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.
NBA = National Bastard's Association.
The entire league is a testament to what happens when kids grow up without fathers by and large, and embrace the "hip-hop" lack of "culture".
All those that went into the crowd agressively should be banned from the sport (and believe me I use that term VERY loosely) for life.
Since as a pro sport its a joke anyway anymore. All about playing it up for the cameras... little about actually PLAYING!
Gangsta BasketBrawl
March 29, 2001 — Tie Domi of the Toronto Maple Leafs wrestled with a fan in the penalty box in Philadelphia after Domi twice poured water on taunting spectators. The fan lunged against the glass and threw a punch at Domi that didn't connect. A glass panel separating the two collapsed, and the fan was pulled into the box by Domi.
Dec. 23, 1979 — Boston Bruins forward Stan Jonathan was hit in the face by an object thrown by a fan, and right wing Terry O'Reilly was harassed by a stick-wielding fan at the end of a 4-3 victory at the New York Rangers. Several Boston players, including O'Reilly and Mike Milbury, went into the stands to fight with spectators. Milbury removed a shoe from a fan and beat him with it.
April 2, 1969 — Toronto's Pat Quinn knocked out Boston Bruins great Bobby Orr with a vicious check during an NHL playoff game. A brawl broke out on the ice and in the stands, with Quinn leaving Boston Garden under a heavy police escort.
First off, let me thank you for having the intestinal fortitude to tune into the Today Show and report back for us. You're better man than me (PC version: "person than me"). Couric is nothing butt a colonoscopy.
The quote (above) from your post is precious. I almost wish I had seen the interview. It sounds like two committed liberal propagandists have just realized the seeds that they have sown.
Why normal people waste quality time watching these TV cartoons punctuated by endless commercials is beyond my comprehension.
Bring back normal basketball ( a fine sport) and limit the height of all players to five feet ten and a three-eighths inches.
Leni
"And here's another intriguing coincidence: Clinton also became famous for his dribbling ability"
LOL! Now I've got a mental image that will stick in my mind for quite a while. :)
Thanks. That's exactly what I was trying to convey.
You sound like a WNBA fan...
What are they gonna do? Force us all to like basketball and go watch games under penalty of... what?
Why, I'm sure someone else with a functioning brain took them for him
Ummm ... wasn't it O'Neal who came in throwing Haymakers? The tape shows Artest lunging at the one guy, then being pulled off and dragged out to midcourt after a number of other provocations. O'Neal, OTOH, is clearly out throwing haymakers left and right.
If you can't get the story straight, your outrage is a little selective.
Good for Artest. It's about time some fans got a beat down.
The Bambino will not be toyed with.
Look around at who is playing basketball below the professional level, and you will have answered your statement.
because a little part of every sports fan wishes they could be out there doing what those guys would be doing.
Some of those players are worthy of the praise (see Cal Ripken, Joe Montana, Jim Kelly), some are not (see Randy Moss, although he is spectacular talent, Ron Artest, Jose Canseco, etc).....
It's true that O'Neal took a running punch at a guy on the court, and that seemed to be the worst blow thrown during the entire incident. I heard one expert say he'd be shocked if O'Neal is not charged with a crime.
But Artest not only pushed a guy, he also threw punches. Why do you think he went into the stands - to chat with the fans?
Niche marketing for thugs...
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