Posted on 11/23/2004 4:59:48 AM PST by governsleastgovernsbest
This man, as well as the fans involved, should be arrested and charged.What if this were to happen at a concert, for example. If a fan threw something at the stage, and the performer attacked the fan(s), more than likely they would all be arrested. Maybe that is not a good example, but it was the first analogy that I could think of.
I saw two fans on TV last night. They had already retained infamous attorney Jeff Feiger (the guy who represented Kevorkian and later ran for governor of Michigan) and are filing suit.
Well, a million dollars doesn't go as far as it used to. :^)
Artest is in the wrong here and I agree with his year-long suspension. However, he has probably simply been passed along through the years since he is a basketball prodigy and never called accountable for anything along the way. Hard lesson for him to learn at this point. But he needs to learn it or I see even more desturctive behavior in the future.
This is yet another manifestation of the slow decline of civilized society.
We bitch and moan about the cost of college, then send meatheads like this to college on scholarships (scholarships ?), so they can drop out after two years to play pro ball (Basket or Football for that matter) so that the guys that finished school can pay through the nose to watch these dopes play while they worry about their jobs that are needed to pay off the loans for the education they put in the time for.
Cripes, whata country.
You're surely right. Also, I'd guess that the odds that Artest grew up in a stable home with two married parents = 0.
Obviously an immature, inarticulate, Narcissistic man-child (real rap "artist" material). Hope the criminal and civil charges, along with the year long suspension without pay hurt his dumb-ass to the max. Maybe THEN, he'll (and his ilk in professional basketball) finally learn something.
Artest has problems with connecting to reality?
Why would anyone be surprised? According to my kids, that is the 'Joaners' hallmark ('joaner' = thug).
I remember as a kid making a scrap book of photos I found in the paper and magazines of those heroes that played football in the mud and snow, sacrificing themselves for the love of a game. While they were not perfect, they did have an air of gentlemanliness off the field that contrasted so much with their obvious rugged character. Those were the men I tried to grow up to be like, and I will never forget Unitas, Lilly, Ditka, and their fellow sportsmen.
The NBA has made itself a haven for wannabe gangstas and is nothing but gutter trash now that I forbid my children to watch.
Artest should be made the poster-boy of what is wrong with proffessional sports.
It appears we've finally come full circle with the NBA. All this crap started in the late 80s when the "Bad Boy" Pistons presented the image of a bunch of thugs, with the thug-in-chief being Bill Laimbeer. Before then, it was Magic and Larry Bird's league. When they retired, I quit watching.
Somehow, it's fitting that the place where the NBA started it's downward spiral would be the place where it hit rock bottom Friday night.
The NBA's got a big problem. People just don't want to patronize a bunch of self-centered punk thugs.
I'm surprised this hasn't roused the race baiters. This debacle is tailor made for the likes of Jackson and Sharpton. They're probably waiting to see which way the wind is blowing first before they jump in the fray.
I've written similar statements in Emails to the NBA league office, and it's true, But let's go a little deeper.
NBA scouts spend a few dozen hours at the most with these guys, but their college coaches spend four years with them. Where's the leadership from those men, who should be in a position to know how deeply their players are involved with the gangs?
These coaches' failures don't mitigate the NBA's guilt, but it's a factor that should be explored.
Long ago his behaviour was signalling that he had a serious problem.
As long as he performed his 'job' well, no one seemed to mind.
Since we used that same standard for a certain past president, is it any wonder a large segment of society thinks that there are NO consequences at all for bad behaviour as long as you are supposedly doing your job.
Where does the NBA find people such as Artest? Does the league scout at universities? I can't imagine this fellow being a student at any college. In any case, the Association ought to give serious review of their recruitment policies.
A sportswriter (I think it was on CNNSI.com) wrote an article a few weeks ago about Artest. He said that Artest was actually a really likable guy, but was just flat out dumb.
A sportswriter (I think it was on CNNSI.com) wrote an article a few weeks ago about Artest. He said that Artest was actually a really likable guy, but was just flat out dumb.
Morning, ABG. That was the name. Thanks.
Yeah - we're having trouble making that million go as far as it used to too!
Dang! You beat me to the punch (haymaker, LOL). Oh well, now I have time to find the link to Rush's transcript.
I was on the way to a client and managed to catch most of Rush's rant on the "hip-hop, baggy pants, don't dis' me, gang mentality of the NBA" (condensed and paraphrased).
Rush transcript-Sports Violence Only Going to Get Worse
Rush blew my socks off (yet, again). He came right out and said something like "people are going to call me a racist" but he didn't care.
I'm lying here watching FOX and they just had some sports journalist (apologist) who's followed Artest since high school, saying that Artest is a nice guy and came from a fatherless home (DOH!).
Hey people, there are multi-generational hordes of these fatherless spermweeds out there on our streets (and filling up our prisons). I don't have any answers except to get the heck out of the bi-coastal or blue cities, move to a red state and get a carry permit.
I'm glad Bill Cosby's (finally) stepped up to the plate and saying the things that need to be said.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.