Posted on 11/23/2004 4:59:48 AM PST by governsleastgovernsbest
Today scored a major exclusive this morning with the first TV interview of NBA player Ron Artest, who as FReepers who've spent the last week on the other side of the moon might not know, has been suspended for the remainder of the season for charging into the stands and attacking fans.
This is a case in which mere words, even a verbatim transcript, would be insufficient to fully convey the full flavor of the interview.
In a follow-up interview, NBA Players' Union head Billy Hunter acknowledged to Katie that Artest was "not very articulate."
But that does not begin to convey the situation. It is not simply that Artest is incapable of clearly expressing his thoughts. It's that his thoughts are so deeply detached from reality. I can only conclude that he suffers from a significant learning disability, a severe psychological disorder, or more likely, some combination of the two.
For in all his words and emotions, it was clear that Artest has absolutely no concept of the gravity of the situation or of his role in it.
You'll find below highlights of the interview, conducted by Matt Lauer, but I again stress their inability to fully describe just how detached from reality was Artest.
Let's begin by observing that he never apologized. The closest he came was at the beginning of the interview when he said "I wish it never happened, it wasn't good for anyone." But wishing something hadn't happened is, of course, a million miles from accepting responsibility for the fact that it did, and from apologizing to those who have been harmed or offended.
Artest then stated that NBA Commissioner "David Stern has been good to me but I don't think the number of games of the suspension [73 - the remainder of the season] is fair."
Why does Artest think the length of the suspension is unfair? Because "I want to help the league improve its image." Right. Just the person anyone would choose as its image-makeover expert - Ron Artest.
Far from admitting that he has become, in the wake of Dennis Rodman's retirement, the #1 face of everything that is wrong with the NBA, Artest tried to portray himself as some kind of good-will ambassador. "I've been working real hard and putting forth a number of positive things."
Artest then actually held up the CD he has been working to produce, the one for which he announced last week that he wanted to take a couple months off from his team to devote himself to. "It's about love," said Artest of the CD.
Artest then tried to make light of his past suspensions for violent behavior. In one of those cases, he had smashed a TV camera while leaving the court. "I need that camera. I paid $100,000 for it [in fines] and didn't get a piece of it." Apparently he thought that humor was the appropriate emotion for the day.
Artest then boasted of the fact that "I never harmed anyone." Makes you wonder what he was trying to do when he was throwing haymakers at fans in the stands?
Asked to explain why he went into the stands, Artest statede: "I was frustrated. The tape speaks for itself."
He continued, describing the situation when he was lying on a table at courtside and was hit by a cup of beer: "It was just like 'wow, a cup and a beer,' it almost hit my eye. It was like 'wow.'"
Lauer: "Did it pop into your mind that 'I've crossed a line'?"
Revealing the extent of his self-delusion, Artest replied:
"I think I'm pretty disciplined. You can answer the questions from the tape."
The camera then zoomed in on the t-shirt he was wearing. It bore the legend "tru warier" [sic] with a crouched basketball player forming the letter 'a'. I wonder which PR genius suggested he go on the show wearing that, or did this flow from Artest's own brilliant mind?
As to what should be the reaction to the incident, Artest, in the depths of his delusion, advised: "I think we just move on. Things happen and you just move on."
Lauer: "What would you say to kids who saw the incident?"
Artest: "They saw disrespect from the crowd and reaction from a frustrated player. I would tell them that sometimes things happen and you just have to move on."
Throughout the interview, Artest wore a smile and a "what-me-worry?" expression. He clearly had no clue as to the seriousness of his actions or the implications for himself or his profession.
Then it was on to Katie's interview of NBA union head Billy Hunter, a former player himself. It seemed clear that, off camera, Hunter had been horrified by what Artest said and how he expressed himself.
Katie tried to call him on it, saying "I watched you during the interview." But Hunter would not admit to what his true reaction had been. Instead, he claimed that Artest had apologized. Katie called him on it: "is that what you heard?"
Backtracking somewhat, Hunter then acknowledged that "obviously he's not very articulate." Hunter asserted that the punishment was "a bit excessive. He should have been required to attend anger management and allowed to come back after the All Star break."
Katie jumped: "But isn't he already in anger management?"
Hunter: "Not really, he's gone through it in the past but not in it now."
It was clear that Katie was shocked and disturbed by what Artest said and how he said it. There was a sense that she and Matt were embarrassed by what they had witnessed.
In any case, the image clearly emerges of a Ron Artest with only the flimsiest connection to reality. A suspension of a year is not long enough if, as is apparently the case, he has no concept gravity of the situation.
The interview was a disaster for the NBA and for Artest personally, and offered a revealing and troubling insight into the problems of our society at large.
http://home.datawest.net/esn-recovery/artcls/socio.htm
http://www.psychopath-research.com/whatis_psycho_1.html
BUMP!
Google is grand!
I've wondered for a long time why the NBA allows these jerks to have goofy hair-jewelery and tons of tatoos when they represent the NBA and like it or not are role models to millions of kids-seems like back in the day the players all looked so all American and were in suits if not playing but now they all look and act like they are ready for gang war. "You can take the kid out of the inner city but.....
No lawyer - he was flying solo. I really wonder who if anyone is advising this guy. He seems totally out of control.
He should be glad I'm not in charge. It would have been fun to banish him from the game FOREVER...
i finally got a look at the Today show interview. Artest was wearing a tee shirt and cap both promoting his new music. Then he help up the CD and smiled telling the date the CD is gonna be available.
listening to him, he didn't answer questions directly. Someone definitely fed him "talking points" and he just kept repeating those. He seemed to be on drugs. Wonder if steroids can do that to a person?
Since when is TRUTH bigotry?
I guess that makes you somewhat of a liberal, doesn't it.
Their race is irrelevant unless you have issues with it. "Liberal" has nothing to do with it.
I mean come on. David Stern is a good person. He handed out his suspensions and they were adequate enough. David Stern is not GOD. He cant control the actions of the NBA players. Ron Artest is his own man, he made the mistake and ran into the crowd. Yes it was wrong for him to do so but he is human. You cannot make such bold and harsh statements just because a person lost his temper after someone threw BEER on him. How about you have 5 million dollars in your hand and then have someone tell you that you cant keep it because of a human reaction. The penalty is the harshest in the history of sports.
Just my opinion.
The brawl occurred in Auburn Hills, Michigan, which is a
predominantly white community.
The brawl did not occur in Detroit.
The gang mentality has invaded Auburn Hills, Michigan.
Auburn Hills, Michigan, a predominantly white community, is
New Fallulah.
The brawl occurred in Auburn Hills, Michigan, which is a
predominantly white community.
The brawl did not occur in Detroit.
The gang mentality has invaded Auburn Hills, Michigan.
Auburn Hills, Michigan, a predominantly white community, is
New Fallulah.
The brawl occurred in Auburn Hills, Michigan, which is a
predominantly white community.
The brawl did not occur in Detroit.
The gang mentality has invaded Auburn Hills, Michigan.
Auburn Hills, Michigan, a predominantly white community, is
New Fallulah.
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