http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2551458

What are they thinking letting this guy interact with kids?


Artest defends brawl actions during community service

Associated Press

DETROIT -- Ron Artest, talking to children as part of his community service sentence, defended his actions in one of the worst brawls in U.S. sports history.

"Someone started trouble and I ended it," Artest told about 50 children Wednesday at a panel on black empowerment at the Judge Mathis Community Center. "I would always encourage you to protect yourself but in certain situations, if you can avoid them, avoid them."

Artest was at the center of the November 2004 brawl at a Detroit Pistons game. It started when Artest, then with the Indiana Pacers, fouled Pistons center Ben Wallace late in a blowout game.

As the confrontation on the court appeared to calm down, a fan hit Artest, who was lying on the scorer's table, with a cup. Artest charged into the stands and threw punches, along with teammate Stephen Jackson.

Pistons fan John Green was convicted of punching Artest but was found not guilty of throwing a drink on the player.

"I like John Green, he's real," Artest said. "I don't have any problems with John Green. He did something really stupid but a lot of people do stupid things. God forgives, so I'm forgiving too."

But Artest, who now plays for the Sacramento Kings, said he really doesn't think about that night in The Palace of Auburn Hills.

"It's so over. That night has been so far over, I really don't have any thoughts on it," he said.

Artest, Jackson and several teammates were sentenced to one-year probation after pleading no contest to misdemeanor assault charges. All were ordered to perform community service, which Artest is scheduled to do in the Detroit area through Sunday.

Artest spoke about his upbringing in a broken home and how past drug dealing almost landed him in jail. He said he started getting into trouble after his parents divorced when he was 13.

"I was very sad and I always wished they got back together, but they're not," Artest said. "If that happens to anybody, you have to worry about yourself. You can't worry about your parents at that time, because obviously they aren't thinking about you, they're thinking about themselves."

Apparently Ron Ron was on Stoney & Wojo today and said that he'd like to "sit down and have a pizza with John Green".

Will they serve beer with the pizza?

Will Artest waive his restraining order against John Green?

http://espn-att.starwave.com/i/magazine/new/artest_cd.jpg

Artest's WDFN interviews (via WDFN.com podcast):

Part 1:

http://a1135.g.akamai.net/f/1135/18227/1h/cchannel.download.akamai.com/18227/podcast/DETROIT-MI/WDFN-AM/saw%20with%20Ron%20Artest%20part%201.mp3
Part 2:

http://a1135.g.akamai.net/f/1135/18227/1h/cchannel.download.akamai.com/18227/podcast/DETROIT-MI/WDFN-AM/saw%20with%20Ron%20Artest%20part%202.mp3
Part 3:

http://a1135.g.akamai.net/f/1135/18227/1h/cchannel.download.akamai.com/18227/podcast/DETROIT-MI/WDFN-AM/saw%20with%20Ron%20Artest%20part%203.mp3

What a moron. Obviously if two people get a divorce they still care about you (some times not). For example, my wife's parents got divorced because her dad had substance abuse problems and was dangerous, but her mom took her away because she cared about her. But I guess my wife should have told her mom to go fly a kite or something. Thanks for the insight Ron.

you just dont get ron cuz your not from the ghetto.

What a moron. Obviously if two people get a divorce they still care about you (some times not). For example, my wife's parents got divorced because her dad had substance abuse problems and was dangerous, but her mom took her away because she cared about her. But I guess my wife should have told her mom to go fly a kite or something. Thanks for the insight Ron.

my p's divorced when i was two. they cared about me because when i was living with one, that one could sue the other for child support. this actually carried on til i was 21 and had to testify in court over college money. ron is still a dumbass though, and the fact that he said this during community service makes it that much worse. put him on chaingang highway patrol, and tape his mouth shut.

^sickening

Does Ron think that anybody isn't "real"?

http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/14300577p-15165365c.html


Critics' words mean little to Artest

By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:01 am PDT Friday, August 18, 2006

Ron Artest attended the Detroit Tigers game Thursday night, armed with a broad grin, typical charm and a hearty handshake for the dozens who said hello.

Oh, and he wore a Tigers cap.

The Kings forward, in Detroit as part of his community service assignment from his role in the Nov. 19, 2004, NBA brawl, said he gladly donned the Tigers' colors as a goodwill gesture. As Artest reminded in a cell phone interview during the middle innings, he is a spirited and emotional fellow.

He is not a bad guy, he insisted. But he has been attached to a hideous incident. And when the community service initially was discussed, Artest said he wanted to return to Detroit "to show that there's a lot of good in me."

"I'm glad I'm here, really," he said. "The people here have been really great, very cool. I must have passed 1,000 people already -- and the Tigers' fans are real."

This was one day after Artest's comments to a group of Detroit-area children included him defending his role in the brawl. He said he knew the national media criticized him for his quote, "Someone started trouble, and I ended it."

"I don't expect everyone to like me," he said Thursday. "Some people, like fans here, they're open-minded. Some media, I think they'll stay one-sided forever. It's old. They're not letting it go. But not the fans. They've been great."

Artest said the baseball game was uneventful, sans the handshakes. No harsh words from someone in the cheap seats, and no beer cups hurled his way, unlike the one that landed on him at the Palace of Auburn Hills and prompted him to charge into the stands.

"That wouldn't be very smart," Artest said of any flying projectiles, with a laugh. "No, I don't see that happening again. That cup incident, that came from one bad apple in the batch. No bad apples here. I can't ever see that happening again."

And, heaven forbid, if he was peppered with a beverage again?

"I think security would check it out," he said.

Artest said for the second day in a row his message to Detroit-area children was about sportsmanship, overcoming odds and being strong and proud. Artest spoke of growing up in a broken family, of conquering adversity.

"You know what? I regret that the (brawl) incident happened, but the positive thing is, I had a chance to come here now and talk to a lot of kids and hopefully affect their lives with things I said," Artest said. "I told kids that I messed up growing up. I made mistakes. Some kids said that they messed up and that they'll always mess up. No, you can do better. You can. I did."

With that, Artest said he had to go. More Detroit folks to talk to, more Tigers fans with whom to debate pennant races.

does anyone else think artest looks like a lemonhead?

What a moron. Obviously if two people get a divorce they still care about you (some times not). For example, my wife's parents got divorced because her dad had substance abuse problems and was dangerous, but her mom took her away because she cared about her. But I guess my wife should have told her mom to go fly a kite or something. Thanks for the insight Ron. I don't think Ron's quote was about anything you are talking about. Give the man some credit here - I doubt he's saying that you should stay with a dangerous alcoholic for the kids.

We dangerous alcoholics need families also. What about our needs?

thats why you have alcohol!

And why its all named after people.