Ron Artest Wants His Money Back
On the five year anniversary of the Brawl at the Palace, Artest regrets the fine most of all.
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LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 30: Ron Artest #37 of the Los Angeles Lakers walks against Dallas Mavericks at Staples Center on October 30, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
It doesn’t matter how well he has fit in with the Lakers, what a good citizen he has been. For some, the image of Ron Artest will always be him in the stands going after a fan in the Bawl at the Palace.
Which was five years ago yesterday. What does Artest remember about it? The punishment. He would like some of the $5 million he lost during a 73-game suspension back.
"I put it behind me immediately because I did nothing," Artest said. "(Disgraced referee) Tim Donaghy was refereeing that game. That's another reason why I should get a couple of million back. Take some things into consideration and just give me some money back…"I didn't bring no controversy to the stands, the stands brung it to me," Artest said Thursday night. "So that's what's frustrating to me still to this day, is that I didn't start it."
For those who don’t remember the endless replays on ESPN and every other national television outlet, the fight actually started on the court when Artest, then a Pacer, gave a hard foul to the Pistons’ Ben Wallace. Wallace took exception and pushed Artest back and an NBA version of an on-court fight took place — a lot of pushing and posturing without any actual punches being thrown.
In the middle of all of this, Ron Artest walked over and laid down on the scorer’s table. Just laid there and let everyone else get worked up. One of the people who got worked up was Pistons’ fan John Green, who threw a beer on Artest. That set Artest off, he went into the stands to go after the perpetrator. Other Pacers followed him in and went after Pistons fans as well, and that's where punches were thrown.
David Stern frowns on NBA players punching their fans. Artest was suspended the rest of the season, 73 games, without pay. The pay, that’s the part he really regrets (although he added that it was at least good the money went to charity and helped people).
Ron Artest said he hasn’t changed — he’s still getting Chinese figures cut into his hair, he’s still real, he’s still from the ‘hood. In his time with the Lakers — where he is not the Alpha Dog in the locker room — he has come off as a bit out there but more mature, like a guy who just turned 30, not 25. Like a guy who has figured out his place and feels comfortable with it. Like a guy who realizes $5 million is a lot of money.
But I wouldn’t throw a beer on him to test that theory.
Kurt Helin lives in Los Angeles where he is runs the NBA/Lakers blog Forum Blue & Gold (which you can also follow in twitter).
