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what a prick sam amick is for trying to blow something up out of nothing...
i thought this interview was funny. it seemed like the interviewer was trying to dig for something that wasn't there. artest is surprisingly willing to take a backseat to yao and tracy. seeing him say this stuff makes me pretty pleased.
http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs...es/014222.html
A seemingly hesitant and wary Yao Ming discussed the agreed-on Ron Artest trade to Houston with the Houston Chronicle's Fran Blinebury in this story. A few hours later, I caught up with the small forward by phone.
In what could be perceived as a second potential problem in this pairing, Artest - who will be a free agent after next season - says he wants to know sooner rather than later if the Rockets will commit to him long-term. I'm not sure yet if this could be enough to scare the Rockets out of the deal, but it certainly isn't the start they were looking for. Keep in mind, there is nothing legally binding about this trade yet.
Here is the Q&A in its entirety. (Questions in bold and answers below)
It's good to catch you finally. How you feeling about this?
I think being that third option I can be more effective. I think I could have the best season of my career as a third option because they can't double or triple team me anymore.
We've still got to make sure there's still a commitment. That's the main thing, is to make sure there's still a commitment. When I speak to the powers-that-be of the Houston Rockets organization, we're going to find out how much they really want me there. We'll find out. I'm still waiting to find out if this is just a trade or if this is like a long-term commitment type thing. I haven't spoken to anybody yet. I'm still waiting.
You don't technically have any say (in the trade), but if you decided you didn't want to go there then they might think twice about this.
If they want me, I'm going. If they want me, and they're committed to Ron Artest, I'm gone. I don't have nothing to prove. I've been in the league going on 10 years. My first few years weren't as good as my last few years and my last seven years have been really consistent, so if they want me I'm gone and even if they don't want me, I still love Tracy McGrady. Every time I see him, he's always compe ive, always shows love, and he always competes. I can't wait to play with Tracy McGrady, and I can't wait to play with Shane Battier and the rest of the guys like Rafer Alston. I just can't wait.
I've got to ask you - you didn't mention Yao and I'm sure you've heard of some of the stuff he said back in China. Did that stuff catch you off guard?
This is Tracy 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. Once Yao Ming gets to know me, he'll understand what I'm about. Sometimes it's hard to get to know Ron Artest because I'm so down to earth to a fault. But once Yao Ming gets to know me, he'll understand what I'm about and that I'm a pretty intelligent basketball player. I know how to adapt. And all I have to do is play defense anyways, so I can't wait.
But really, he doesn't have to talk to me because to me I'm going. But if Yao Ming needs to talk to his general manager and talk to Tracy, then if they want me, I am going.
They obviously want you for this year, but what if they told you it's nothing more than this year and let's see how it goes after that.
I already made my stance on that. I don't think you have to repeat that. Everybody knows I made my stance on what type of player I am and hwo I think I am.
I know you're excited to play with Rick, but are leaving with any bitter feelings with the Kings or fired up to join up with him?
I'm just excited to be reunited with Rick Adelman. I don't care about anything else. If Rick Adelman has Yao Ming, they win championships without even thinking about me. I don't even want people to think that because the Houston Rockets are acquiring Ron Artest, then that's the reason they'll get over the hump. They would've been over the hump if Yao Ming hadn't gone down. They were having a great season.
I'll come off the bench, I don't care. Let Shane start, and bring me off as a sixth man or seventh man. I would love to come off the bench in Houston. It doesn't even matter.
You threw me off with your comments about Yao, and now I'm wondering if you have any plans of throwing this thing off. Are you definitely going there?
It's up to Yao Ming. It's up to Yao Ming. Tracy McGrady called me. I was playing basketball when I heard about it...This is great. This is great for me.
So what do you do now with the Yao thing? Do you just wait to talk to them and go from there?
I've got to do what I've got to do, but I'm just so happy to be in the Houston Rockets' picture frame. I can't wait to be putting on that jersey and be standing next to Yao Ming. I can't wait. I guess once Yao Ming approves it, I'll be a Houston Rocket.
I know you can't read his mind, but did you feel like he was trying to send a statement to the organization with his comments?
I'm not on his team yet, and he has a team that played well this year. Yao Ming and the Houston Rockets, they don't need a Ron Artest. I'd be a great addition, but it's not like they needed a Ron Artest. I understand where he's coming from. But like I said, whatever Yao Ming wants to do baby, whatever Yao Ming wants to do. It's up to big fella because it's not my team.
It's his team, it's him and Tracy's team. And But when I come in there, I'm definitely going to play my game and play to win. I'm definitely going to play with my ghetto and my hood roots. I'm going to play hard, and I'm going to play just like my culture taught me how to play.
Is that it? Is it a cultural thing?
No, it's not a cultural thing. I think Yao Ming is a great guy. He's a great face for the NBA, him and LeBron (James). Yao Ming is a different type of person where he's not from a ghetto in America, so he doesn't understand how someone from the ghetto really acts. And I'm like one of the most ghetto-ist guys in the NBA.
He probably reads all the headlines and doesn't understand. He automatically believes all the propaganda. He probably should've called me first. But at the same time, it's Yao Ming's team. If he tells me to jump off the building, I'll jump off the building.
Whatever Yao Ming wants me to do, I'll be there. Whatever Tracy McGrady tells me to do, that's how it's going to go down. Ultimately, whatever Rick Adelman tells me to do is exactly what I'm going to do.
It's been three or four years since the brawl. You surprised he went there (with his comments)?
I understand. I guess we're the same age, but he's looked at differently and he was raised differently....Yao Ming was raised differently. But definitely he shouldn't believe in the propaganda. You've also got to understand. I totally, totally represent my culture. So if you go back to the brawl, that's a culture issue right there. Somebody was disrespecting me, so he's got to understand where I'm coming from. People that know me know that Ron Artest never changed.
Like I said, I'm going to still stay true to myself and still stay true to my roots. Everybody knows that I'd give all the money in the world to play for Rick Adelman, so it is what it is and if they accept me on their team then I'll be on their team.
Tracy is known as an elite scorer but not so much for his defense. You going to teach him a few things?
All Tracy has to do is go score and I'm shutting (opponents) down. You score, Yao Ming in the post, I don't have to get doubled the whole game anymore in the post. When Yao Ming gets tired, I'll get on the block and give somebody some work. When they're ready to take Shane back over, I'll step back. I shot 38 percent from three last year. I don't have no problem with taking five or six threes a game. Just spotting up and playing defense.
I don't have a problem with stars not playing defense. That's great. That's right up my alley. I'm probably the only dude in the NBA who practices defense in the summer. That's right up my alley.
I'm real excited. I was a little bit thrown off by the whole Yao Ming thing. I called my dad, and my dad said, 'Ron don't worry about it.' I said, alright let's go. - Sam Amick
Categories: Sam Amick
Tags: Ron Artest
what a prick sam amick is for trying to blow something up out of nothing...
I can see the trainwreck happening right before my eyes.
did you read the interview?
Actually, those were pretty good answers for Ron. The Rockheads couldn't have asked for a better start, at least.
And now where are all those who dismissed earlier concerns about team chemistry?
Interesting. This is Yao calling out Artest before he even comes to the team. It's like Yao is saying to Artest, behave or else. But his opinions are honest. It's what a lot of us are saying about Artest. it's nothing new. Artest has heard it all before.
I applaud Yao for speaking up. He just drew the boundaries for a petulant little boy. Here are the lines don't cross over them or you will get smacked.
Almost hate to quote this because it was such an embarrassing bait-job by Amick. But here goes.
Artest sounds quite contrite here, seems to have changed his mind about being "the guy". Hopefully it's not just posturing, we never know. The mind of Artest is a dangerous thing.
It's a worry that Artest continues to give interviews. His manager must be one hungry SOB. It just doesn't make sense.
About a longterm commitment, Artest will likely be persueded by the Rocket's front office that hey, everyone does it this way: You play a season and we see where we're at afterwards. You want to be special, you should have opted out and shopped around. You play your little heart out this year, be on your best behavior, and the jackpot awaits you at season's end. End of story. Adelman should be a help here.
I think Rocket's with a sane Artest are way better and will be fun to watch. Hope it works out for everyone, but one never knows when Artest is part of the equation. But hey, it's all a part of the manic fun.
I guess people saw BOS's success last year and automatically assume that you can throw stars together and just win. They forget that every star on BOS perfectly complements one another and they all united with one singular purpose, to win a championship. No egos, no money issues, no drama.
and did you read the article? i just listened to artest on sac-town radio and he was repeatedly saying how he is yao's man and he will do whatever yao wants him to do. he also said he is going to china to see the olympics, support team america, and talk to yao.
btw sac-town has a pretty good sports talk host and it seemed like him and artest really had a good thing going on the show they had.
Clearly doesn't get it.
With Ron-Ron you have to read between the lines. The most alarming thing I read in that interview is that Ron still does not believe he did wrong in attacking the fan in the infamous DET brawl. His "culture" made him protect himself and he's not changing his culture one bit.
, at the end of the day when you put Yao and Artest together, they will get along. Know why? Cause Yao is polite and he gets along with everybody. He is not a get in your face smackdown player. He's a finesse player. Artest is the opposite of that.
Culturally they are worlds apart. You might as well tell Artest that Yao is from Mars. At first there will be some uncertainty as to how to behave but as they get to know each other better they will start cutting up.
T-Mac and Rafer should understand Artest fine.
Scola - See Yao above. Same thing. Spanish Euro player. Doesn't understand rap or the hood.
Battier has no clue cause he really isn't ghetto and it's debatable that he's even black LOL.
and what risk did the rockets take by getting artest? you should sign up for around the horn to take woody paige's spot. you offer up some completely worthless opinions.
artest flat out said in his last interview that now he doesn't have to worry about being the number 1 scorer anymore and that he has no problem with coming off the bench in a manu-like role. he also talked about how dominant the defense can be with him and shane out on the perimeter. the guy is ready to play some ball and put his ego aside. time will tell if it comes back but...do you really think the rockets are a worse team for dumping bjax, greene, and a low 1st rounder for artest? or are you just bitter because the lakers didn't get him?
As long as they have chemistry ON the court that's all that matters. Unfortunately for you that is the biggest question mark in this whole deal. How will Artest fit in with T-Mac and Yao when he is at his best with the ball in his hands?
Shaq and Kobe hated each other off the court, but ON the court their chemistry was just fine. And they won 3 rings.
Adleman will bench Artest if he gets out of hand or starts to get testy. The Rockets can afford putting Artest on the pine with that loaded team of theirs.
Rule of thumb regarding Artest. NEVER EVER take anything he says at face value. This shows how stupid and young you are that I have to explain this to you. With Artest you must always read between the lines, and even then it's a crapshoot trying to figure out what is going on in his head. But don't take my word for it, go ask the King's fans here.and what risk did the rockets take by getting artest? you should sign up for around the horn to take woody paige's spot. you offer up some completely worthless opinions.
artest flat out said in his last interview that now he doesn't have to worry about being the number 1 scorer anymore and that he has no problem with coming off the bench in a manu-like role. he also talked about how dominant the defense can be with him and shane out on the perimeter. the guy is ready to play some ball and put his ego aside. time will tell if it comes back but...do you really think the rockets are a worse team for dumping bjax, greene, and a low 1st rounder for artest? or are you just bitter because the lakers didn't get him?
with artest you don't read between the lines. he states things pretty clearly. he stated pretty clearly that he is ghetto. there is no reading between the lines there....all you have to do is read the lines.
This is true. Artest kept complaining that he wasn't getting a bigger role on the team. In fact the Bibby hate was pretty strong with Artest.
good work calling me stupid.i didn't say artest's feelings won't change from one moment to the next. when he does feel a certain way he doesn't hold it back and he states his opinions and emotions clearly. when you state things clearly that is not leaving things for the reader's/listener's mind to figure out on their own. the word you are looking for is mercurial. hope that helps mr. smartypants.
Good points, especially that others may as well be from Mars to Artest. His self-absorbed outlook (or INlook, as the case may be) has truly been his undoing.
The really, really weird thing is that no one on Kings has complained, or even hinted, that Ron is a bad teammate. He's very likeable, in fact he works well with the young guys, spending time with them as a mentor after practices, etc.
Battier is black?
He is the second coming of Vernon Maxwell. Maxwell went into the stands after a fan for disrespecting him. Then he clocked Carl Herrara with dumbells requiring 30 s ches to close the cut.
Mad Max - Absolutely vital to the Rockets le runs as will Artest be
Mad Max Incidents
RON ARTEST INCIDENTS
- 1987: Due to NCAA violations, all the points he scored last two seasons in college were eliminated from the record books.
- 1994: He was charged with unlawfully carrying a weapon.
- 1994: He hit teammate Carl Herrera in the head with a free weight at the head of his; it took 30 stiches to close the wound.
- 1995: He took two weeks off from the season for "personal problems", only to admit later that he merely wanted an in-season vacation. The incident was hyped as Maxwell being disgruntled at the team's recent acquisition of Hall of Fame guard Clyde Drexler. His actions led to the Rockets firing him.
- 1995: In a game at Portland, he ran into the stands to punch a fan, later claiming the fan had heckled him over his wife's miscarriage. The NBA suspended him for 10 games (which is when the Rockets picked up Drexler).
- 1997: Ordered to pay $592,000 for knowingly infecting a woman with herpes. The plaintiff was awarded a default judgment as Maxwell did not appear in court.
- 1999: In Florida, he was arrested for failing to pay $160,000 in child support. A warrant was issued for Maxwell's arrest in Florida in December 2004 when he failed to appear for another child support hearing.
- 2005: Maxwell was jailed in January 2005 in Washington state after his arrest as a fugitive on the 2004 outstanding arrest warrant from Florida.
- 2007: In North Carolina, Maxwell was arrested for drug possession charges. This violated his probation and Maxwell turned himself in and was jailed without bond.
Went into stand to punch a fan
Domestic Fight with Wife
Applied for job at Circuit City
Attended Pacers Practice in Bathrobe
Destroyed TV Camera in Madison Sq. Garden
Confronted Pat Riley
Several Flagrant Fouls
Asked for time off for his music career
Charged with neglect of Dog later proven that dog had a disease causing it to lose weight.
Ok who sounds worse? Maxwell or Artest?
I take Artest anyday in a lessor of the head cases anyday.
Last edited by Indazone; 07-31-2008 at 02:05 AM.
that is the vibe i got from listening to him on 1140 AM tonight. he also seems genuinely excited about playing for adelman again and having teammates like yao and t-mac. he also sounded really excited about just getting back to focusing more on defense than offense. like i said a few minutes ago...who knows if he will change his tune a month into the season but for now it sounds promising.Good points, especially that others may as well be from Mars to Artest. His self-absorbed outlook (or INlook, as the case may be) has truly been his undoing.
The really, really weird thing is that no one on Kings has complained, or even hinted, that Ron is a bad teammate. He's very likeable, in fact he works well with the young guys, spending time with them as a mentor after practices, etc.
Battier is black?
yeah mad max really fell off a cliff after that first championship.
That would be Carmichael Dave Show, Ron has spent lots of time this summer at the mic with Dave. I haven't heard much of their "segments", but Ron isn't much trouble at the other end of the interview, ie., it isn't hard to get him to talk. It could be having a soapbox has hurt Artest and made him feel at ease, where he should really use more restraint, imo.
But you know how these talk-show hosts are: It's all about the ratings. I bet Dave gets some real blow out of his relationship with Ron, and Ron only dreams more delusions of grandeur.
Things like this make me hate the media.
Mad Max did dangerous stuff like drugs and weapons charges. Both Maxwell and Artest punched fans. Maxwell actually took two weeks off cause he didn't feel like playing. Artest asked first and then didn't carry it through.
Everything else that Artest did was just funny if you think about it. Except with that big fight he had with his wife.
Why didn't Vernon Maxwell get a full season suspension for punching a fan and Artest got the full season suspension???
I'll tell you why? Different era. NBA was more lax about these things than now.
Last edited by Indazone; 07-31-2008 at 02:13 AM.
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