The Goods Posted July 23, 2009 Report Share Posted July 23, 2009 Ron Artest pulled the door shut and speed-dialed his new best friend. "Kobe, this is Ron," said Artest from the backseat of the town car that would take him to a beachside lunch in Santa Monica. "Just got out of the press conference. Holler at me when you get a chance." Artest had just been introduced as the newest and most incendiary member of the world champion Lakers, smiling and cracking jokes even as reporters showered him with questions about his past as a brawler, a rapper and a rival to Bryant. As the car prepared to leave the practice facility, a crowd of fans pressed in. "They want me to sign something," Artest said to the driver. "I'll only sign ..."—he gave this some thought—"... four things." The driver lowered his window and took in a silver Sharpie and four mint-condition basketballs, one after another. "That's four things, guys," said the driver, but one fan persisted. He thrust forward a pair of vintage Artest trading cards, saying, "You can keep one." Artest signed one of the cards and handed it back. "There you go, guys," he called out. "I'll see you next time." Throughout the smooth half-hour ride to the beach Artest held the card between his fingers, glancing at it from time to time. Staring back at him blankly was a rookie for the Bulls, the No. 16 pick in the 1999 draft out of St. John's, broad-shouldered but 20 pounds lighter and with no idea of the troubles that lay ahead. "He played hard," said Artest of his rookie self. "When I look back, when I was younger, I didn't really know how to play. Couldn't shoot really consistent, no off-the-dribble jumper. Just a baller, and some really good defense. Great defense." "How much smarter are you than this guy on the card?" I asked. "This guy?" Artest said, raising the card with a chuckle. "This guy was dumb." http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1158165/1/index.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owner Real Deal Posted July 23, 2009 Owner Report Share Posted July 23, 2009 Everyone in the NBA wants a ring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren2ThaG Posted July 23, 2009 Report Share Posted July 23, 2009 At least he takes a pay cut! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Goods Posted July 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2009 Everyone in the NBA wants a ring. Sure, but Ron Artest took a pay cut in order to have a better chance to win a ring, how many other NBA players would do that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zero Posted July 23, 2009 Report Share Posted July 23, 2009 Sebastion Telfair wants a ring to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owner Real Deal Posted July 23, 2009 Owner Report Share Posted July 23, 2009 Sure, but Ron Artest took a pay cut in order to have a better chance to win a ring, how many other NBA players would do that?Sadly, he probably also did that so Odom can come back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sun Tzu Posted July 23, 2009 Report Share Posted July 23, 2009 Everyone in the NBA wants a ring. Except Grant Hill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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