Ronronmania II: The Bad Side

by Tom Ziller on Dec 26, 2006 1:26 PM PST in Links

Lots of chatter about Ron Artest's status, Corey Maggette's situation, and the possible solutions therein.

Kelly Dwyer of SI.com advocates seriously for Artest-for-Maggette. Specifically, Dwyer suggests Artest and Jason Hart for Maggs and Yaroslav Korolev, a Russian lottery pick from the 2005 draft who hasn't done anything in limited NBA action.
Cornrows, an excellent Pacers blog, has less than fond memories of the last time Ron-Ron went boom. "Even though he's not the Pacers' problem any more, it still bums me out seeing Artest begin to waste another season," he writes.
ESPN's Marc Stein kicked off his Tuesday chat with a question about Ron-for-Maggs:
Darren Gregory (Sactown): Hey Marc, any truth to Corey Maggette for Ron Artest? If this is true, what happened to the Maloof brothers being so high on Ron-Ron?
Marc Stein: Yes. There's definitely something to it. I wouldn't say that the Maloofs love Ron any less they did from the start, but the behind-the-scenes tension in Sac can't be denied. Geoff Petrie knows the deal. If things get REALLY ugly, Sac will be stuck. They won't be able to get anything decent for Artest. Trading him sooner rather than later, if they can find a legit deal, makes a lot of sense.
That said . . . I'm not exactly convinced that Artest solves all the Clips' issues. He theoretically addresses L.A.'s defensive struggles in a big way -- it's like they've forgotten how to play D since last season -- but I wonder how happy he'd be as a second or third fiddle there.
Steve at brother blog ClipsNation presented some damning evidence that Mags has been misused by Mike Dunleavy last week. Despite being the team's best per-minute scorer and almost the most efficient Clipper, he's been used like a 7th or 8th man in a shallow rotation.
And though I linked it in this morning's post, be sure to check out Sam Amick's Sacramento Bee story on the swirling rumors.
And as for that Saturday morning ~~bullsh*tfest~~ puff piece by Marty McNeal on how Ron-Ron is just fine with his team and everything is love and the knee's just a little sore and he doesn't want to be traded and he has no problem with Mike Bibby? If our collective bullsh*t detectors aren't properly equipped to be alarmed by it, a very trusted source who would know says it is, in fact, 100% bullsh*t. Why is Marty Mac consistently the go-to guy for Kings who want to "set the record straight" by glossing over pretty obvious smoke? (See: Marty Mac's yankpiece on Team Dime's issues last winter.) Since McNeal has moved away from beat reporter to columnist mode, he's made a living doing the bidding of multimillionaire twentysomethings. I guess everyone is entitled to their own lifestyle choices.

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Re: Ronronmania II: The Bad Side

Speaking of Marty, I about choked on my coffee when he gave credence to the race card being thrown down in regard to the hoopla surrounding the recent fight. To anybody who has followed the NBA closely over the past few seasons, the interest associated to the fight was obvious. Throwing down the race card is displaying almost willful ignorance. I'm sick and tired of the racial flame throwers in our midst.

by Kusian on Dec 26, 2006 2:46 PM PST reply actions

Re: Ronronmania II: The Bad Side

The trade rumors are definitely picking up steam. I tend to believe this would be a different story if the Kings were 3 games over .500 than under .500. A winning tradition and hope for the playoffs always tends to bring out the best in individuals - even those who have previously proven prickly.

I like the energy Artest brings to the team, and have to give him credit for last season's second half surge. But something just isn't right in Arco, and change is needed. I just wish it was more along the lines of fixing Bibby's shot and finding KT a new home.

Kings-obsessed. A's obsessed. More ramblings: louisgray.com

by louismg on Dec 26, 2006 6:14 PM PST reply actions

Re: Ronronmania II: The Bad Side

"I just wish it was more along the lines of fixing Bibby's shot and finding KT a new home."

Word.

by Kusian on Dec 26, 2006 6:26 PM PST up reply actions

Re: Ronronmania II: The Bad Side

Bibby's shot can be fixed - he just needs to rest about 25 games.

As far as KT finding a new home, the Nets are in desperate need of a big man. Thomas would fit in in their offense and rebound all the shots Carter misses and get plenty of playing time now with Nenad out. I propose a KT for Jeff McInnis, Eddie House and Bostjan Nachbar trade. We would waive McInnis and Eddie (expiring contracts), but Nachbar can fill in off the bench behind Ron (Corey Maggette, should the Kings acquire him as well).

by bballblog on Dec 26, 2006 9:54 PM PST up reply actions

Re: Ronronmania II: The Bad Side

There was talk that the trade of Artest to the Clippers would not solve that teams offensive need. I suggest a trade where they get both Artest and Bibby and let them deal with their love for each other. Wouldn't that be fun. The other thing that would be fun to watch would be if Artest was traded to some team like Vancouver in outer Siberia. I wonder how he would like that. I am sure he could handle his rap career by long distance. Maybe create an Eskimo following. I wonder if he has a refusal clause in his contract. Or maybe trade him back to the Pacers. There are all sorts of possibilities that boggle the mind.

by Observer on Dec 26, 2006 7:35 PM PST reply actions

Re: Ronronmania II: The Bad Side

I meant Toronto in that last post.

by Observer on Dec 26, 2006 7:35 PM PST reply actions

uhmm...about that rap career.

I wish him luck; whether he's in LA or somewhere else.

The Stockton Record isn't the LA times, but consider the recent critique of 209 music columnist Ian Hill about Ron Artest, the rapper:

Early in his debut CD" My World", Sacramento Kings forward ron artest spits"maybe I should just play ball/and not be a rebel."

Rap fans will find that there are no "maybes" about it:Artest should just play ball.stay off the mic.

Listening to "My World", set to drop Oct. 31, is a painful experience. It's like watching Shaq act-you cringe and pity him almost pity him for deciding to branch out. There are two reasons why Artest shouldn't have made the album:

He has no flow.
he doesn't have a good voice. It seems as if he's trying to copy the sleepy smooth delivery of Snoop, 50 cent, or fellow Queensbridge House native Nas. But while their flow comes naturally, Artest has to work at it. You can tell he's reading the lyrics off the page,and at times he's off rhythm.

There were signs the album had problems even before I put it in my player.Artest's press kit was sent to our sports department--not the entertainment section, who would review it. It didn't include a track listing, so you don't know who contributed what.

And the only review included in the kit is from the basketball "Slam".
"They said I shouldn't rap/said I shouldn't pursue it/When I heard that/Ron started to lose it", Artest raps on the album.

Ian signs off the post:

"You should've listened".

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/rhondda

by Rhondda Nunes on Dec 26, 2006 10:22 PM PST reply actions

Sac Bee basketball coverage

I cant agree more strongly with Kusian on McNeal. I have definitely lost all respect for Marty Mac. His "stream of conscience" pieces are just a bunch of fluff crap that I dont even bother reading anymore. I got tired of his "dog" and "dude" drop-in's and yes he busts out the race card so often or hints at it that he should get his card laminated at Kinko's so it wont fall apart from use. I cant believe that he gets paid to pass off his weak ass opinions when TZ and company do a far superior job for free. I think Amick is doing a pretty good job as the beat writer being only one year in. He doesn't seem to shy away from getting his hands dirty by either asking asking the right/pointed question or reporting on locker room politics. He also seems to have gained the ear of alot of the players as eveident by some of the quotes he gets. I think Artest has the guy's cellphone number based on some of the stuff Amick has in paper. Its great to have Scott Howard Cooper back on the NBA beat. He is one of the better bball writers in the country. Can anyone explain his banishment as Rivercat beat writer for the past year? Who did he pissoff? I miss Kriedler more and more, everytime I have to read Ailene Voisin or Marcos Breton. I dont think Breton even likes basketball and Voisin tries to get far too cute with her pieces that it makes me roll my eyes most of the time.

Damn you Robert Horry!!!

by chupacabra on Dec 26, 2006 10:24 PM PST reply actions