There is no denying Ron’s positive effect on Queensbridge
4/4/10 importing interviews from the old site.
This interview was conducted this summer in Long Island as Ron was getting ready for the season–just days after the referee gambling scandal hit the press.
Ron Artest has been through a lot since coming out of St. Johns eight years ago and it’s been well documented. I wanted to do this interview to give fans a more well rounded opinion because of how Ron’s been vilified before and after The Brawl. I’m thankful Ron agreed to do this because most athletes would remain reticent and never speak again to the press. I would see tidbits of him giving back to the community and wondered if this cat is so much of a monster, then why do children all over the nation seem to love him? He’ll tell you he’s responsible for the public perception of him because of his rebellious relationship with authority early on in his career. He’s made a fair share of mistakes, but it’s not the whole story and we all know how the media runs with negativity.
Yes, athletes make millions of dollars to play a game–we all understand that. It also would be ridiculous to think and publicly say sports fans have a right to act like fools at a sporting event just because they’ve shelled out hard earned money. To some of us, athletics is more than entertainment. Fans and media heap undeserving amounts of blame on athletes while the world loudly crumbles around them.
America dropped the ball after what happened in Detroit that night by not properly scrutinizing fan behavior. The athletes involved lost millions of dollars, but what about John Green or the foolish fans that came on the court only to be clocked by Jermaine O’Neal?
It must be noted Ron does an amazing amount of charity work in communities all over the nation. He doesn’t want it all publicized, but it’s criminal that almost none of it gets any media shine.
Ron this season is averaging a very respectable 19 points, 6 rebounds and four assists as the Kings come off their second road win in New Jersey last night 106-101.
This is a very compelling interview. Ron is honest about his professional career, is very contrite about his transgressions and acutely aware of his place in society. Read this very carefully and speak your mind candidly afterwards.
Enjoy.
Read more »
Near triple double in his first and leading his team into the playoffs in what will be the last game this season Wednesday, in Boston, Brandon Jennings brings change to the NBA’s flow. He’s sui generis and has matured beyond his years since I initially saw him play in the Elite 24 at famed Rucker Park in Harlem NY. He’s the evolution of Allen Iverson. If Iverson is The Answer, Jennings is The Difference. In 2009, Milwaukee won 34 games and while Jennings isn’t the sole reason for the Bucks success in 2010, the franchise has been energized since he stepped from behind the curtain on draft day. It was a memorable moment in what should be…barring injury of course…a memorable career. Here is a kid who wants it and really doesn’t care who is in his way. His goals seemed to be deliberately outlined in his mind and if he continues to grow as a man and as a player, his name will stand beside those who’ve transcended the sport for years to come.
