KingCookie said:
I just wanted to add for those that didn't see...in the post-game interview with Ron, he looked truly, undeniably happy for the first time I've seen him speak. He seems honored that Rick would, off the bat, put this much faith and trust in him to do what he can do out there. He mentioned Bibby really embracing him when he first arrived, and how the entire team has become friends.
Of course, winning cures all, but...I think Ron's finding out what Webber found- it really ain't bad in Sacramento. I found myself having glimpses of the team we could maintain for years to come if we built around Artest, but I had to stop myself...because...well, you still just never know with the guy.
All I can say is for now, I am incredibly grateful for Ron Artest, and the boost he brought to our team the second he put on the jersey. They've made this season exciting again, and now we're right back in the thick of things. Regardless of what the result of this year turns out to be, I think we will all remember what is going on right now for many, many years to come.
9/10 Kings Fans agree- It's all because of Ron Artest.
u know...i was seriously thinking about starting a thread talking about something very similar....
people are so concerned about ron doing this or that....going nuclear here or there....but theyre not really considering what all has happened and why....
ron was 22 year old when he was traded to the pacers....ron is not the same person he was back then....rons not even the same person he was a couple years ago....early on he lead the league in flagrant fouls and was just generally a misfit with an anger issue more often times than not....those things took their toll....especially on his teammates....they were privy to all those things and had to experience them first hand.....
so even when ron finally starting doing much better and maturing as both a human being and a player...not to mention becoming a better person inside due to therapy, there was still so much baggage in the lockerroom.....that generally it was an unhappy place that was full of tension....so despite his flagrants being a distant memory...despite his temper being kept in check....despite him being a much better ball player, things were actually pretty far gone to the point there would always be that tension....
thats not the case in sacramento....hes happy....and just as important, his teammates and coaches are happy....they didnt lose millions of dollars and go thru criminal trials....
realize this...and this is important.....in indiana, he was a part of a lockerroom that if given a choice a majority of the guys would prefer he not be there.....many of them were simply bitter because of things that had happened and what it had cost them personally....
thats not a recipe for success....
hes now in a place he wants to be and a place that others want him....
hes happy....happier than hes probably ever been in his basketball life....hes a better person now....a much more stable person now....hes not the 22 or 23 year old ron artest...hes the 26 year old ron artest that has been thru a helluva lot and now is in a much better place....hes not that wound up player that had been winding and winding up for quite some time, and every trip to the lockerroom was just another twist on the tension rope....
hes relaxed...moreso than hes ever been....now hes able to be the most intense player on the court, but is able to walk off the court and into a lockerroom that is a great place to unwind-instead of a pressure cooker that probably exceeds what was going on on the court.....
hes a happy ron artest...hes a relaxed ron artest....and hes been thru so many learning experiences-some very drastic and painful-that hes got a special appreciation for where hes at....hes a simple guy...
and that guy that some of u are a bit worried about simply doesnt exist anymore....because his environment is different and because hes different....
