ESPN Blowing Out of Their Ass

by diehardkingsfan5 on Mar 31, 2008 2:02 PM PDT Comment 29 comments

On ESPNNews' The Hotlist, anchorman Fred Hickman went through today's NBA stories, the last one being about Ron Artest. Hickman gave a quote from Artest saying, "This season is a failure for not making the playoffs." Hickman then raised his eyebrows and looked into the camera, like here we go again with this insane nutter. But what is Ron supposed to say? That this season was fun and a great time and the team was very successful in getting the eleventh spot in the west on 33 wins? I saw Ron say this live after the game last night while talking to Grant and Jerry, and there was no malice involved. He even praised the coaching staff for dealing with all of the injury situations this year. And honestly, Kobe would be saying much worse had the Lakers not been in the playoff hunt, as would every superstar in the league (I'm not saying that Ron is a superstar, but his talents are at a superstar level). When are all the ass-holes at ESPN going to stop giving Ron shit (and yes a subtle eyebrow raise is considered giving Ron shit in my opinion) and start to see the good things this guy does for the team?

(This is a FanPost from a member of the Sactown Royalty community. The views expressed come from the member, and not Sactown Royalty staff.)

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That is unfair

However, if you (in less than 10 years) -

Apply for a job at Circuit City for the employee discount.
Are the driving force in the Detroit brawl.
Ask your employer for time off because you are tired from promoting an album for your R&B label.
Destroy a television camera.
Earn a suspension for confronting an opposing head coach (Pat Riley).
Face charges of dog abuse.
Face charges of domestic abuse.
(Place trade demands and various criticisms of coaching staffs here.)

- then you probably create an atmosphere where the media will probably jump on any item or quote involving you like a pack of wild dogs.

Again, unfair. But Ron has brought it upon himself.

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Mar 31, 2008 2:28 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Ron and Section

Section has a point, in that Ron has brought a lot of this upon himself (witness his description, in today's Bee, of himself as "one of the greatest defensive players of all time"). But players say/do ridiculous things all the time, and they don't get slammed like Ron. The guy has had a fairly uneventful year - visits to the Clippers locker room, inopportune chest pounding, and shouting matches with Reggie notwithstanding - and it seems time for everyone to focus their attention elsewhere. I went to the game last night, and the 8.4 fans there started heckling Ron - not the Kings, Ron - when the Kings finally started to pull away. Until Bad Ron does something else to make the papers, let's debate the value of what he does on the court - such as driving into double teams and ignoring set plays - instead of his prior transgressions.

On the subject of the game last night - met a guy who drove up from SacTown to watch the Kings play. The Sonics. I repeat: he drove hundreds of miles to watch the Kings go for win no 33 vs. the future Oklahoma City Drillbits. Kudos to you sir, whoever you may be.

by Snakes in the Trees on Mar 31, 2008 4:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

My response was not a beat down on Ron. It was an explanation via Ron's history as to why he is sometimes painted unfairly by the media.

That being said, it isn't just a media thing. There has to be a reason why a guy with that kind of talent and a very reasonable contract can't fetch more than a mid to late 1st round pick and an expiring contract in trade.

Ron has a reputation, with the media and apparently with the GM's of the NBA. Only he can change that. And while it is unfair that LeBron can question his franchise and Ron can't, that is the current environment. The only way Ron is going to change that is by playing great basketball and buttoning his lip. He is certainly capable of the former, but I'm not sure about the latter. Again, that's not completely fair. But that is Ron Artest's life, circa 2008.

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Mar 31, 2008 4:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

And still more agreement

I didn't view your response as a beat down on Ron. For the reasons you listed, Ron is an easy target. Ideally, he would play ball in a media free/heckler free/heavily medicated vacuum, and live up to his hype. Until then, he'll keep painting a bull's eye on his back, and fans/commentators/opponents will take aim.

by Snakes in the Trees on Mar 31, 2008 5:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

And 1

Re-reading Ron's comments, I come to this conclusion -

If Kevin Martin had said what Ron said we would all probably be happy campers for Kevin stepping up and taking a leadership role.

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Mar 31, 2008 6:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with you about Ron

with the exception for Detroit. He was the scapegoat (at that time) because of his history (then).

I am the stone that the builder refused I am the visual, the inspiration That made Lady Sing the Blues..I'm the spark that makes your idea bright...

by pookeyguru on Apr 1, 2008 1:50 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I guess I imagined

Him up in the stands, throwing punches.

Kenny Thomas - uniting Kings fans since 2006

by otis29 on Apr 1, 2008 6:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

NO

but he is hardly the one most to blame in that whole situation either. That comment alone ignores context. I'm all for jettisoning Ron off this team. Using the Detroit brawl, and mis-stating slightly the circumstances of it, is something I'm not willing to do. I understand why, but I just don't agree.

If you want to hang Ron for something hang him for this: If the guy is a superstar why doesn't he make that kind of impact more often?

I am the stone that the builder refused I am the visual, the inspiration That made Lady Sing the Blues..I'm the spark that makes your idea bright...

by pookeyguru on Apr 1, 2008 1:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

He is the one most to blame

He is the first one that entered the stands and started throwing hands.

I don't blame Ron-Ron exclusively for the brawl, but he was the one guy on the court that could have most prevented it, and in the process salvage his reputation as well as Stephen Jackson's - and the NBAs.

Kenny Thomas - uniting Kings fans since 2006

by otis29 on Apr 1, 2008 2:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That I disagree with

Ron didn't throw beer on himself. I blame Ron for alot of things, and particularly blame Petrie for keeping Ron on THIS team, but I don't blame Ron for going into the stands. I blame the idiot that threw the cup. I would have done the same thing if I was Ron regardless of how much money I made.

I am the stone that the builder refused I am the visual, the inspiration That made Lady Sing the Blues..I'm the spark that makes your idea bright...

by pookeyguru on Apr 2, 2008 1:47 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You would have done the same thing?

I feel much better about my position now. ;)

Kenny Thomas - uniting Kings fans since 2006

by otis29 on Apr 2, 2008 5:34 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I Think

A lot of players would have done the same thing.

They wouldn't now because of the message that was sent.

by coolcatreportdotcom on Apr 2, 2008 10:03 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't know man...

Players can't control themselves over a bad call; some @$$hole assaults them, you think their reaction is going to be: "Well, by golly, David Stern wouldn't like it much if I clocked that motherfkr."

It certainly wouldn't be my first thought. If I was a 6'6" wolrd-class athlete being belittled by some fat@ss who comes to games alone, and was now sopping in a disgusting combination of beer and his saliva, I'd beat the mothering shit out of him. I'd be so enraged, I'd beat the mothering out of anyone who tried to stop me. And if David Stern tells me I gotta stay at home for the rest of the season, my middle fingers'd be up as I walk away.**

As much as I dislike Ron Artest on my team, I've got no problems with him and the Palace Brawl.

**Probably not. Would've cooled off by then. Then I'd be apologizing like a 6 year old school boy. Would feel great about what I did though.

Mikki Moore in the skills challenge! - LPA

by iashwash on Apr 2, 2008 2:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

What happened post Detroit

is the league changed the sideline security to keep the fans from joining in again. (Never mind Artest walked away from a fight with Ben Wallace before having the cup of beer thrown on him. We seem to forget that whole aspect of the fight.)

I am the stone that the builder refused I am the visual, the inspiration That made Lady Sing the Blues..I'm the spark that makes your idea bright...

by pookeyguru on Apr 2, 2008 3:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

So he could walk away from a fight

With Ben Wallace, but has to go into the stands after a fan that throws a beer at him. Makes a lot of sense.

Kenny Thomas - uniting Kings fans since 2006

by otis29 on Apr 2, 2008 4:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

As far as I'm concerned

the idiot who threw the cup of beer should have gotten 2-3 years of jail time for pure & utter stupidity. That's a far worse offense than smoking a joint, or just drinking the beer in the first place. (That's what I'm really offended at I think.)

I am the stone that the builder refused I am the visual, the inspiration That made Lady Sing the Blues..I'm the spark that makes your idea bright...

by pookeyguru on Apr 2, 2008 4:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Completely agree

Kenny Thomas - uniting Kings fans since 2006

by otis29 on Apr 2, 2008 5:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

word

One thing to heckle, another thing entirely to assault someone who can benchpress you.

Especially if you're a 300+ pound sack of lard. Because then he can outrun you.

Idiot.

Mikki Moore in the skills challenge! - LPA

by iashwash on Apr 3, 2008 3:03 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Let me say this also

Detroit fans are pretty classless. This is the same bunch, in the same season no less, threw Allen Iverson in the playoff series vs Philly in 05. I don't think that is the brightest group of fans in the history of the world.

I am the stone that the builder refused I am the visual, the inspiration That made Lady Sing the Blues..I'm the spark that makes your idea bright...

by pookeyguru on Apr 2, 2008 3:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

They threw pennies @ AI

I realize it's AI, but did AI do anything to Detroit fans to deserve pennies thrown at him?

I am the stone that the builder refused I am the visual, the inspiration That made Lady Sing the Blues..I'm the spark that makes your idea bright...

by pookeyguru on Apr 2, 2008 3:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I guess

That's why they have metal detectors. :)

by coolcatreportdotcom on Apr 2, 2008 8:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Let me know the next time a penny

is classified as a weapon. Besides a weapon is only used when intended that way. What are examples of this? A baseball bat. A fist. A basketball. Pennies.

I am the stone that the builder refused I am the visual, the inspiration That made Lady Sing the Blues..I'm the spark that makes your idea bright...

by pookeyguru on Apr 2, 2008 10:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I thought ...

... the clown that threw the beer was the driving force in the Detroit brawl.

by coolcatreportdotcom on Mar 31, 2008 9:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sure

But Ron definitely provoked the situation, laying out on the scorer's table, in a hostile arena, after getting in an on-court situation with Ben Wallace.

Kenny Thomas - uniting Kings fans since 2006

by otis29 on Apr 1, 2008 6:59 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Classic Game

I have fond memories of that game.

I happened to be in Vegas, where I am hardly a regular, and I happened to have a bet on the Pacers plus 4 or 5 points, and they were winning by 15 points with about 45 seconds left when Artest fouled Ben.

Funny thing is, if there's no foul and no fight, they are running the clock out on the next possession, or getting pretty close. But that's Artest, playing hard and aggressive to the last possession.

I remember watching numerous replays on those big screens. It was all very surreal.

by coolcatreportdotcom on Apr 2, 2008 12:11 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ben

threw the first blow. I believe it was after an Artest foul. and u cant blame Artest for laying on the scorer's table. That in know way provokes a beer in the face.

NBA: Where your dreams are shattered happens.

by ChicoKing on Apr 1, 2008 6:33 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

At the end of the day

each of these individuals are responsible for their actions, as are we.

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Apr 1, 2008 6:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

True

well put

NBA: Where your dreams are shattered happens.

by ChicoKing on Apr 1, 2008 11:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

I also think Ron agrees with you as well. He never dodged responsibility for his actions, as reprehensible as they were, in fact he owns up to his role in the brawl rather freely. It is truly a complex situation with everyone having their own take on what they think happened or who was most at fault. In reality JO and Jax probably are the most at fault as far as escalation of the situation goes. If they go into the stands to restrain Artest and protect him from killing somebody they are to be commended. They did not. Does Ron need help in a fight? I still don't know what on Earth they were doing.

by Mityt on Apr 3, 2008 10:58 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs