Beno: Karma's a Bitch, Peaches

by Ziller on Apr 10, 2008 2:41 PM PDT in News Comment 27 comments

So how about that? Grant "Not Peaches" Napear and his pal Mike Lamb, making friends. Or not.

The pair questioned Ron Artest's absence on Tuesday afternoon (due to injury and/or fatigue; his daughter's cancer has recurred). Ron-Ron caught word and responded Wednesday in the paper. Beno Udrih also responded to the charges, through part of an interview with The Bee's Sam Amick, which ended up on Sam's blog.

The Kings small forward, of course, was roasted on the radio on Tuesday afternoon when he decided not to play against Golden State because of his sprained left thumb. Udrih didn't think that was fair, nor did he think it was right if anyone with the team was questioning him.

"He's fighting for every ball," Udrih said of Artest, "he really puts a lot of emotion in the game. I admire that about Ron. If he's hurt, he's hurt. [snip] You cannot prove a player doesn't feel pain. And if they don't (support you)...I think it's going to come back to you. Somehow, somewhere, some way, it's going to come back around and get you somewhere else. Maybe not in basketball, but .... karma. Bad karma. But I do believe Ron. He's hurting, he's hurting."

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Go Beno!

Way to show some leadership and defend Artest. I dont know how injured his thumb may or may not be, but if his daughter's is sick again then NOBODY should tell him how to handle it.

Wait....Why is everybody clapping? Everyone around me is clapping.... I guess I should be clapping too... GO LAKERS!!! I hate living in So Cal

by 27freethrows on Apr 10, 2008 3:19 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

what a dick

Come on Peaches, that's just not cool. The games don't matter anymore unless you really enjoy playing spoiler. And frankly that's overrated, I don't care if we affect another team's destiny or not, the west playoffs are going to be a war regardless. It's been a long season for Ron between his daughter, being tapped to be the leader, AND being openly shopped only to find out you're not worth Linus Kleiza?

Cut the guys a freaking break. Was I pissed when Ron left Bibby's Mix-n-Bowl early? No, because Ron has his reasons. But Grant knows the team because he lives with them during the season, right?

By the way, if TZ asks Peaches about these comments would Grant reply with "You're stupid and uninformed, me and Ron are friends. I talked to him last week. And Beno and I had lunch the other day, so we're obviously friends"?

I'm Grant Napear's favorite fan.

by Muff209 on Apr 10, 2008 3:55 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Ron Loves To Play

I believe him. He may be crazy, but he's not lazy or a quitter. Ron clearly loves to play basketball. I never question his heart - only his head.

by Kusian on Apr 10, 2008 4:50 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Predictably,

Karma beat Peaches' ass on Googlefight.

I think I have a crush on Googlefight vs. Peaches. I'd Googlefight him against the most ridiculous things just for the giggle it gives me to see him lose.

So very sorry for taking it out on the StR readers.

God bless you, Corliss. You always played as though you knew how expensive my tickets were. -section214

by KK on Apr 10, 2008 8:07 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Who says we disagree with you?

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 10, 2008 10:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

i hate you

way too much of my life was just wasted on that shit. waaay too addicting, put a warning on that sucka.

damnit

Mikki Moore in the skills challenge! - LPA

by iashwash on Apr 11, 2008 2:26 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Evil laugh.

Wow, is your mom popular, or what?

God bless you, Corliss. You always played as though you knew how expensive my tickets were. -section214

by KK on Apr 11, 2008 7:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agree with the community for the most part

But his interview on KHTK showed again just how out of touch this guy is - and how unprofessional he is.

All indications from Ron are that he gets to decide when he does and doesn't play. He feels the kids need to play more, he sits out. He feels that he owes it to the fans to play at home, but sit out on the road due to the possibility of further injuring the thumb, that's his decision.

Sorry, but if I have a player under contract for $8 million a year, I think that decision belongs to the coaches and training staff. If Reggie and Geoff Petrie feel the kids should play more, they should play more.

Ron should report to work every day, see the trainer - and if they decide he's risking further injury he should be held out or just flat out shut down for the year. If they feel he should play, he should damn well play.

Grant "Peaches" Napear - uniting Kings fans for too damn long.

by otis29 on Apr 10, 2008 8:30 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Additionally

I do empathize with his situation with his daughter. But if he needs to take some time off to deal with that, he should go to the team and request it.

That's how I'd have to handle it with my employer.

Grant "Peaches" Napear - uniting Kings fans for too damn long.

by otis29 on Apr 10, 2008 8:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Otis I agree with both of your points

Peachosauras Rex and Ron-Ron are 2 different issues here. Leaving the P-Rex on the side (and keeping him where he should remain) the issue is whether Ron should have played.

The issue is simple. If Ron Artest is healthy to play, and the Kings want to play him, then he should have played. If he's not healthy to play, and there could be an argument on that end as well, then he shouldn't attempt to play again this year with nothing @ stake.

What I do know is the lack of control this franchise has, whether it's because Artest is uncontrollable, or because they're too afraid to try, the franchise has only succeeded in muddying up the water surrounding Artest. Good luck getting a Linas Kleiza, Eddie Najera, and 1st round pick for this guy now.

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 10, 2008 10:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not Quite the Same Thing

>>That's how I'd have to handle it with my employer.<<

It might be slightly different if your employer was paying you $7.4 million a year.

by coolcatreportdotcom on Apr 10, 2008 11:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The difference would be

He could more likely afford to take an unpaid leave than I would. And it's likely his company would continue to pay him, since it would be a PR nightmare to cut off his salary when he's tending to a sick child. In my case, I'd have to file for FMLA (which offers job protection) and use my accrued vacation/sick time to get paid while I'm out.

As Ron-Ron has been granted time off from the club in the past when he's needed it, I'd assume the club would be sympathetic and allow him the leave. But that would require actual communication with his employer.

Point again being - there is a professional way to handle this, and it seems Ron-Ron is not going that route.

Grant "Peaches" Napear - uniting Kings fans for too damn long.

by otis29 on Apr 11, 2008 12:33 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Communication

>>Point again being - there is a professional way to handle this, and it seems Ron-Ron is not going that route.<<

It's hard to know what the total picture is re: communication. We get glimpses from the media, but not the whole picture.

I agree with Kusian that if he's not a malingerer re: injury. Indeed, the easy thing to do would just be to pack it in for the season. Ron's not doing that.

The season is over in a week anyway, and Ron will have time to heal and deal with his daughter more fully then. I don't think a lot of that is in his hands anyway.

by coolcatreportdotcom on Apr 11, 2008 7:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You mean when

he isn't promoting a rap career, applying for car radio discounts, forcing a part of his arm on a significant other, not attending to his animal's properly, and all that, he's a doctor now too? My lord, how could I have been ever so wrong?

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 11, 2008 10:24 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Props to Beno

He's the closest thing we have to a leader on the floor. I've really been impressed with his poise under duress this year.

by Saifullah on Apr 10, 2008 8:36 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I have to say this

Why does Beno's opinion really count as important perspective on this? Beno's a NBA player. Why would he denounce Ron in the paper when it's easy? Doesn't that go against the un-written rules of the "club" that these guys are a part of?

I'm not saying Peachosaurus Rex, and his fake laugh croney for that matter, had any business saying anything, but does Beno's opinion in any way count in this thing?

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 11, 2008 12:32 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

Beno spouted the club line. I don't think his statement shows leadership nor do I think it shows a lack of leadership. Question is why WOULD Peaches (also paid by the club) say something like that? Then again why would he ask Kevin Martin in a post game interview if Kevin understood that the franchise paid him a lot of money to play hard regardless of whether or not the team was in the play-off hunt? Peaches just says stupid stupid shit and he has a lot of hate in him which I imagine he thinks is justified. Probably got picked on a lot (probably still does). In fact I almost feel bad for calling him out. In fact, "Sorry Grant Napear. You've had a tough life buddy. I mean, it's got to be hard to get up every morning, look yourself in the mirror and say 'Today I am going to go on my silly little radio show and malign men, bigger and braver than I am because I think I deserve to belittle them.' even when you know everyone hates you for it. I mean that really takes dedication." Shit. I just gone and called him out. Funny, I actually don't feel bad about it.

by NYCFan on Apr 11, 2008 6:43 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Disagree

I'd say his comments have validity because he's in the locker room.

You get on P-Rex for his fake "I live with these guys, they're my close personal friends" rants, but Beno does, and probably is.

He seems like a good guy, and could have remained silent, but chose to stick up for a teammate who, in his opinion, was being maligned.

Whether you agree with what he said or not, saying it was gutsy. It showed loyalty and leadership, two things that have been in short supply the past few years.

And I also agree that if Ron's daughter is having health issues again, that excuses a lot.

TickTickTickTickTickTick

by LeaguePassAddict on Apr 11, 2008 7:10 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

In Defense of Peaches

Gawd, I am really ending up as a Peaches apologist lately! I heard the call on the Mike and Peaches show where Peaches had it out with a mother regarding Artest, whether he plays, and his daughter's situation. I took from that call that the woman felt that because of Artest's daughter's situation he should be excused for ALL actions. Peaches' position seemed to be to agree that Artest's daughter's illness called for exceptions to be made but that he felt that at the least Artest should let his coaches know more than 20 minutes before a game whether he would be playing or not.

In spite of his circumstances it does smack of him 'jerking the team around' unnecessarily. Seriously, if his thumb hurt at shootaround and he preferred not to play an away game as a result, why couldn't he let Reggie and Co. know then? What is the point of waiting?

To me it just sounds like an immature power play kind of thing that's been going on all season.

by defender96 on Apr 11, 2008 9:19 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

It's unprofessional

Meaning, there is a set of rules for Artest, and a set of rules for everyone else. Not exactly conducive to longterm clubhouse harmony.

I understand that great players get some favoritism and some leeway on their behavior - that's the nature of the sporting beast. But is Ron Artest that big of a star that it's worth the team allowing him to be on his own program?

Obviously, I think not, but YMMV.

Grant "Peaches" Napear - uniting Kings fans for too damn long.

by otis29 on Apr 11, 2008 9:29 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Otis

You make those type of exceptions when that player is Kevin Garnett.

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 11, 2008 10:26 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I love

how Beno said he's hurting 2x :)

by kingme on Apr 11, 2008 9:31 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Peaches and sick kids

Here's what I want to know: How would Peaches react if one of his sons had cancer and people jumped all over his ass about not calling a game at the last minute? The guy has an utterly amazing lack of empathy and self awareness.

I'm one of the biggest Ron Artest critics here, but basketball means absolutely nothing when you're talking about the life of your kid. Peaches position seems to be that minor, last minute lineup changes on a lottery team are a bigger deal than a man's daughter having CANCER.

Give me a giant freaking break.

I think Artest should just leave the team and focus on what's important, but my guess is that he's trying to be all things to all people (teammates and family) and is instead just pissing everyone off, justifiably or not.

by Carl on Apr 11, 2008 9:59 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I would agree if

he had missed the game because of his daughter, and had to leave to be with her. 1 hour notice, 1 minute notice, what ever. For however long. But that's not why he missed the game. He stayed and sat on the bench in street clothes. So playing or not playing made no difference in his availability for his daughter. So, I don't think it had anything to do with his daughter.

I think it was either the thumb, or he just didn't want to play. Thumb injuries are weird though. You can be fine for a day or two and then you bump it reaching for a glass and bang it's back. Sort of like a groin injury. So it is very possible he re-injured it in the last game.

As for Peaches, who the f*ck cares.

All of that said, after watching these last few games, I'd really much rather go into next season with a starting line-up of Beno, Martin, Salmons, Williams and Hawes, and Garcia, and draft picks 1, 2 and 3 off the bench than what we will probably go with.

by Kfan in Korea on Apr 11, 2008 11:58 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ron Ron and Brad

Don't know how many of you read the story re: Brad Miller in the Bee this morning, but I found it interesting that Brad went out of this way to mention that the team plays at a high level when Ron plays at a high level - not Kevin, not himself, but Ron.

The bottom line is that NOBODY here knows what goes on in the locker room or what the Kings teammates think about each other. I have read and heard enough this year from Kings players, GP, Reggie et al that Ron is a hell of player who has the respect and admiration of his teammates, coaches, and management.

Now, Pookey, before you burst of blood vessel, I still don't think that answers the question of "are we better with Ron Artest?" But I do think it answers the question of whether his teammates believe that he makes a difference. Frankly, the way the team is made up right now, I really think that a strong argument can be made that Ron slows things too much and takes away too much from Kevin and others.

This off-season and next year are going to be interesting....

by Kusian on Apr 11, 2008 12:28 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

You are not frustrating

I might not agree with you, but you make your point clear. I disagree with it, and that's my right, and you have your opinion. That's you right. No blood vessel bursting necessary sir.

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 11, 2008 1:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs