Ron Artest weighs in on Josh Howard, Jay Williams isn’t done, and the Spurs get a shooter
Ron Artest, Dime #21Nice to see that Ron Artest has officially reached that Terrell Owens/Chad Johnson level of celebrity/spectacle, where you know that some reporter somewhere is always gonna ask Ron about any sports-related (and sometimes non-sports) news item just to see if he’ll say something crazy that will make headlines. For example, Artest was recently asked about the whole Josh Howard national anthem controversy: “I think Josh Howard’s comment is a reflection on education,” Ron-Ron wrote in an e-mail to the Sacramento Bee. “I think the schools need to teach deeper in the history classes and make the students aware of racism but also teach them that all people are not bad. I can relate to not feeling wanted by my own country at times, but as I dug deeper I realized that America is divided and we need leaders to bring America closer together. An example where I felt unwanted by my country was when I didn’t get a chance to tryout for my national team. I believed it was because [of] my history. I hope he overcomes this.” OK, thanks for that. Anyway, do you think Artest was wrongfully denied a chance to try out for Team USA? Bruce Bowen, Shane Battier and Tayshaun Prince were brought in by Jerry Colangelo to fill those designated defensive stopper roles, but Artest is arguably better than all of them on both ends of the floor, and he could guard anyone from Pau Gasol to Jose Calderon if need be … No one’s gonna be surprised if the Spurs can find a role for newly-signed Salim Stoudamire where the Hawks never could. Salim is basically another J.J. Redick; if he gets some PT, he’ll unleash the ratchet and be the one guy you don’t want to leave open beyond the arc. But for whatever reason (defense, ball-handling, etc.) he just can’t get on the court … In yesterday’s Smack we asked who had the most disappointing injury-curtailed career out of Penny Hardaway, Grant Hill, Steve Francis, Larry Johnson and Danny Manning. One name we didn’t mention was Jay Williams. The Newark Star-Ledger had a feature on Williams yesterday, where he said he still hasn’t totally shut the door on an NBA comeback, but acknowledged he is closer to accepting the possibility that it’s over for him. “Before, I got too consumed with the idea of a comeback, where everyone was fixated on it,” Williams, 27, said. “But now, if it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, I’m OK with that. I’m not stressing it.” We also found out from the story that because of the motorcycle accident, Jay has a metal plate in his pelvis that sets off airport alarms and he still has nerve damage in his left leg … Kansas is gonna raise Kirk Hinrich‘s #10 to the rafters at Allen Fieldhouse later this year (KU doesn’t flat-out retire numbers anymore). Hinrich will go up there with Manning, Wilt Chamberlain, Drew Gooden, Raef LaFrentz, Paul Pierce, Jacque Vaughn and Jo Jo White, to name a few. Do you think anyone from the ’08 national championship squad should have their jersey added someday? Maybe Mario Chalmers, who will never have to pay for anything in Lawrence, Kansas, ever again … During yesterday’s Rams/Seahawks game, an announcer actually described a squib kick as “slow baby bouncies.” Since when did playground kickball lingo make its way into the mainstream? Also from that game, the Seattle fans were booing Rams kicker Josh Brown, who won several games for the Seahawks over the years when he played for them, but left over the summer to sign a free agent deal with the Rams. How do you boo a kicker for taking the money? Those guys aren’t like QB’s or RB’s or even coaches: a kicker can have one bad week and end up getting waived. Those guys need to take as much money as they can whenever they can … We’re out like Drew Gooden having one of his NBA jerseys raised to anyone’s rafters …
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September 22nd, 2008 at 4:03 am
SD32 says:
I would love to see Ron on Team USA… for so many reasons
September 22nd, 2008 at 4:14 am
Phileus says:
I didn’t see anything wrong or controversial with what Ron-Ron said. It was a really smart comment. Or was that the point?
I would also love seeing him on Team USA but let’s face it, he never will because Team USA wants that “good guy” image which is just a fantasy since the whole world is bent on hating us (see: reaction to Spain game).
September 22nd, 2008 at 4:16 am
heartbreaker85 says:
didnt know ron-ron could be so damn articulate. colangelo doesnt want anyone with a bad rep on his team except if he’s the greatest today (read: rapist-charged-dropped kobe)
September 22nd, 2008 at 4:48 am
Coop says:
Ron Ron taking a break from beating up his lady friend, there. Handshakes all ’round.
JKidd slow claps in the shadows.
September 22nd, 2008 at 4:58 am
solomon says:
lousy nba offseason…
we’re out like anything interesting
September 22nd, 2008 at 5:08 am
jay says:
again, another cold smack.. sad..
September 22nd, 2008 at 6:18 am
sans says:
jay, wait one month…
ronron should have been given a try out…especially over Battier.
the girl said “stop. no. and don’t.” Kobe heard, “no don’t stop”. After minutes of deliberation, Kobe realized he needed to get his hearing checked, and pulled out.
September 22nd, 2008 at 6:20 am
sans says:
To add on to what Copp said…
“then runs fifteen feet for a jumjing chest bump with Chris Mullin–”
lol
September 22nd, 2008 at 7:11 am
knoc says:
lmao @ 7 hahaha
September 22nd, 2008 at 7:15 am
miamiVIS3 says:
I would guess that Brandon Rush would have his number hung up by Kansas
September 22nd, 2008 at 7:45 am
Big Ael says:
He is professional. There are lots of his fans on ___tallloving.com___ for professional athletes, moive stars and modles talking about him recently? BTW, guys, lots of sexy girls and models turn up there. I’ve been there for day, it seems the girls are not hard to hook up.
September 22nd, 2008 at 8:10 am
caribball says:
i guess jerry put together a good enough team….they won right? would have it mattered if ron played princes few mins and game? hes not gonna get more burn then the top level players on team usa…and you know prince is not going cause a sence for anyone….cause, isn’t your bottom half of your team to be low maintence? is ron low maintence?
September 22nd, 2008 at 8:15 am
JA says:
“some reporter somewhere is always gonna ask Ron about any sports-related (and sometimes non-sports) news item just to see if he’ll say something crazy”
ahhh … didn’t DIME run an “Ask Ron” column a ways back?
September 22nd, 2008 at 8:38 am
Bron42 AkA Your Moms Best Friend says:
I told ya’ll dime guys to come see Jay play for yourself but no…had to go to chicago lol..
And why is everyone underestimating ron artests scholarly knowledge. In some parts of the world hes known as a poet
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:23 am
jamesagee says:
actually ron’s comments were pretty good. except for the disappointment about not being able to join the national team. Hey Ron, last time I checked you ran into a crowd and tried to beat up a fan. Sorry bro them the breaks.
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:40 am
loganlight says:
Good luck goes out to Jay Williams…
And keep Tru Warrior away from Team USA. We’re trying to REDEEM our basketball image… last thing we need is Ron catching a case and causing entire European teams to flop in unison as he puffs his chest.
LL
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:57 am
rodnets says:
Artest was not called becouse of wackiness, he is crazy and they needed team chemistry…
If Melo was a punk imagine what would have been with Ron Ron
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:58 am
Phileus says:
That’s true, loganlight. I’d love to see Artest on Team USA, but given his reputation he’d be called for a foul before checking into the game, and then right after that the entire Spanish team would flop and he’d be kicked out for getting those extra five fouls at once.
It would be a miracle!
September 22nd, 2008 at 10:09 am
Tom S. says:
Drew could have his jersey retired in the Duck Tail Hall of Fame.
September 22nd, 2008 at 10:23 am
schoops says:
With the season the Seahawks are having they’d boo the hotdog guy. They’re miserable this year in sports up in the northwest, so they take their anger out on anyone. Can’t blame them, and with a new contact I doubt the kicker cares much either.
The only thing more frightening than Ron in this country is him running Wild in China. He could rep team USA well or he could throw people on the Great Wal. You never know with Ron, all you ever will know is that he is a great defender.
September 22nd, 2008 at 10:25 am
E$ says:
“…and the land of the fee & Home of the Slave” – The original Anthem
September 22nd, 2008 at 10:30 am
P_Dizzle says:
LOL at “We’re out like Drew Gooden having one of his NBA jerseys raised to anyone’s rafters” That’s some funny stuff right there.
I think you answered your question to the Artest thing with your description, “Artest is arguably better than all of them on both ends of the floor”. He is ARGUABLY better, he isn’t cut and dry better. And let’s be honest, would you rather deal with someone like Prince (quiet and just does what he’s told) or Artest (opinionated and has a tendency to do his own thing)? If you are ARGUABLY getting the same player, then everyone is going to go with the coachable guy 9 times out of 10.
I have never jumped on the Artest bandwagon, even before the whole “Palace” incident. I like the guys game but I am not bathing in his sweat. In my opinion, he is a little overrated. He’s a great defender but I have seen him fold and disappear in crunch time.
Here’s to hoping Artest doesn’t jump onto the “crazy train” this year. I would like to see him and the Rockets do well this year.
September 22nd, 2008 at 10:32 am
Dennis Castro says:
Ron’s answer sounded straight out of a college essay exam. “An example where I felt unwanted by my country was when…”, ahahahahah.
Good to see he took English Comp 101.
September 22nd, 2008 at 11:19 am
shake&bake says:
Josh Howard said he didn’t celebrate the anthem because he’s black. Artest starts out by talking about racism and then says he felt unwanted because of his past. That has nothing to do with racism, it has to do with him being a loose cannon. I just don’t think that was a good example for the Howard situation. However, Ron Artest is still my favorite player.
September 22nd, 2008 at 11:23 am
Ian says:
bron
“In some parts of the world hes known as a poet”
which parts?????
ron ron sorry but u dont deserve a spot on that team u r one crazy bitch
can u imagine i ron did what he did in detroit in the olympics
and no hes not better defensively than the 3 coachable guys u mentioned dime hes even with them
September 22nd, 2008 at 11:24 am
Ian says:
btw his comments were kinda stupid and off the point is like he started talking about nasa and he ended talking about the ninja turtles
September 22nd, 2008 at 11:38 am
JDish says:
Just want to get my two cents in on the biggest career disappointment due to injury.
Steve Francis. All the hype, all the talk, all the stuff that he did on the court, all down the tube because of injuries. Now he’s at best third on the bench. If he ever gets to 100%, can he stay there…prob not.
September 22nd, 2008 at 11:44 am
isotope says:
I love the ninja turtles!
September 22nd, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Ian says:
isotope
who doesnt?
September 22nd, 2008 at 12:28 pm
JDish says:
Oh yea, and on that Josh Howard and Ron Artest Contraversy.
Both guys should shut-up and be thankful not only for being millionares and having the best job in the world, but also for living in a free country.
Good job guys, good to see that you’re taking advantage of your freedom of speech.
How bout you guys be thankful and give honor to this country that gives you that freedom instead of reminding everyone about rasicm and all that…
September 22nd, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Kudabeen says:
With Steve Francis his mental preparedness went south far before his physical health. He needs to be rehabbing his attitude for the game as well as his body. Him and Marbury need some John Thompson and John Lucas in their lives…
September 22nd, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Kudabeen says:
TMNT!!
Just random…But funny…
Love Em’
September 22nd, 2008 at 1:43 pm
bsteezy3 says:
Good question about who’s career was the most disappointing because of injuries. I think it’s out of Grant Hill/Penny Hardaway since those two guys were one of the many picked to take over the throne after MJ. So to pick out of those two, I’ll say that Penny had the more disappointing career. Grant Hill is still doing his thing (although he messed up my Magic with his injuries) and he’s effective. Penny is an afterthought now–it’s a shame when you think how good he was in the mid 90s… Danny Manning never could stay healthy either…sad, sad, sad…
September 22nd, 2008 at 5:31 pm
drew gooden says:
thats so not cool