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.
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.
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