Ron Artest on ESPN First Take RIGHT NOW

[nbrans]

I'm saying he's done nothing to hurt the Kings, yes. But that's because I think PR is a bunch of BS and people should be intelligent enough to make up their own mind without having others feed opinions to them. Any damage Ron has done to the Kings is only PR damage. It doesn't affect my willingness to go to the games or cheer for the team. He hasn't done any actual damage to the team or it's players or it's fans. In fact, if people even remember the humanitarian work he did in Africa last summer, he's done a lot of good for a lot of people. And on the court, he's actually brought a level of defensive accountability to this team I haven't seen as long as I've been alive. He hasn't asked for time off to promote his rap album. He hasn't started or participated in any fights on or off the court. So no, I don't think he's done anything to hurt the team unless you care what the talking heads on Sportscenter or CNN say about this city or this team. I don't.

What you call "PR damage" steadily kills Ron's trade value, which hurts the Kings.
He beat his wife and got suspended, which hurt the Kings.
He has killed offensive chemistry and let his defense slide, which hurt the Kings.

Unfortunately, everyone who is not in Ron la-la-land can see this, and that seems to include most of the GMs in the league.

 

[Spike]

I'm saying he's done nothing to hurt the Kings, yes. But that's because I think PR is a bunch of BS and people should be intelligent enough to make up their own mind without having others feed opinions to them. Any damage Ron has done to the Kings is only PR damage. It doesn't affect my willingness to go to the games or cheer for the team. He hasn't done any actual damage to the team or it's players or it's fans. In fact, if people even remember the humanitarian work he did in Africa last summer, he's done a lot of good for a lot of people. And on the court, he's actually brought a level of defensive accountability to this team I haven't seen as long as I've been alive. He hasn't asked for time off to promote his rap album. He hasn't started or participated in any fights on or off the court. So no, I don't think he's done anything to hurt the team unless you care what the talking heads on Sportscenter or CNN say about this city or this team. I don't.

Emotional abuse doesn't leave the same scars that physical abuse will.

 

[kennadog]

Let's see....during games he has taken it upon himself to decide when the team needs a timeout. He has taken himself in and out of games. He was seen screaming at the coachs, instead of paying attention to the game he was in.

He decides 45 minutes before games that he won't play, when they were thinking he'd be available and planned the game that way. Or he decides right before gametime that he will play, after they've had shoot around and planned strategy without him available and one of his teammates thinks he's getting a chance to start.

He's dribbled the ball until there's no time left on the shot clock and then passed to a teammate who has no chance at a decent shot or drbbled into 3 or 4 defenders and has no chance at a shot himself.

He's gotten himself suspended from games.

He's publicly embarrassed the Maloofs and the Kings organization more than once with his legal issues or ill-advised comments to the media.

How on earth can anyone say that isn't harmful to the team, or at least not in the best interests of the team?

He may have the best of intentions. He certainly has done a lot of charitable work. But some people can't help but create problems, no matter what their intentions are. Ron honestly appears unable to understand why people get upset with him. He really hasn't a clue.

 

[Gary]

Ron Artest the King I hate him, because he is ruining the team I love... All you supporters who are calling us childish need to step back and look at why we are pissed. We LOVE the Kings.. Artest is in there screwing up OUR team... We have every right to say the things we are saying because we love the Kings probably 10x more than Artest does. We have grown up with the Kings... We have supported the Kings through thick and thin.. Artest comes in and ruins all that we have supported for years and years.

So lets say you build a company from the ground up. 25 years in your company is thriving, and you bring in someone that is selling your product. Lets say he makes an *** out of your workers, and company, and because of this person you start losing clients. Your company becomes a laughing stock. Would you want this person working for you or would you make an excuse to get him out of there asap? Would you sit there and support this person because he is just being himself? I think not....

 

[Entity]

Maybe he should have just done drugs. As long as he has a real good appology its accepted right??

 

[BMiller52]

Ron Artest the King I hate him, because he is ruining the team I love... All you supporters who are calling us childish need to step back and look at why we are pissed. We LOVE the Kings.. Artest is in there screwing up OUR team... We have every right to say the things we are saying because we love the Kings probably 10x more than Artest does. We have grown up with the Kings... We have supported the Kings through thick and thin.. Artest comes in and ruins all that we have supported for years and years.

So lets say you build a company from the ground up. 25 years in your company is thriving, and you bring in someone that is selling your product. Lets say he makes an *** out of your workers, and company, and because of this person you start losing clients. Your company becomes a laughing stock. Would you want this person working for you or would you make an excuse to get him out of there asap? Would you sit there and support this person because he is just being himself? I think not....

He ruins all that we have supported for years? What? Sorry, he has been a distraction at times but that's garbage IMO. I don't see how he's ruined the Kings at all. We weren't competing for a championship with or without him, and he didn't really make us any worse, for a while he made us a lot better, so the bottom line is he didn't ruin this team. Age and salary cap stuff ruined that team. That team's gone, we're building a new one, and Ron is a here temporarily during the transition from that team to the new one.

This exaggerating and making statements like "I hate him" and "he killed this team" and "it's all his fault" are ridiculous hyperbole. It's ok to say you want him off the team, but please stop saying ridiculous statements. This is basketball here man.

 

[jdbraver]

He is either nuts or extremely dumb. His actions totally contradict what he wants. If he wants a trade, it isn't smart to be distruptive to your team, especially if he is already viewed as a thorn in one's foot. If he wants a big payday and an extension from a contender than why does he act so unstable? I just don't get it. Ron for your sake just go into hiding until you get traded.

 

[DirtyAcres]

Nobody has known where his head is at for a long time, so hearing the rest of him has gone missing doesn't surprise me in the least.

Open note to Ron Artest:

Hey, RonRonMcBillBill? Do me a tremendous favor. STAY LOST!

The play is over, the curtain has come down and the audience has left the theater. NO ONE is interested in your blatherings any longer. You have embarrassed and dismayed the most loyal fan base in the NBA. I hope you're proud of yourself.

And yes, I know you'll be all surprised and defensive if/when you read this. I don't care. You had every chance in the world to just shut up and play but you continue to take your traveling circus on the road to whatever venue will give you air time.

There are a lot of players whose lives aren't perfect, who have problems off the court, who feel misunderstood. Most of them, however, find a better way to deal with those problems than making public spectacles of themselves. And yes, it's YOUR fault. You're the one continually reaching out to the media, going on local radio shows, texting reporters, ignoring the advice of your agent, etc.

Our Sacramento Kings will survive after you're gone, and probably quite nicely. I feel sorry, though, for all those fans who desperately wanted to believe in you, to support you and cheer you on. You have let every single youngster who bought your jersey down - again. The fans in Indiana and Sacramento could form a support group of loyal sports followers who have had their heart broken by the same NBA "professional."

Find another fan base to feed your ego. The fans here are, for the most part, finished.

This made me laugh. Some here take this game a bit too seriously. I'm actually very interested to hear what he has to say next, I find this all too entertaining. Maybe you should try looking at it like I do and have some fun with what is going on.

 

[JerN820]

He had more than a clean slate in my eyes when he came to play for us. Fact of the matter is today his negativity out weighs his on the court productivity.

I will always be a proud Kings fan but attention Ron brings to Sacramento in embarrassing me.

Same here. I didnt like Ron before he came to Sacramento, and I gritted my teeth rooting for him while he has been here. I want to see us trade him. It's like after Pierre Pierce got into trouble his first time at Iowa (my alma mater), I wanted the guy gone badly. After he got in trouble over sexual assault again, finally they got rid of that black eye. Now Ron hasnt done anything THAT bad, but he has still been embarrassing and will still have that thug image of the Indiana/Detroit brawl stamped all over his forehead forever.

 

[DirtyAcres]

I'm tired of it. I'm moving on. I paid for my ticket, I got on the ride and it was entertaining ... for a while. Now it's old and stale and not much fun. I've gotten off the Artest merry-go-round and I'm waiting with baited breath to see the 2008-2009 Sacramento Kings.

I see someone bought some more ride tickets.

 

[BMiller52]

This made me laugh. Some here take this game a bit too seriously. I'm actually very interested to hear what he has to say next, I find this all too entertaining. Maybe you should try looking at it like I do and have some fun with what is going on.

Yeah people are being way too dramatic about this. To be honest it doesn't really effect me 1 way or the other. It's kinda entertaining though.

 

[mrlaze]

I don't hate Ron the person, becuase I don't know him.
I dislike Ron the basketbal player becuase he's all over the place.
He's bad at making choices, that's his fault, nobody elses.

Personally, my bet is, he's a decent guy to go hang out with.

 

[kennadog]

Yeah people are being way too dramatic about this. To be honest it doesn't really effect me 1 way or the other. It's kinda entertaining though.

For me it's as entertaining as a blister on the bottom of my foot. The sooner it's gone, the better.

 

[Aenadin]

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.

well IMO kingsfans and forum have always been gold standard ive been to other forums and chatboxes and the way they insult players and each other there goes beyond limits, hell you should see how they talk bout kwame brown

artest is a basketball player and THAT IS THE ONLY THING HE SHOULD WORRY ABOUT!! he doesnt have to be like each and every one of us, who has to keep a good performance for a job, who has to study hard to earn our diploma... those who are trying to get into medschool (like me wish me luck ) the only thing he HAS TO DO is PLAY a game that we oh so love.. i love basketball to the bone... here it is like a religion basketball is big here, and ive been watching the kings for almost a decade and the way i understand it the reaction of most people is like this because they love and are loyal to team and artest is screwing around with us... he is representing the kings and NOT THE KINGS Representing him.. he should ACT and behave like a KING not TREATED like one he owes sactown for giving him a clean slate and what did he do? just plain effed it up

all he has to do is play play play, but he is doing more damage to the franchise itself right now, after what he is doing and saying. he IS HURTING our chances to move him to get a better piece and a couple of young guys along with it, hell any body can just straight up offer a bunch of scrubs thinking we are THAT DESPERATE to get rid of artest. if he wants to move so bad he better shut up and let the Management handle it cause hes on his way to the latrell spreewell express

i dont hate the guy i dont see him as the next satan or what ever but he is just MESSING WITH EVERYONE is this his way of promoting himself or what ever? such talents wasted on this kind of person really if we can only siphon his talents and implant it to another player

 

[JerN820]

For me it's as entertaining as a blister on the bottom of my foot. The sooner it's gone, the better.

Same here. I like my teams (football and basketball) to have players with good character and be a positive to the team. I am not saying Ron isnt a good player, but a lot of the stuff he has done, if he had a job out in the real world the guy would have been fired over and over again. What he is doing might be entertaining to some Kings fans, but what they dont realize is that he is bringing negative attention to our favorite team. If he plays in a Kings uniform this year, what are his teammates going to REALLy think? They can say they have his back, this and that. But they may really be thinking another thing. That kills team chemistry.

 

[bajaden]

First of all, I can't believe were still debating the merits, or lack of merits of Ron Artest. One could say, that the very fact there's so much dissention on this fourm about him, is reason enough to want him gone. I was one of the silly one's that was thrilled when we traded for Artest. I wasn't happy that it had to be Peja, but I knew he needed to play for someone else.

So how did I get from there to here, hoping that every day I get up the paper will tell me that Artest has been traded. I certainly didn't cause it. He had my full support. To say that reporters and other media pundits simply made up stories about him just doesn't hold water. I mean, what was thier agenda. They didn't call the police to Artest's house for threatening his wife. They didn't make up the story about his dog. You can argue the validity of either one of those events, but none the less, they happened.

At some point in your life, your resposible for the things you do. With Artest, its always somebody else's fault. He's the one thats always misunderstood. He's never responsible. He decided to pick up his option, and then decided he made a mistake. But that was somebody else's fault too. He said he was lied to. By who? Petrie doesn't operate that way. And the last time I checked, Mama Maloof doesn't do the negotiations for the Kings.

He says publicly, that he wants to stay with the Kings. He wants to lead them to a championship, and then while in New York, says he would love to play for the Knicks. He then says he was misunderstood. He goes to LA and tells Kobe that he would love to play with him and the Lakers. But in his mind, the Kings lied to him. In his mind, he has carte blanche to flirt with other teams and say what he wants about where he wants to play, but the Kings aren't susposed to take notice. They aren't susposed to get tired of hearing every day about a new team he wants to play for.

They're not susposed to get tired of him deciding when he wants to play or not play. Anyone that doesn't think he hasn't been a disruption to the team simply has blinders on.

Those that support him are welcome to it, but the majority of the fans out there have had it with him. The last time I checked, its the fans that pay the bills. You know, the one's that fork out the cash for the season tickets. Who even knows what effect he may have on season ticket sales.

I don't hate him. As I have said before, he's a child in a man's body, and refuses to grow up. I'm just tired of parenting him. Let someone else do it.

 

[Gary]

He ruins all that we have supported for years? What? Sorry, he has been a distraction at times but that's garbage IMO. I don't see how he's ruined the Kings at all. We weren't competing for a championship with or without him, and he didn't really make us any worse, for a while he made us a lot better, so the bottom line is he didn't ruin this team. Age and salary cap stuff ruined that team. That team's gone, we're building a new one, and Ron is a here temporarily during the transition from that team to the new one.

This exaggerating and making statements like "I hate him" and "he killed this team" and "it's all his fault" are ridiculous hyperbole. It's ok to say you want him off the team, but please stop saying ridiculous statements. This is basketball here man.

If you had a business and had an employee like Artest I am sure he would have been fired after the first full season.. To ME he is ruining the team by making the Kings a laughing stock...

 

[Entity]

There is always dissention in this forum over players. Webber, Peja, Bibby, Mobley etc.... Now even some dissention over Martin, Garcia, Salmons, and yes Artest. so if we get rid of everybody posters disagree on then we will have no team. People put way to much stock in words and not enough on what happens on the court. People act as if the members of the team are just so distraut over Artest. So then comes people saying "he is a ball hog, he stops the offense ect...." See any best player on the team or any post player. For year we wanted a post player to dominate in the post. So we get one with Artest and then complain because he holds the ball to much to make his move. As if you can pass to a posting player and he scores in 1 second. Hard to imagine he hogs the ball to much when almost 6 other players average over 10 points and 1 being among the league leaders in ppg.

IMHO i think the case against Ron is mostly to fact of him not seeming devoted to Sacremento. Now it may not be the same thing but, If my empoyer told me basically hey we want you to stay with us and not look for another job then turn around and say but, next year we don't want you here. Makes me have mixed emotions about wanting to stay or not.

The Brawl. Mistake yes but honestly I could care less.
The photographer. emotions are a driving force and agains who the hell cares.
Hitting wife. awful but, has no effect on his team or me. not to mention she wasn't exactly staning there with a halo on pouring sugar in his coffee.

Pressure is on players. Pressue in which we have no clue about. Some use drugs such as weed, cocaine, pain killers, then you have steroids. Those players get suspended as well.

Ron seems to relieve his pressure by talking to the media and trying to be funny most of the time. Hence his time on the Carmichael Dave Show.

I have been to games and sat right behind the bench and I saw a likeable guy and the rest of team joked and teased around with him as much as anybody. Kinda of strange for a guy that is supposedly destroying them.

All that said I'd like to see Artest traded. Not because of any issues or team chemistry crap. Simply because I want a different direction. Now that we have a posting PF and C we don't need a SF that his strength is his posting. We could use a 3pt shooter thats not limited to just that i.e. Garcia.

 

[DirtyAcres]

Have any of his OWN teammates ever claimed he's ruining chemistry either on/off the court?

And I also have a hard time believing we are the laughing stock of the league. I've seen nothing on anyone else's team boards to lead me to believe that.

 

[Gary]

Have any of his OWN teammates ever claimed he's ruining chemistry either on/off the court?

And I also have a hard time believing we are the laughing stock of the league. I've seen nothing on anyone else's team boards to lead me to believe that.

Why would the rest of the team come out and say that?

Artest is a detriment to the team, and if people cannot see that by his actions on and off the court then I don't know what to say, because there will be the people that are blind to this i.e. his fans. People that constantly make excuses why Artest acts the way he does, calls timeouts, throws a fit when the ball isn't passed to him, misses practices, takes himself out of games, texts the coaching staff when he isn't going to play, missing interviews, ect ect ect.. Artest is all talk. He builds himself up and builds himself up more. Then disappoints. It's routine nowadays. Artest is a pathological liar with some other mental issues that probably have not been diagnosed because he says he will be at his Dr. appt but probably makes up an excuse why he cannot be there at the last minute.

 

[gunks]

I'm with people who dont get the Ron hate. Sure he has a huge mouth, and I could see getting irritated by it. But honestly, he's basically an expiring contract so who cares if he gets traded or not? He doesnt really take time away from the youth in the way Miller and Moore do (unless you count Salmons as youth) and he really gives it his all on the court.

And to people saying that every time he goes to the media he hurts his trade value, that would be true IF there was only one team after him. There's many. And I wouldnt be surprised to see Ron stick around until just before the trade deadline - theres going to be a lot of contending teams out there who will probably be willing to take a risk on Ron (a relatively risk free rental at that) to get the ring, even if it means getting in a bidding war. And I think Petrie knows that too.

 

[DirtyAcres]

Why would the rest of the team come out and say that?

Because that is what usually happens when an entire team feels one player is ruining their chemistry.

Artest is a detriment to the team, and if people cannot see that by his actions on and off the court then I don't know what to say, because there will be the people that are blind to this i.e. his fans. People that constantly make excuses why Artest acts the way he does, calls timeouts, throws a fit when the ball isn't passed to him, misses practices, takes himself out of games, texts the coaching staff when he isn't going to play, missing interviews, ect ect ect.. Artest is all talk. He builds himself up and builds himself up more. Then disappoints.

Calling me blind is a joke when after all the negatives you've listed, Artest is still the best player on the team. I was a King's fan before Artest and will remain so after Artest.

Artest is a pathological liar with some other mental issues that probably have not been diagnosed because he says he will be at his Dr. appt but probably makes up an excuse why he cannot be there at the last minute.

I was thinking about getting my Ph.D in psychology online too, what sites do you recommend?

 

[Gary]

Because that is what usually happens when an entire team feels one player is ruining their chemistry.

Not really.. Usually the players keep quiet about this unless they are agreeing with something the coach says ala Joakim Noah situation last year. OR if there was a locker room fight which I am 100% sure Artest would avoid at all costs.

Calling me blind is a joke when after all the negatives you've listed, Artest is still the best player on the team. I was a King's fan before Artest and will remain so after Artest.

Artest the best player on the team? If the team consisted of one player then yes.. Artest is a ballhog... But I am sure Artest thinks he's the best player on the team so that's all that matters to him I am sure. I am sure you think that Allen Iverson is a good player too eh? All these "me first" players ruin teams. Artest is one of them. He may be a good 1v1 player, but he SUCKS as a team player. I would probably put him outside the top 100 in team players in the league. It's sad because he's top 20 in pure talent, and it sucks that he ruins it with his me first attitude. If I had to pick 5 players on the Kings to start for me Artest would not be one of them.

Whether or not you care if Artest Text messages the coaching staff 10 minutes before tipoff and says he's not playing when he's medically cleared to play, or if he throws a fit on the floor when the ball was not passed to him, or tries to call a timeout and Theus says "no" then throws another fit, or when Artest skips practice, or when Artest just acts like a jackass..

I was thinking about getting my Ph.D in psychology online too, what sites do you recommend?

Follow this link.. http://www.openyourfreakingeyes.com

Supporting Artest after all he has done because he's the "best player on the team" just proves that I am right... He's not even the best player on the team..

 

[kennadog]

The word "hate" keeps getting thrown around here. Interestingly, it's mainly by Ron's defenders. Just because you call those of us who don't want Ron around anymore "haters" doesn't make it so. I don't hate the man.

For example, people have the perfect right to not take a shower, but it's wrong to say I hate them, if I don't want cozy up to them.

I wish Ron nothing but the best in his life and hope he actually gets a clue someday. He'd be a lot happier. But wishing him well and accepting his narcissistic, ridiculous behavior is another.

I'm just tired to no end of Ron-Ron and his immature behavior. He's a grown man. He should not need people to make excuses for or defend his behavior, because he should know better by now.

 

[BMiller52]

The word "hate" keeps getting thrown around here. Interestingly, it's mainly by Ron's defenders. Just because you call those of us who don't want Ron around anymore "haters" doesn't make it so. I don't hate the man.

For example, people have the perfect right to not take a shower, but it's wrong to say I hate them, if I don't want cozy up to them.

I wish Ron nothing but the best in his life and hope he actually gets a clue someday. He'd be a lot happier. But wishing him well and accepting his narcissistic, ridiculous behavior is another.

I'm just tired to no end of Ron-Ron and his immature behavior. He's a grown man. He should not need people to make excuses for or defend his behavior, because he should know better by now.

I'm not calling everyone haters or you specifically, but I've seen Gary(not to single you out though Gary, just the 1st person I remember, no offense bro) say he "hates Ron Artest". So we're saying that the people who are using the word "hate" need to tone it down.

I'm also not saying people need to love Ron. It's ok that what he does irks a lot of you. But hate is a pretty strong emotion. To be honest I used to be a huge Ron Artest fan, and I'm a lot less of one now. I'm pretty indifferent towards the guy. As a player he can be a distraction, as a person he seems nice enough but has some problems, and things like this don't surprise me because that's what he does. Oh well. Soon enough it won't be our problem.

 

[Gary]

I removed my sig. But I will stand by my comment that as a member of the Kings I do not like Ron Artest. Outside the arena or locker room though I couldn't care less about him...

Artest embodies everything I hate when watching basketball. He's a very selfish player, who has a me first attitude which totally shows when he's out there. Maybe not every night but he does seem to have that "breaking point" every few games. People that are defending him I am not understanding. He's Not the best player on the Kings unless it was a 1v1 game. He's constantly causing problems on the floor with his selfish play, and much much more... It seems the people that defend him are the same people that wanted a guy like Allen Iverson in a Kings uni..

The Sacramento Kings (knock on wood) will be here longer than Ron Artest will. I will be here long after Ron is gone. I think as fans who grew up with the team shouldn't have to settle for attitudes like Artest. Because of his selfish play I sometimes don;'t watch games, or don't want to attend games. We remember how fun some of last season was with the youngsters right? I would rather watch them grow as a team, and fill in the spots with good roleplayers. The other option is watching a selfish player who holds the ball 20 seconds then passes the ball and maybe gets a bailout assist only to have Artest huggers log in to tell us that he's not a ball hog because he averages almost 5 assists per game. That's just dumb.. The game isn't fun to watch when you have players like that on your team.. On top of that that player is Ron Artest who is always "me me me" and causes problems on and off the court.. Who wants that type of player? The sooner he is gone the better.

 

[tradepeja]

I sort of agree with DirtyAcres. I have never understood people's blatant obsession with Artest and every single little thing he ever does.

People get so riled up when he admits a mistake to a reporter, or texts a coach, or sits out a game. Maybe some of you have seen him or got his autograph, but you don't know him and you never will. And sooner rather than later, he'll be gone.

Everyone is just beating a dead horse here. We have people left and right lamenting everything Ron Artest does, but it seems they can't wait to get on the forums and talk about it. Hell, we even had a post about posts about people talking about Ron Artest. And it suggested we need to stop talking about Ron Artest! I don't know if it was just me, but that was a level of nuttiness even Ron Artest would admire.

 

[est.1999]

ron is who he is. IMO he doesn't really help the team nor hurt it. Just trade him and let's move on already. Too much bickering and moaning going on, for both sides, and I think its disgusting. Its just freaking basketball some of you have too much time on your hands to worry about it as much as you are

 

[JerN820]

ron is who he is. IMO he doesn't really help the team nor hurt it. Just trade him and let's move on already. Too much bickering and moaning going on, for both sides, and I think its disgusting. Its just freaking basketball some of you have too much time on your hands to worry about it as much as you are

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.

 

[upinsmoke]

Dont let the door hit you on the way out Ron. Kings fans dont want you anymore. You might be the first player in years IF EVER not to get a warm welcome back when you come back to arco as a member of another team. Hopefully your wearing a hawks jersey HINT HINT.