NBA Suspends Kings' Ron Artest

The Sacramento guard beat an unruly fan and elbowed a Spurs player but wants our pity.

Apr 25, 2006

Ron Artest is up to his old tricks. The NBA has suspended Artest again and, shockingly, Artest again believes he's being treated unfairly. Shall we pity or discard him?

Poor, poor Ron Artest. The nefarious Sacramento Kings guard has been called on the carpet once again by the National Basketball Association for behavior considered to be unbecoming to a professional athlete.

It's obvious that Artest, who was suspended by the NBA for 73 games a year ago after going into the stands to pummel an unruly fan, is being treated unfairly. All he did, after all, was fire an elbow into the head of San Antonio's Manu Ginobili, during a playoff game in which Artest's Kings were being unceremoniously dismantled by the Spurs.

Now, Artest is being asked to sit out game 2 of the Kings playoff series, because of this mishap, perceived to be harmless by the offender and his pals.

Of course, Artest and his friends contend that he has a bull's-eye on his jersey. How could it be anything but this? "You know with Ron's questionable past, they're going to look for a way to get him," said teammate Bonzi Wells. "Whether it's minor or major, they're going to look at it in a different way."

Not surprisingly, Artest agreed, lamenting the litany of unfair decisions that have befallen him in the recent years of his career.

I would submit to Artest and his teammates this simple, yet incontrovertible, fact - people are rarely treated equally in our country, nor should they be. In cases like Artest's, you don't get the "benefit of the doubt."

If Charles Manson was paroled and walking the streets, would he not be scrutinized a bit more carefully than someone who stole a car?

How often does the league have to wave an admonishing finger in the direction of someone like, say, Tim Duncan? Now, if Duncan's elbow inadvertently bumped into Artest's skull, the NBA might look the other way.

Is this so wrong? Should people with perfect records be treated as equals with the likes of Ron Artest - a malicious multiple offender? Definitely not.

So, while Artest and his teammates whine about how unfair professional basketball is treating this poor, downtrodden millionaire, let us applaud the NBA's decision. In fact, let's cross our collective fingers in hope that the day is upon us when Artest is given his lifetime walking papers from the league and from the entire sports world.

His recent actions indicate that his next egregious act isn't far away. It's just a matter of time until Artest hits an opponent for attempting to shake his hand, wags a middle finger at a little girl who boos him at the wrong moment, or vilifies the Pope for not watching a Kings game on Sunday.

When this moment comes, perhaps the awfully unfair NBA will finally discard this irresponsible, horrendous individual forever.

The copyright of the article NBA Suspends Kings' Ron Artest in Basketball is owned by Mark Barnes. Permission to republish NBA Suspends Kings' Ron Artest in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Apr 26, 2006 6:45 AM

Brent Sedo :

This makes me curious to know - has any pro sports league ever given a lifetime ban to a player in mid-career for consistently bad or borderline criminal behaviour?

There was the Black Sox scandal, of course, way back when. And Pete Rose, but his playing days were long past. Hockey player Theo Fleury is under a ban for repeatedly failing alcohol abuse programs, but he's 40 and his playing days at the NHL level are over. Detroit's Bob Probert was banned for a second cocaine arrest, but again, his NHL career was basically done at the time.

Do you think any pro league would have the guts to say to someone like Artest - you may be a star in this league, but you're just too big of an idiot, and we don't want you.

Somehow, I doubt it.

Apr 27, 2006 11:37 AM

Mark Barnes :

Great question, Brent. As much as I disagree with most of what pro leagues do, with regard to conduct, I do think the NBA will eventually say, Enough is enough, if Artest goes overboard again.

If it's something really blatant, like going after a fan or punching a player, coach or referee, I could see them terminating him forever.

I only hope it's sooner than later.

Jul 7, 2006 7:40 AM

bob magyar :

In order for society to start getting rid of bone heads like artest, stop letting them in the league. I have seen it a million times, if you just give a child (Artest) a slap on the rist, they never learn. However, if you give Artest a punishment that says get the hek out, or you are gone see ya, than maybe NBA players will think twice about being stupid. This childs play goes for both on and off the court. As a teacher, I have to uphold good stature, and if I don't I get fired. Why are professional athletes held at a different standard. That is just my rant.