did what he wanted. He had heated arguments with Reggie on the sidelines many times because he didn't want to come out of the game.

I also would like to add, that some of the posters almost seem to feel sorry for Artest. I certainly hope thats not the case. Artest is going to make close to 8 million dollars next year and probably more in the coming years. I don't think he needs our sympathy.

 

[PurpleHaze]

I would like to add to your story, that it was reported also the there were times when Reggie called a play, and Artest ignored him and did what he wanted. He had heated arguments with Reggie on the sidelines many times because he didn't want to come out of the game.

I also would like to add, that some of the posters almost seem to feel sorry for Artest. I certainly hope thats not the case. Artest is going to make close to 8 million dollars next year and probably more in the coming years. I don't think he needs our sympathy.

I'm not wanting to defend anything Artest ever did that deserves criticism, but I think sometimes things get a bit over-stated.

Coach Theus has said before that he and Artest had disagreements a FEW times last season, not "many times," and that they were always mutually respectful, he felt. There were a few incidents where Asst Coach Person got into Ron's face much more than Theus because he had him in Indiana and maybe knew better which buttons to push or not push with Artest.

Maybe the most heated argument all of last season was instigated (of all Kings players) by John Salmons when Artest returned from suspension and he was told in the locker room that he would be returning to the bench. Salmons stormed out and ran down the hall past some sports reporters who said Artest was following close behind calming him down. In minutes it was reported Artest had succeeded and it was almost as if the Salmons locker room blow-up had never happened.

As far a sympathy, I have very little for #93, but I think it's important not to over-dramatize just because it's Ron-Ron.

 

[FakeInjury]

He is not being traded, not untill the season gets under way. Specifically because, the other 29 teams aren't sure they need his defense yet. Once teams start sorting out who is who, then he is traded to the contending team who lacks perimeter defense. Then things will start moving. This "wait it out" philosophy should benifit the kings. RWA is still the most coveted defensive player for his price and his availability. If teams with high expectations, underachieve, and an injury occurs, Ron will make perfect sense for that team. As for the kings, he still is ahead of Garcia and Salmons on the depth chart. But, i dont know how that will translate compared to his apparent desire to not be in sacramento. I think the kings should get a 1st round pick and an expiring contract for RWA and call it even.

 

[Spike]

I think the kings should get a 1st round pick and an expiring contract for RWA and call it even.

You and me both. I just want it to happen before the start of the season to let the kids run the show.

 

[NewArena]

I want him gone too but some are a little dramatic around different forums. He hasnt been anywhere near as annoying (or team killing) as he was in indiana.

 

[Aenadin]

I want him gone too but some are a little dramatic around different forums. He hasnt been anywhere near as annoying (or team killing) as he was in indiana.

the question is should we wait a little longer for him to do these things till other league FOs think we are so desperate with him and front up some of their garbage and again we get cheated out of players and picks? i dont think so, the way he has been behaving is a good enough reason for people here to react the way they do.. if they love the kings with a passion then it shows,

im really sick of hearing and reading about him do antics that would either hurt his chances of being traded for a good piece, and giving us another reason to rant on about him and forgeting the other kings and what they are up to.

matters not im pretty sure hell be gone by the end of October and ill be watching the other team who picked him crumble after a few months..

the league should impose an Artest Standard on contracts where in if he behaves in a manner that disgraces and disrupts the management and team the management has the option to automatically terminate his contract like a buy out.. or at least a maximum of 2 years.. hell hes not a longterm player hes more like

The Artest NBA Calendar


1st year Joins the team and becomes an Experiment
2nd Year still on the roster but is on Probation
3rd year getting unstable again
4th year the unthinkable CAN happen

 

[EricDraven]

The guy has a mental illness, it is quite apparent.

That made me laugh hard. Its true the guy clearly has loose screws.