He wanted to be here. He was basically told no thank you.
Didn't he realize this before he decided not to opt out? If he knew he wasn't wanted, he should have said goodbye on his own terms and gone where he was. What does his agent have to say about all of this? His story changes so often, his agent probably can't even keep it straight.
I must be missing something here, but to give him a large deal only to have him "regret" that 5 minutes later would be much worse that only having to deal with him at the most until he hits the FA market next season.
He was shopped heavily at the trade deadline - what made him think he wasn't going to be shopped again if he opted in????
My opinion here, but the problems facing this entire organization to place this team back in the top 5 in the West are much bigger and important than Ron. Ron is not the issue here. The entire team with exception of KM is tradeable. That tells you something.
His agent either doesn't know what he's doing, or Ron doesn't listen to him.
I'm sorry I ever posted in this thread. Like talking to a brick wall.
I believe Ron reads these forums so here.....
Dear Ron,
I was a very big fan of yours and could not wait for you to be traded here. I think you have amazing talent. I gave you a completely clean slate when you came here, because I believed you deserved a second chance. But over the last couple years it has been hard to stay by your side. As a loyal Kings fan it is hard to have one of the players on your team always talking to the media and saying something somewhat controversial. If you stayed out of the media or had some reserve on the things you say, you would be a HUGE star in this league. BUT you don't stay out of the media, you talk any chance you get and it's your mouth (and fists) that have given you a bad image in the league.
You give your heart and soul on the court but sometimes it appears as though you don't feel like playing if it's just an unexciting game against a weak opponent. I also don't like players that txt message the coach a few minutes before game time saying they are not playing, but if it's against say the lakers you would be on that court even if you had two broken legs.
You seem to care a lot about how the fans and maybe even the media perceive you, yet you are the one who keeps giving them reason not to like you. If you really want people to love you..........SHUT UP! Have some reserve, try thinking about what you say before you say it.
Do you understand how much it pisses of Kings fans to hear you say that it was a mistake to not opt out, just hours after you decided not to? Sure you might have been under the impression you might get a long term deal, but how could you think that when you KNOW the Kings were doing all they could to trade you at the deadline. As stated above what makes you think they want to keep you now? Maybe you should fire your agent because he does not seem to be doing a good job.
I have gone back and forth on the idea, but now I know for sure. The Kings will be much better without you, even if our record does not show it.
Sincerely,
KingFanPaul
Loyal Kings Fan
Full disclosure: I am obviously biased.
A lot of things said in this thread are true, good and bad. I can tell you there is more backstory, and I can also tell you that although it didnt seem that way.....a LOT was held back in that interview Tuesday night.
The one thing I disagree with is the perception that Ron comes on my show to air his grievances.
Ron has been on the show quite a bit, and this is the first time he has said anything remotely negative or controversial. Yes, there are other media outlets where that may not apply, but not with my dealings with him.
I asked Ron to come on. He agreed, but very reluctantly. I felt that with everything being said and written, he needed the opportunity to explain his frustration, and I wanted people to hear it direct from him, not a 20 second clip or quick paragraph.
The fact is, despite being very frustrated and disappointed, he called in at 12:30 am NY time and spoke. Say what you want, but in today's world of cookie cutter sound bytes and athletes that live in a cocoon of PR and yes men, Ron has made an effort to put himself out there, good or bad. The only agenda he is pushing is to try and let people get to know another side of him. Players get paid lots of money to go on the radio for 10 minutes a week on the phone for a "player show", and this guy comes on 2-3 times a week (usually in studio) in the offseason.
Look, its a business, and that shouldnt be forgotten. Are the Kings better without him, perhaps. Does he say the wrong thing sometimes...of course.
We hold these people up to a higher standard because they make millions of dollars to play a game. I, nor should any of you, won't lose sleep about this. Ron will be fine.
But is there really anything wrong with thinking (hoping?) that you have finally found a home, with a rebuilding team that you are willing to spend your prime years with, and wanting to stay? Once upon a time we couldnt get anyone to sniff this town, and now this guy wants to stay a King, and is frustrated that he can't.
We've all been rejected. Turned down for prom, fired, etc. Imagine that in a fishbowl public forum. Then you read how crazy you are, same old guy, people saying they HATE you......really?
Please don't read this as some "poor ron" post, but I do think we are quick to judge, and when you really look at it....the guy just wants to stay here. Perhaps for waaaaaaay too much money, but he couldve opted out Monday, gone pretty much anywhere he wanted, and played on a contender. He wanted to be here. He was basically told no thank you.
I'm just sayin, that's all.
Peck said:My only statement that I have to make about this is what I have always said.
Being selfish is not a mental illness. Being disruptive because you are self centered is not a mental illness.
Ron does have a mental problem, but people let him off the hook way to easily by using the "he's nut's" statement.
Yes, he has a legitimate medical condition.
However that does not explain or excuse all of his bad behavior.
Ron is just a person just like anyone else. He has both good and bad sides to him.
To many times though people use the (he has a heart of gold and truely cares) excuse for him when at the end of the day that is all it is, an excuse.
He is self centered and is a total distraction because he chooses to be, not because he has a medical condition that makes him this way.
Well the poster claims it is a "legitimate medical condition", so what is it?
Mike Jarvis, his college coach at St. John's, said last week that Artest "needed help." Rafer Alston, a guard with the Toronto Raptors who often played with Artest during the summer, blames the NBA for failing to nurture young players like Artest. "Ron is not a bad person, he just has issues he needs to take care of," Alston said. "But the league wants you to get that help. They don't want to spend their own dollars or help with a support system."
Michael Ruffin, a former teammate of Artest's in Chicago who now plays for the Washington Wizards, called Artest "a genuinely good person."
"He's emotional," Ruffin added. "The things that make him a great player sometimes make him go over the edge."
Was Cuban serious? Who knows? But it's an indication of how widespread the reference is that it can even show up on totally unrelated sites....4. Mark Cuban, asked in jest if he would trade PMB for Ron Artest, even up, responded in part: “No. Ron Artest knows what his issues are and takes medication.” Please comment. We know about Mr. Cuban’s short position in OSTK, which he puts at 20,000 shares.
Bottom line is that Artest chooses to be who and what he is, regardless of any medical condition he may or may not have.He is self centered and is a total distraction because he chooses to be, not because he has a medical condition that makes him this way.
I just googled VF21 medications and you are linked to pretty much every discussion having to do with Artest and medications.You can Google Artest medications for yourself and see the results. Are you saying all those references are without substance?
Ron Artest said:"But I've never taken that medication because I'm not crazy," Artest says. "I'm me. You just gotta understand me."
Thanks for finding that, it was way too long of a back and forth email conversation I didn't have time to read.As far as the first link being incorrect, sorry but you're wrong there, too. Here's the quote:
I have nothing to disprove. No one has yet to provide any proof he has a legitimate medical condition that requires medication.If you want to disprove all those who have discussed Artest's apparent medical issues, feel free to do so.
I have nothing to disprove. No one has yet to provide any proof he has a legitimate medical condition that requires medication.