Ron Artest donating half his salary to mental health causes

[duncan228]

Ron Artest’s immeasurable encore
Scott Howard-Cooper
Hang Time Blog

Ron Artest has come up with a way to top Ron Artest.

Before he even gives away his 2010 championship ring in an online raffle to raise funds and increase awareness of mental-health issues in schools, the Lakers small forward is already focusing on another unprecedented donation that would mean millions of dollars and immeasurable attention to the same important cause.

He told NBA.com he is seriously thinking about handing over at least half, and maybe all, of next season’s $6.79 million salary.

“I’m definitely considering the whole thing,” Artest said. “Or maybe 60 percent.”

Although he may not finalize details until the summer, he called the plan “very serious. I’ve talked to my wife about it already. It’s a powerful message. The message is about the inspiration. That’s what I want, to inspire people. People will be like, ‘Wow. Why is he doing this? Oh, that’s why. Wow. We need to help educate.’ I didn’t come [to the Lakers] for the money. Obviously I could have gone somewhere else, even a lesser market. Pay less taxes. The taxes here are freaking killing me, you know what I’m saying?”

Artest said he thought about doing the same thing in 2006-07, his first full season with the Kings, but his manager talked him out of it. Artest said he was prepared at the time to move into an apartment with his family if money became a problem. He did not have a charity in mind then, saying the salary would have gone to college and high school scholarships.

But now, after speaking openly about the positive impact counseling has had in his life, he has a cause a little more than two weeks before the ring will be sold on Christmas day. And a plan.

“I can have it in my head pretty soon,” Artest said of the details. “I’ve been thinking about it for three years. Whether I do it now or in July, it’s very powerful.”

[history2b]

Ron Artest’s immeasurable encore
Scott Howard-Cooper
Hang Time Blog

Ron Artest has come up with a way to top Ron Artest.

Before he even gives away his 2010 championship ring in an online raffle to raise funds and increase awareness of mental-health issues in schools, the Lakers small forward is already focusing on another unprecedented donation that would mean millions of dollars and immeasurable attention to the same important cause.

He told NBA.com he is seriously thinking about handing over at least half, and maybe all, of next season’s $6.79 million salary.

“I’m definitely considering the whole thing,” Artest said. “Or maybe 60 percent.”

Although he may not finalize details until the summer, he called the plan “very serious. I’ve talked to my wife about it already. It’s a powerful message. The message is about the inspiration. That’s what I want, to inspire people. People will be like, ‘Wow. Why is he doing this? Oh, that’s why. Wow. We need to help educate.’ I didn’t come [to the Lakers] for the money. Obviously I could have gone somewhere else, even a lesser market. Pay less taxes. The taxes here are freaking killing me, you know what I’m saying?”

Artest said he thought about doing the same thing in 2006-07, his first full season with the Kings, but his manager talked him out of it. Artest said he was prepared at the time to move into an apartment with his family if money became a problem. He did not have a charity in mind then, saying the salary would have gone to college and high school scholarships.

But now, after speaking openly about the positive impact counseling has had in his life, he has a cause a little more than two weeks before the ring will be sold on Christmas day. And a plan.

“I can have it in my head pretty soon,” Artest said of the details. “I’ve been thinking about it for three years. Whether I do it now or in July, it’s very powerful.”

He's the man.

Richard Jefferson meanwhile will spend the majority of his money on private yachts, champagne and ruffies to throw his boy parties at sea.

[NRHector]

He's the man.

Richard Jefferson meanwhile will spend the majority of his money on private yachts, champagne and ruffies to throw his boy parties at sea.

And Kobe paying rape victims

[Fpoonsie]

He's doing it for the (crazy) kids

[lefty]

From menthal health to gay porn in 2-3 posts


Only @ Spurstalk

[Ace]

For the bas s

[YoungB]

only cool thing laker related i've ever seen. ron is the man

[nkdlunch]

Scarecrow of the NBA. Lotta heart, no brains.

[lefty]

Why do you have a , dancing, eating chicken in your sig?

Because I believe that s eat chicken while dancing

[kamikazi_player]

lol only laker fans can get a Laker topic and change it to a Laker/Spurs topic, what idiots

[history2b]

lol only laker fans can get a Laker topic and change it to a Laker/Spurs topic, what idiots

It's called putting things into perspective being that we are Laker fans who post on Spurstalk.

Shocking that we'd take a conversation into Lakers/Spurs topic isn't?

[kamikazi_player]

It's called putting things into perspective being that we are Laker fans who post on Spurstalk.

Shocking that we'd take a conversation into Lakers/Spurs topic isn't?

You could have said, "Good for Ron Artest" or some other thing about Ron doing a good deed, then you put in Jefferson in the conversation. No, that's doesn't show any Spurs obsession at all laker s

[history2b]

You could have said, "Good for Ron Artest" or some other thing about Ron doing a good deed, then you put in Jefferson in the conversation. No, that's doesn't show any Spurs obsession at all laker s

I said Ron was the man. Which in case you did not understand was a pat on the back for the good deed.

I brought up Jefferson because, again, this is Spurstalk and in order to better communicate with the audience here, a little perspective on things is necessary.

Hopefully, since you find this type of Lakers/Spurs talk offensive you police the Spurs fans who do this as well.

[kamikazi_player]

lol, any other player on other teams and you pick on Jefferson, hmmm.....very interesting
you should stop writing at this point

[history2b]

lol, any other player on other teams and you pick on Jefferson, hmmm.....very interesting
you should stop writing at this point

I could have said something about Dirk but is this Mavstalk or Spurstalk? Etc. etc.

[koriwhat]

is this Mavstalk

it can't be, because i own that in' URL! what to do with it? i have no idea at this point in time but one of these days i'll think of something.

[Killakobe81]

Well he is only playing on one half of the court (defense) anyways ...

Just kidding, sorta.

Ron is the man. Funniest and realest Laker ...maybe ever. and a HUGE heart ... the Guy pays for fans to come to games (and not as part of some Bogut or Bargiani themed rooting section that many athletes have) ...just people he meets on the beach or around town.

I was not 100% sold on ron until last year's playoffs ...

I just hope he figures out his role in the triangle ...

[Sisk]

Good stuff, Ron.

This thread would be much better if lakaluva would GTFO.

[4>0rings]

How's he going to pay to get the dog off his carpet now?

[TipsytheLurker]

I said Ron was the man. Which in case you did not understand was a pat on the back for the good deed.

I brought up Jefferson because, again, this is Spurstalk and in order to better communicate with the audience here, a little perspective on things is necessary.

Hopefully, since you find this type of Lakers/Spurs talk offensive you police the Spurs fans who do this as well.

I think most people just find it amusing that you, a Laker fan, post on spurstalk.com. Didn't you used to post on espn.com? Seems you were pretty well respected in that minnow pond. What happened there?

[DPG21920]

TBH, he is just simply paying his psychiatrist bill.

[Juanobili]

what happens when he wants his ring back? Is he gonna pull an OJ Simpson? lol

[midnightpulp]

He's the man.

Richard Jefferson meanwhile will spend the majority of his money on private yachts, champagne and ruffies to throw his boy parties at sea.

[mavsfan1000]

How much of that half donated will actually come back to him? lol j/k But yeah that was a cool thing he did.

[Koolaid_Man]

No pun intended.

gotdam...he got the drippin down the side and all...the whole shabang...