Ron Artest and the Lakers:

[speeder]

So Ron Artest pulls off a minor miracle w/ less than 1 second left in the game to give the Lakers a 3-2 lead in the NBA western playoffs. He was having a horrible game and let's face it, he hasn't contributed a lot of scoring period since being acquired by the LAL. He's been considered an odd fit on the team.

What's interesting, (at least to me), is that he was previously best-known for being the bad guy in the worst brawl in NBA history when he was with Indiana. Not being a huge basketball fan, I did not know a lot else about him and along with a lot of other people considered him a real jerk and an example of what's wrong with modern pro athletes, etc.

Since arriving in L.A., he has not distinguished himself much on the court but it turns out that he's one of the nicest, most approachable guys in all of sports. Humble, friendly and just nice. It's the weirdest thing...

Lakers defeat Suns on last-second shot by Ron Artest - latimes.com

[McLovin]

The Lakers are the type of organization that he functions best in. Highly controlled, organization commands respect, and has a strong coach and a strong, undisputed "alpha dog" team leader.

The Lakers didn't sign him as an offensive player, they brought him in for his defense. He has always been known mainly as a defensive player (he won Defensive Player of the Year in the past and has been in the top 5-10 rated defenders in the league many years). I think he's generally been considered a good fit for the Lakers, as he's been doing his job (it's Odom and Bynum that often fail to "show up" for games, along with almost all of the Lakers' bench players).

That was a "redemption" play for him at the last second! He almost gave the game away with those really ill-advised and unnecessary 3 point bomb attempts at the end of the game.

That was a "must win" for the Lakers. The Suns haven't lost a single home playoff game, and probably will win Game 6. Game 7 in LA will be a barn-burner.

[Tobra]

Ron Artest is a wife beating, animal abusing POS who would be in prison if he was not playing hoops. He is almost certainly bipolar, but I don't see that as any excuse for his behavior. Eventually he will be in jail or beat up the wrong woman and her family members will chop him up and feed him to their pigs.

[sammyg2]

The lakers are very similar to the new england patriots, in that they know how to control their hoodlums. Both can take in trouble-makers and straighten them out.
No saying bad stuff to the press, very little complaining or backstabbing, etc.

Other sports organizations can't do that as well. The raiders, the bengals, and the 76'ers are prolly the worst.

I agree that artest would be in the penitentiary if it weren't for his God-given ability in sports.
I also think the lakers were a better team before they traded for artest.

Buy hey, someone has to throw up 3-pointer bricks one after another!

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by Tobra

Ron Artest is a wife beating, animal abusing POS who would be in prison if he was not playing hoops. He is almost certainly bipolar, but I don't see that as any excuse for his behavior. Eventually he will be in jail or beat up the wrong woman and her family members will chop him up and feed him to their pigs.

Isn't he the guy that choked his coach courtside a few years ago?

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by m21sniper

Isn't he the guy that choked his coach courtside a few years ago?

Naw, that was the walking POS La-trell Spree-well.

Allen Iverson was another real piece of work.

[sammyg2]

1997 choking incident

Though a four-time All-Star, Sprewell's career has been permanently overshadowed by an incident on December 1, 1997, in which he attacked head coach P. J. Carlesimo during a Warriors practice. When Carlesimo yelled at Sprewell to make crisper passes (specifically asking him to "put a little mustard" on a pass[1]), Sprewell responded that he was not in the mood for criticism and told the coach to keep his distance. When Carlesimo approached, Sprewell threatened to kill him and dragged him to the ground by his throat, choking him for 10–15 seconds before his teammates pulled Sprewell off his coach. Sprewell returned about 20 minutes later and landed a glancing blow at Carlesimo before being dragged away again. It was not his first violent incident with the Warriors; in 1995, Sprewell fought with teammate Jerome Kersey and returned to practice carrying a two-by-four, and reportedly threatened to return with a gun.[2]
[edit] Aftermath

Sprewell was suspended for 10 days without pay. The next day, in the wake of a public uproar, the Warriors voided the remainder of his contract, which included $23.7 million over three years, and the NBA suspended him from the league for 82 games. Sprewell took the case to arbitration, and, as a result, the contract voiding was overturned and the league suspension was reduced to the remaining 68 games of the season [ aint union's great? $24 mil to a gangsta POS to sit at home for a year].
During his suspension, Sprewell was charged with reckless driving for his role in a 90 mph accident that injured two people, and spent three months under house arrest as part of a no-contest plea.[2][3]

[sammyg2]

I don't get it. What was Artest trying to say in the quote below?
Was he suggesting that violent criminal activity is a black thing?

On July 29, 2008, it was reported that Artest was to be traded to the Houston Rockets along with Patrick Ewing, Jr. and Sean Singletary for Bobby Jackson, recently drafted forward Donté Greene, a 2009 first-round draft pick, and cash considerations.[14] The deal was made official on August 14, due to Greene's rookie contract signing on July 14.[15] In response to the trade, Yao Ming was generally positive, but jokingly said that "hopefully he's not fighting anymore and going after a guy in the stands."
In response, Artest said, "This is Tracy (McGrady) and Yao's team, you know. I'm not going to take it personal. I understand what Yao said, but I'm still ghetto. That's not going to change. I'm never going to change my culture. Yao has played with a lot of black players, but I don't think he's ever played with a black player that really represents his culture as much as I represent my culture."[16]

[bivenator]

That last second shot was a real disappointment. When ron ron chucked up the ill advised shots in the last minute or so my friends and I agreed that we had seen that ron ron many times in his time here in Houston. Then he goes and gets the rebound and puts it back in to win the game. Bummer for all the laker haters here in houston.
I agree with the bipolar assesment. He was a seemingly nice fellow during his time here and I enjoyed the interviews he gives but always has an undercurrent of craziness.

[speeder]

Like I said, I don't follow the NBA at all. I just see the goofy, *man on the street* interviews and such like the one where he gave out his cell phone # to a reporter and told his fans that they could call anytime. Apparently, he started getting thousands of calls a day.

He sure seems like a nice guy, that's all I'm saying.

[Tobra]

He is definitely not a nice guy.

Latrell "Shooting" Spreewell, too bad he did not tangle with Kersey. He would have gotten the beat down he so richly deserves.

[m21sniper]

In response, Artest said, "This is Tracy (McGrady) and Yao's team, you know. I'm not going to take it personal. I understand what Yao said, but I'm still ghetto. That's not going to change. I'm never going to change my culture. Yao has played with a lot of black players, but I don't think he's ever played with a black player that really represents his culture as much as I represent my culture."[16]

What a classy fellow.

[911pcars]

There are those who claim Phil Jackson hasn't proven he's a great coach (yeah, 10 NBA championships). He showed why he's the man again in game 5. After Artest puts up an ill-conceived 3-pt. shot instead of running down the clock, Jackson, instead of benching him, leaves him in for the eventual, face-saving game winner.

Even Jackson acknowledges he didn't know why he didn't pull Artest after that display of knuckleheaded bball. Mot coaches would have benched Artest. Genius or damn lucky non-call. Either way, it's a win.

Sherwood