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.
On the most superficial of levels, Artest was not dislikeable. He wasn't a glaring, angry person giving off violent vibes. But it's hard to like someone who commits violent acts and then refuses to take any responsibility for them. He is not merely dumb, though he is surely that. He is morally obtuse and, ultimately, dangerous.
I would have to disagree with you on that point. You have to look at Artest's motivation in doing this interview. Clearly the only reason he went on TV this morning was to promote his record company. He was dressed like a billboard (t-shirt and matching hat) and held up the CD three times in the course of the interview.
So when evaluating his performance, you have to look at him as a hip-hop record producer, not as member of an NBA team - as a playah, not a player.
By that standard, he performed brilliantly. He promoted the product, which is always job one. He solidified his credentials as a bad-a$$ thug, which is the public image which sells this particular type of record. But most importantly, he did not apologize. Apologizing is a cop-out, an admission of defeat. It is knuckling under to the Man. A hip-hop bad-a$$ must never knuckle under to the Man...
Sure, his NBA career is in shambles, but what else is the Commissioner going to do to him? Suspend him for life? That's just not gonna happen.
With respect, I don't really think you're disagreeing with me. I said that no one would have dressed that way who cared how "society at large" thinks about him. What you're saying is that Artest was appealing to his music market segment, which clearly is not society at large.
Are there no hockey leagues anymore?
There's a labor dispute and the season never began.
moveon.org
Same mindset, same disease.
"Delusional Artest Fails to Apologize"
Did Katie forget her knee pads this morning?
Do these words sound familiar? Anyone?
Hint: Legacy.
Do they allow music sales from the penitentiary?
Thanks for the info..the state of sports in this country is just pathetic.
Good point. And here's another intriguing coincidence: Clinton also became famous for his dribbling ability.
That's for posting, I just missed it. I waw the union guy on saying he's all upset about the harsh treatment of his "BOY".
We fans keep these guys in business by paying exhorbitant prices for tickets and beer. Some fans worship at the alter of some guy who can dribble or throw a pass or hit a ball.
Whta do we expect when we assign so much worth to so little worth-delusional reality.
I thought that Billy Hunter, the union guy, was just going through the motions. He didn't harshly criticize the penalties, saying only that they were "somewhat" excessive.
I get the impression Hunter is a decent guy and was dismayed by what happened and by Artest's interview. That was underlined by Katie's opening observation to Hunter, about having watched him during the interview, with the clear implication that Hunter had been appalled by what he had just seen.
Have done so.
For almost 25 years.
I can't enjoy seeing street gangs doing their thing in uniforms that match.
Bill Cosby was dead on with his comments regarding the current state of a significant percentage of African-Americans. But he's a voice in the wilderness. Artest's actions will be glorified and his punishment will make him a martyr in more places, black and white, than any of us want to think.
In his heart of hearts, Artest believes he occupies the moral high ground. And there are a lot of morally and spiritually confused people who would agree with him.
You are right, what you witnessed on the "Today" show is the current face of the the "traitor" Democrat Party. Elitists and dregs of society!!! Sad, isn't it!!!
"Stern should have inserted a provision in his suspension that requires psychological testing..."
More than that, the powers that be need to tell EVERYONE who is associated or has ever been asociated with the NBA to shut up. From Barkly, to Bird they need to keep quiet. I am not a basketball fan but I have been following this out of morbid curiosity and I have concluded that there is a sociopathic vein in the NBA. They can not understand the law even if they wanted to. They feel it is a right to assault another person. This is a PR nightmare.
Somebody ought to start another basketball league, with much stricter rules for player behavior. Make it a family friendly game with reasonable ticket prices and players who don't think they are gods on Earth. I would plunk down money to see minor league basketball, if it were divorced from the "thug life" nonsense that epitomizes the NBA these days.
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