Artest: "I Kind of Wished We Could Have Lost"

by louismg on Apr 16, 2007 12:14 AM PDT in Ron-Ron

Yikes. It's one thing for us cynical fans to root for the Kings to go into the tank and give us a better chance at picking up a marquis player to adorn our hardwood in the coming years, but buried in a story which highlighted Artest's career high 10 assists, Ron-Ron says he kinda, sorta, is in the same boat. And, surprisingly, he's not wishing the Kings had lost to do his own team any favors, but instead, he feels bad for the Clips!

"I always want to see my boy (Elton Brand) in the playoffs," Artest said. "I kind of wished we could have lost tonight so that they could have won, because I like to see Elton do well all the time."

Really, Ron-Ron? Well, I'll let you in on a little secret.

You're paid $7,526,316 for the current season. The Kings are shelling out the equivalent of nearly $92,000 per game, whether you play or not, to have you bust your hump to make sure you help the team come home with a W. That means if you feel sorry for the other team you're whuppin' on, that's too frickin' bad. It doesn't matter if you're buds with the guy wearing a different color uniform, whether you guys play poker in the offseason, or even if he offered backup vocals for your latest album.

You're paid $92k to kinda, sorta, always wish and want for the Kings to win. So while we're pleased you nailed a career high 10 assists and 15 points to help the Kings actually win on Sunday, this is the last time I want to hear you talk about how you kinda, sorta, wish you would have lost.

Tweet Comment 12 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

thanks guys!

I couldnt agree with you more. There is nothing more important than winning for your team regardless if your boy plays on another team that is in the hunt for the playoffs.

Most of all I'd just like thank you guys and the kings. I am part of the many goldenstateofmind guys that like to post on the blog and thanks for stealing one away from the Clips!

by djchuckdeez on Apr 16, 2007 12:57 AM PDT reply actions

Re: thanks guys!

Dude, it's not like the Kings plotted to "win one for the warriors." Also, I must take issue with you regarding the phrase, "stealing one from the Clips."

"Stealing a game," implies that the winning team lucked out--won a game which they should have lost. Even thought the Clippers made a decent run near the end, the Kings were in control most of the game.

by aspen on Apr 16, 2007 7:08 AM PDT up reply actions

Re: thanks guys!

what? the kings did steal one, they weren't suppose to win that game.

I never said the kings "plotted to win for the warriors" either. ALL I said was THANKS, whats the big deal about thanking the fans and the team? You don't know how it is to not go to the playoffs for straight 12 years, all I am doing is showing some gratitude.

by djchuckdeez on Apr 16, 2007 11:36 AM PDT up reply actions

Re: thanks guys!

Thanks for winning one for the warriors by stealing one from the Clips!! We really appreciated it.

by big things on Apr 16, 2007 2:21 PM PDT up reply actions

Artest:

I think this site is starting to turn into a "controversy for controversy's sake" kind of place - I know everyone is frustrated by missing the playoffs, but this is nutty.

Is this really a big deal? Haven't we been around Ron-Ron long enough to know you have to interpret what he's saying, not try to understand him literally? In Ron-Ronspeak, all he's saying is "I feel bad for my friend Elton Brand".

You can look back and see that I'm no Artest homer, but come on, cut the guy a break occasionally.

I'm surprised you didn't accuse him of point shaving.

by otis29 on Apr 16, 2007 6:35 AM PDT reply actions

Re: Artest:

On that point-shaving thing: I never accused Ronnie Price of shaving points, it'd be ridiculous to reasonably assume he did it and I pointed out three huge reasons in that very post as to why it wasn't the case. Someone else had a humorous take on the end of the Nuggets game which showed how odd the Kings' finish was w/r/t the spread. I linked to that and debunked it. I'm not seeing where I erred.

This isn't controversy for controversy's sake: one of our players just said he wishes his team would've lost so his friend on the other team could make the playoffs. He cares more about his friend on the other team than he does about his teammates (who obviously wanted to win) and his coach (who needs every win he can get), not to mention the thousands of Kings fans who spent Sunday afternoon watching the Kings and hoping for a win?

by Tom Ziller on Apr 16, 2007 7:14 AM PDT up reply actions

Re: Artest:

TZ, I understood your view of the whole thing. I thought the title of your post needed changing is all. "Ronnie Price, Point Shaver?" is probably a title a professional athlete would hate to see, even in jest.

by otis29 on Apr 16, 2007 8:13 AM PDT up reply actions

Re: Artest:

I see your point.

by Tom Ziller on Apr 16, 2007 9:31 AM PDT up reply actions

Re: Artest:

Ron Artest has been the Kings' most consistent performer down the stretch.

His sentimental comment about knocking the Clips and Elton Brand out of the playoffs was trivial and was in no way indicative of some major flaw in his competitive instinct.

by aspen on Apr 16, 2007 7:20 AM PDT up reply actions

Re: Artest and Controversy

This for me goes into the Ron-Ron quotes file at least. It's obvious he tried hard and didn't shave points. But as a professional athlete who deals with the media, he should think about how others can interpret his comments a tad more.

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

by louismg on Apr 16, 2007 7:28 AM PDT up reply actions

Re: Artest and Controversy

Understood, and it should be duly noted. But if you hear enough Ron-Ron, as I'm sure we all have, you have to filter out the nonsense to get to the meaning of what he's saying.

You say that Ron tried hard in the game, so I think you get what he really meant. But you chose to rip him anyways. That, my friend, is a textbook example of creating controversy for controversy's sake.

by otis29 on Apr 16, 2007 8:17 AM PDT up reply actions