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**TomBoerwinkle#1** · 07-24-2005, 06:56 AM

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/3777070

Quote:

Ron Artest's exile is over. His long road back to the brink of NBA stardom is only beginning.

That road began at the Minnesota summer league, where Artest played with rookies, undrafted free agents and desperate journeymen, trying to get comfortable in an Indiana Pacers uniform again.
It didn't take long.

Less than a minute into his first game, Artest took a pass at the left elbow of the 3-point line, elevated and drilled the shot. It was as though he had never left.

"Stopping on a dime and throwing it up and making it swish, that was cool," he said, his eyes bright and his smile beaming.

The pure love of the game always has been there. Unfortunately for Artest, that love has been accompanied by a volatile temper that can snap in the blink of an eye.

Despite being one of the best all-around players in the game - able to shut down an opponent's top scorer on defense and drop 30 points with a near limitless repertoire on offense - Artest is known more in the mainstream for his unpredictable and often boorish behavior.

He once grabbed a high-definition television camera from its operator and smashed it to the floor in the tunnel leading to the locker rooms at Madison Square Garden. He led the league in flagrant fouls, he applied for a job at an electronics store when he was playing for the Chicago Bulls, and he even asked the Pacers for time off to rest because he was exhausted from promoting an album for his record label.

But it all came to a head on Nov. 19, when Artest charged into the stands in Auburn Hills, Mich., after a fan threw a beer on him moments after Artest was involved in an altercation with Pistons center Ben Wallace. Artest exchanged punches with fans, who relentlessly pelted Artest and his Pacers teammates with debris in one of the worst brawls in NBA history.

He was suspended for 73 regular-season games, lost nearly $5 million in salary and was barred from a chance at revenge against the Pistons in the playoffs.

Instead of sulking and pouting about his suspension, Artest went to work.

He retained his linebacker's physique and soft jumper despite not playing in a pro game for eight months, much to the amazement of Indiana center David Harrison.

"Every day he was in there working out like he was playing," Harrison said. "That taught me a lot, just seeing him out there still working after everything. If they told me, 'You're out for the year,' I don't think you'd see me for a long time."

Now he's back. Speaking to dozens of media members who waited outside the locker room after a meaningless summer league game in the middle of July, Artest said he might never change the negative perceptions surrounding him.

"I'm not trying to redo my image and I'm not trying to please anybody," Artest said. "I'm going to continue to do what I have to do and be myself."

"I'm not looking to do any Cheerios commercials or Coca-Cola commercials," Artest said. "I want to do a commercial in the 'hood."

What he wants to do more than anything is move ahead.

"When you have to sit out 73 games and not get paid, you're going to look forward to being back," coach Rick Carlisle said. "And you're probably going to have a little different perspective on things than you did before. I just know Ronnie's ready to come back, and really looking forward to being part of the team."

Carlisle's not the only one to notice a change.

"I admire the kid," team president Larry Bird said. "Not for what he did, but how he's come back and he's worked and he's done things to improve himself. I look for a great year out of him."

So, has Artest induced his last headache? When talking about a player so unpredictable on and off the court, Bird knows not to make any promises.

"You never know," Bird said. "I just know Ronnie missed the game so much. It's the one thing in his life that he truly loves other than his family. Any time you have something taken away from you, you're going to miss it. We'll see how he reacts."

And how opposing fans react to him.

"Even before everything happened, fans were always trying to get on me," Artest said. "They know my history, they know my personality and they know my character, so they try to find ways to get under my skin, but we just have to go out there and play."

He was greeted warmly last week. In a near-empty arena where even casual conversation was clearly audible, nary a smart-aleck remark was uttered.

"Fortunately, there was a bunch of people in the stands that respect the game," he said in a not-so-subtle shot at the unruly Detroit fans. "That was the only thing. There was nothing I did different, just the people that were in the stands had respect for the game. That's good."

He expects that to be the case in most cities.

"I think you'll only see problems in Detroit, Boston and Philly," Artest said of the notoriously hostile cities. "Even when I went to L.A. for a Sparks game, half the crowd was like, 'AR-TEST! AR-TEST!' Everywhere I go, it's cool. It's not as bad as everybody thinks it is. It's cool."

For now, Artest isn't worried about the fans. He's not worried about commissioner David Stern watching his every move, or endless questions about his behavior.

The only thing he's worried about is fine-tuning his game.

**TomBoerwinkle#1** · 07-24-2005, 07:04 AM

I also posted this on the Bulls board, and this is what I had to say about the situation there:

I hope to heck the kid finally has his head under control enough for him to play like a madman but not lose it like a madman. If he remains a head case, susceptible to snapping at any moment, it will be a shame.

He is a joy to watch when he has it together. All-Star Artest. That is what I hope for him for the remainder of his career.

So, how about the Piston fans? Are you welcoming him back with open arms, or is there lingering bitterness about his having let you down with his putting himself in the position to get booted for the season?

P33r~ · 07-24-2005, 07:49 AM

Let him talk all he wants about Pistons fans. I just hope the media doesn't blame the fans again when Artest attempts to beat up another fan in Detroit.

Admittedly i do admire him for retaining his basketball physique and talent after all those months of inaction. But I still have my doubts about his mental stability.

Midnight_Marauder · 07-24-2005, 08:37 AM

He will be the most focused player in the league this year....he is going to have a monster season....I wish the guy all the best...I really hope he gets his demons under control and shows the league that he is a top ten player in this league..

**kamego** · 07-24-2005, 09:04 AM

I'm glad he is back so I don't have to hear any excuses this season. I want everyone to be at full strength so no one can complain if we manage to be healthy again.

Drk Element · 07-24-2005, 01:42 PM

i really hope he had a major attitude change.

**DetBNyce** · 07-24-2005, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midnight_Marauder

He will be the most focused player in the league this year....he is going to have a monster season....I wish the guy all the best...I really hope he gets his demons under control and shows the league that he is a top ten player in this league..

I hope so too. He's one of my favorites players, even if he does play for a rival, and even though Detroit and Indiana still had some tightly contested games it obviously isn't the same without him. The Eastern Conference is a lot better when he's focused and that makes the NBA better, so I'm hoping he keeps everything in check.

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