Ron-Ron responds to Critics

[Ballings7]

Amick's Blog today devotes considerable space to Ron Artest responding to recent criticism, including "being bashed" by Grant Napear. Ron was making the comments yesterday after practice. Interesting read...

On the skepticism that surrounded his absence from the last two games because of a sore foot...

"I

[Ballings7]

I love it. Solid, justified comments from Ron.

I've wondered if Ron ever has heard about what Grant's said about him, going back awhile to lately. If so (and it is so now), no reason for Ron to just sit back and let that be said without any kind of response. Especially with how Grant goes about it and what he says, from what I've gathered.

Grant's been all over wanting Ron traded off TV, etc., and on TV, a good deal of the time playing it cool, and with suttle antagonistic comments at times,... and, as thought, Ron was not dealt. Was at least the probability, anyway.

Booyah, Grant Napear

[SacTown Kings]

Don't forget about Mike Lamb. He was talking trash on Ron too, in fact I got the feeling he hated Ron more than Grant.

[sackings916]

I cannot stand Grant Napier. His attitude disgusts me, he really thinks he's above everyone. He probably just needs to get punched in the mouth 1 good time

[ICMTM]

I cannot stand Grant Napier. His attitude disgusts me, he really thinks he's above everyone. He probably just needs to get punched in the mouth 1 good time

[BMiller52]

I agree with a lot of what he had to say. I don't think it's fair for people to criticize him after he played through his daughter having cancer and the elbow surgery. I mean I don't see how people can act like that stuff means nothing. That's unfair to Ron and it pisses me off, because it's obvious people just have their agenda against him when they say stuff like that.

I want him on this team next year and that's the bottom line. I feel like we are already kind of rebuilt, so we can get someone with our lotto pick and maybe deal Miller if Spencer keeps developing quickly. That should get us some good pieces. Not sure if we will compete for the title next year but I think that's good enough to be a playoff team, and since we'll still have a lot of young players improving on the team getting them PO experience would be good.

Ron is a good influence on a lot of players. He's helped all of our young guys, worked out with Martin in the offseason, worked out with Garcia and Douby, working with Shelden now. If he can help accelerate the development of our young players and get them some experience on how to win I am all for keeping him. I hope he stays and this criticisms of him from people like Grant and fans with agendas is bull **** IMO.

[Dustin5566]

I cannot stand Grant Napier. His attitude disgusts me, he really thinks he's above everyone. He probably just needs to get punched in the mouth 1 good time

The thing I hate about Grant is how 2 faced he is. He will sit there on tv and talk about how great artest is and this and that, but on the radio its all bout how hes a thug and needs to get traded.

[_SRV_]

Grant works for the Maloofs, and he wants Artest gone, should we conclude that this is the mindset of the org or is it Grant just stating his opinion?

[KingInExile]

Grant only works for the Maloofs when he's on TV. On the radio, he is working for Infinity Broadcasting, who is a subsidiary of CBS. If you notice, he does not spend a lot of time bashing Ron on TV. He reserves that for his radio show. So I think it is hard to draw the conclusion that Grant is echoing the mindset of the franchise.

[ICMTM]

Unless someone is willing to trade a proven vet for our youngs (like Al Jeff was a part of the Garnett deal) then Ron is GONE. It just doesn't make sense to be in between rebuilding and trying to contend. I don't think any of that is Artest's fault, and to be honest if we had a proven vet with Ron I think he'd defer to that player more often.

[BMiller52]

OMG, certain people on another kings site are going onto Pacersdigest.com and saying how us Ron supporters are delusional, he's spraypainted a wall of badness on the franchise or some crap like that, and we "just see the tru warrior haircut" or some bs like that. Like they're bragging to their E-Pacer buddies that Ron isnt working out for their favorite team. I'm not sure if it's more pathetic they're bashing a guy over the internet and using people who have a bias against him to reinforce their feelings or if it's more sad that they'd rather see the guy not work out for their team because they have an agenda against him, love drama, and want to be proven right. Either way it's pretty sad.

Like I've said before, people just e-hate on Ron because it's the e-popular thing to do, especially on the specific site I'm talking about. They dislike the guy and say he's a dog and wife abuser and all this other BS but when you bring up the facts how he and his wife got into a fight where SHE CAME AT HIM WITH A FRYING PAN or how he never starved the dog and it had a leg infection, they say you're making excuses. So bringing up facts is making excuses? The sad thing is these same people even know what's up with those specific situations, they were around and read all the details and outcomes of those situations, but they make up crap just to say bad stuff around him.

Oh and most of the people I talk to in real life who are Kings fans love the guy. My history teacher really likes him, the majority of my friends like him(1s that aren't Laker fans anyway), my family members that follow the Kings like him, and random people I run into in public that see I'm a Kings fan like him. I think the dislike of Ron is more prevalent on the online community(specifically on that 1 site) and less in real life.

Also the guy loves this team, I don't see how you can hate on this:

http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/773098.html

"Kobe popped his collar in Sacramento, and the Kings' fans weren't too happy, so the best thing was to have a chance to pop it back," said Artest, who didn't play the last 16:30 of the game. "That's all I wanted to do. I didn't care if I didn't score a point.
"I wanted one game, to run across the L.A. court and show everybody. (The jersey) says 'Kings.' I wish it said Sacramento."

[sacking101]

Ron has said some stuff that's just laughable, but this was good to hear. He's showing that as long as he's with sacramento he is going to do any thing he can to win a championship. When he criticized Reggie Theus about a week or two ago, about putting in the wrong guys at the wrong time and that him and the rest of the team was still trying to make the playoffs shows a lot. I loved it when he said that because it shows he wants to win. At times is seems that everyone else, besides cisco and beno just don't care even kevin.

[ICMTM]

Ron Artest was the only guy for LONG stretches in the 4th quarter standing and cheering people on.

[SadKingsFan]

I freaking love Artest, i like grant alot too though. Grant isnt waayyy off with what he says about ron even though sometimes he does get carried away.

[backer55]

Another vote of support for Artest. I actually could vision someday seeing him as a great coach in the NBA. IMO, he has one of the highest basketball IQ's going. Like to see us keep him and try to let our young guys develope with and around him.

Until Martin can put up decent numbers against top defenders, there is no way that we can high horse this guy. It's fine for him to bust 30 or 40 against some dog in a loss, but do it against a tough team in a close game, consistantly, then, i'll give the guy credit.

[sacking101]

Another vote of support for Artest. I actually could vision someday seeing him as a great coach in the NBA. IMO, he has one of the highest basketball IQ's going. Like to see us keep him and try to let our young guys develope with and around him.

Until Martin can put up decent numbers against top defenders, there is no way that we can high horse this guy. It's fine for him to bust 30 or 40 against some dog in a loss, but do it against a tough team in a close game, consistantly, then, i'll give the guy credit.

Your absolutely right. He did have that 39 point game against dallas so we know he is capable of performing agains the best but hasn't been consistent with it. Ron is the only one on this team that wants to take a challenge and isn't going to be intimidated by anyone.

[sactownsport]

Fire Napier! Why does the owner of KHTK condone his behavior? I will not patronize with their advertisers and now listen to 680 Sports radio.
His behavior was very inappropriate when Jason Harts agent had an interview so its not because of ignorant callers. Jason Harts agent was accurate & articulate but Napier responded unbecoming of a mature adult. Whats up with Ken Ramey? (owner)