Welcome! Please take a few seconds to create your free account to post threads, make some friends, remove a few ads while surfing and much more. ClutchFans has been bringing fans together to talk Houston Sports since 1996. Join us!

[ESPN] Artest acts to reassure Yao over chemistry concerns

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by batkins, Jul 31, 2008.

Tags:

Page 1 of 2

batkins Member

Joined:

Oct 9, 2006

Messages:

3,041

Likes Received:

1,505

Some two weeks before he can actually join his new team, Ron Artest tried to diffuse his first Houston Rockets controversy Thursday, insisting that there will be no tension with Yao Ming once a trade sending Artest from Sacramento to Houston goes through as expected Aug. 14.

Artest told ESPN.com in a phone interview that he and Yao have been in contact to clear up any confusion after Yao voiced concerns about team chemistry to the Houston Chronicle in response to the deal hatched Tuesday by the Rockets and Kings.

The trade calls for Houston to receive Artest in exchange for Rockets draftee Donte Greene, a 2009 first-round pick and Kings alumnus Bobby Jackson, who's entering the final year of his contract at $6.1 million. The deal can't be completed until Aug. 14, according to league rules, because Greene signed with Houston on July 14 and is not eligible to be traded sooner.

But suggestions that Yao's reservations or Artest's outspoken nature could convince the Rockets to walk away from the trade between now and Aug. 14 were strongly dismissed by one source close to the process.

"The deal is done," said the source.

Artest also denied suggestions that he would demand a contract extension from the Rockets before reporting to his new team, reiterating his initial giddy reaction to news of the trade by saying: "This is a big opportunity for me."

"I don't think Yao meant to say that," Artest offered Thursday, referring to Yao's comments to the Chronicle which referenced Artest's involvement in the infamous Indiana-Detroit brawl that spilled into the stands in 2004.

"I spoke to Yao and I told him I can't wait to play with him," Artest continued. "I spoke to Tracy [McGrady] and I told him I can't wait to play with him. I was a little bit down [upon hearing Yao's initial statements], because I'm so far beyond [the brawl]. But everything is going to be good."

Entering the final year of his contract at $7.4 million, Artest has clearly been unsettled by his lack of long-term security. His increasing desire to leave Sacramento stems largely from the Kings' refusal to extend his contract.

But Artest denied that he needs his future in Houston to be clarified before joining the Rockets.

"I'm not demanding anything," Artest said. "I will play in Houston [this season] and I will have a great year and they will have the first option to re-sign me. This is a big opportunity because I'm going to be playing with the best center in the game."

Questions about Artest's willingness to fit in with a team that already has two franchise players were inevitable. But they were raised in this case perhaps even faster than the biggest Artest skeptics might have expected, after Yao declined in his interview Wednesday to give the trade his unconditional endorsement.

"For some reason, I like [Artest]," Yao told the Chronicle. "Because in the games we play against him, I hate him.

"When I text messaged with [teammate] Luis [Scola], we talked about team chemistry. That's only what worries us. We worry about the new attitude to the team. We are adding talent to the team and we need that, but building team chemistry is important. This is not bad. I don't mean he is not welcome to Houston. But a new player always needs some time.

"There's worry. Obviously, yes. We will think about it, of course. Hopefully, he's not fighting anymore and going after a guy in the stands. I haven't talked to Ron yet, so it's hard to say. I have to find a way to talk to him and see what we can do as a basketball team. He has a history. But we know he is a physical player. He is a good player. He really can help us. And Ron is on a contract year, too."

Artest was admittedly stung by the remarks, specifically the comment about "going after a guy in the stands," saying that Yao's words "hit me in the soft spot when I read that."

Artest told the Sacramento Bee that Yao had bought into "all the propaganda" about him. In a Wednesday interview with the newspaper, Artest added: "I understand what Yao said, but I'm still ghetto. That's not going to change. I'm never going to change my culture. Yao has played with a lot of black players, but I don't think he's ever played with a black player that really represents his culture as much as I represent my culture. Once Yao Ming gets to know me, he'll understand what I'm about."

By Wednesday night, Artest was already downplaying the controversy in an appearance on a Sacramento radio show he frequents -- KHTK-AM's Carmichael Dave show -- describing himself as "a Yao Ming soldier" after the two spoke and throwing out the possibility of traveling to China to show support for Yao during the Olympics.

Much of the Rockets' confidence in dealing with such episodes -- since surely this was only the first, judging by Artest's history -- stems from the relationship Artest had with Houston coach Rick Adelman in Sacramento. It was a brief marriage, lasting just 40 games in the 2005-06 season before Adelman's ouster from the Kings, but Artest has repeatedly described Adelman as his favorite pro coach.

The Rockets, furthermore, have ample motivation to take this gamble, entering Year 5 of the McGrady-and-Yao partnership and still waiting for that tag team to lead them out of the first round of the playoffs.

"I just think so highly of Mr. Adelman that I can't really speak on it," Artest told ESPN.com after learning of the trade. "When I first got to Sacramento, he believed in me. I said, 'Coach, we're going to the playoffs,' and everybody laughed at me. He said, 'Ron, we're going to go as far as you take us.' I've never had a coach do that before.

"How can you say no to Rick Adelman? How can anyone not be happy playing for Rick Adelman?"
Click to expand...

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3513504

#1 batkins, Jul 31, 2008

The Brian Member

Joined:

Jun 19, 2007

Messages:

2,335

Likes Received:

4

"This is a big opportunity because I'm going to be playing with the best center in the game."

i like that he thinks yao > howard.

#2 The Brian, Jul 31, 2008
Rocketman2000 Member

Joined:

Aug 18, 2000

Messages:

429

Likes Received:

32

Ron,

Great way of handling YAO's remarks. WELCOME TO HOUSTON!!

#3 Rocketman2000, Jul 31, 2008
radapharoah Rookie

Joined:

Nov 19, 2007

Messages:

898

Likes Received:

1

The Brian said:

"This is a big opportunity because I'm going to be playing with the best center in the game."

i like that he thinks yao > howard.
Click to expand...

thats because he is

#4 radapharoah, Jul 31, 2008
Nice Rollin Member

Joined:

Mar 30, 2006

Messages:

11,858

Likes Received:

321

The Brian said:

i like that he thinks yao > howard.
Click to expand...

i'll take the guy who can knock down freethrows too

#5 Nice Rollin, Jul 31, 2008
csux Rookie

Joined:

Jun 26, 2008

Messages:

308

Likes Received:

1

The Brian said:

"This is a big opportunity because I'm going to be playing with the best center in the game."

i like that he thinks yao > howard.
Click to expand...

good we know he's not on drugs

#6 csux, Jul 31, 2008
cuddie Member

Joined:

Jun 26, 2008

Messages:

1,000

Likes Received:

103

"Questions about Artest's willingness to fit in with a team that already has two franchise players were inevitable. But they were raised in this case perhaps even faster than the biggest Artest skeptics might have expected, after Yao declined in his interview Wednesday to give the trade his unconditional endorsement."

This is why I hate the media. It's not like they asked Yao "Do you endorse this trade?". It just means Yao didn't say that he unconditionally endorsed the trade, not that he declined to say it. That's like saying, "Yao declined to confirm that he is Chinese." because he wasn't asked that in the interview. He voiced some concerns but the general tone was that he is happy about the trade, and I'm sure if you asked him that question he would say yes, but that he had some worries.

#7 cuddie, Jul 31, 2008

Apollo Creed Contributing Member

Joined:

Aug 25, 2001

Messages:

4,449

Likes Received:

3

It cracks me up to no end that it's Yao Ming, not Ron Artest, is making potentially inflammatory comments that may disrupt team chemistry. And Ron Artest going out of his way to play peacemaker. LOL

#8 Apollo Creed, Jul 31, 2008
dkoune Rookie

Joined:

Jun 26, 2008

Messages:

2,850

Likes Received:

763

Apollo Creed said:

It cracks me up to no end that it's Yao Ming, not Ron Artest, is making potentially inflammatory comments that may disrupt team chemistry. And Ron Artest going out of his way to play peacemaker. LOL
Click to expand...

I sense Irony.

Is that Irony?

I should have went to college damnit.

#9 dkoune, Jul 31, 2008
Uprising Member

Joined:

Dec 29, 2000

Messages:

43,036

Likes Received:

6,540

lol, take a trip to China to cheer on Yao in the Olympics? This guy seems committed .

Never thought I'd say this, but Yao needs to shut up and play ball. lol.

#10 Uprising, Jul 31, 2008
Tornadoofsoul6 Member

Joined:

Nov 3, 2007

Messages:

1,316

Likes Received:

12

dkoune said:

I sense Irony.

Is that Irony?

I should have went to college damnit.
Click to expand...

It's I-RON-Y

At least ESPN finally toned it down a bit.

#11 Tornadoofsoul6, Jul 31, 2008
sook Rookie

Joined:

Apr 2, 2008

Messages:

1,399

Likes Received:

0

The Brian said:

"This is a big opportunity because I'm going to be playing with the best center in the game."

i like that he thinks yao > howard.
Click to expand...

the only argument anyone could ever come up with to say that would be howard's series against toronto...freaking toronto! He got sat by detroit and he gets owned by Yao every head2head matchup!

A 7'6" GUY WITH THOSE POST MOVES! Yao is undoubtably the best center in the league atm. But don't goto the Lakers forums and say that, they think Bynum is so much better and that he is just going to dunk it over him everytime, seriously you should see it.

#12 sook, Jul 31, 2008
rrj_gamz Member

Joined:

Aug 15, 2002

Messages:

15,595

Likes Received:

198

cuddie said:

"Questions about Artest's willingness to fit in with a team that already has two franchise players were inevitable. But they were raised in this case perhaps even faster than the biggest Artest skeptics might have expected, after Yao declined in his interview Wednesday to give the trade his unconditional endorsement."

This is why I hate the media. It's not like they asked Yao "Do you endorse this trade?". It just means Yao didn't say that he unconditionally endorsed the trade, not that he declined to say it. That's like saying, "Yao declined to confirm that he is Chinese." because he wasn't asked that in the interview. He voiced some concerns but the general tone was that he is happy about the trade, and I'm sure if you asked him that question he would say yes, but that he had some worries.
Click to expand...

Agreed...f'n media...

#13 rrj_gamz, Jul 31, 2008

dkoune Rookie

Joined:

Jun 26, 2008

Messages:

2,850

Likes Received:

763

Tornadoofsoul6 said:

It's I-RON-Y

At least ESPN finally toned it down a bit.
Click to expand...

lol.nice.

but no one has answered my question that is I-Ron-y is it?

#14 dkoune, Jul 31, 2008
lalala902102001 Member

Joined:

Jul 4, 2002

Messages:

6,629

Likes Received:

445

Ron's saying all the right things. Maybe he's not as crazy as we thought he was.

#15 lalala902102001, Jul 31, 2008
kaocsaephan Member

Joined:

Sep 30, 2007

Messages:

1,269

Likes Received:

26

dkoune said:

I sense Irony.

Is that Irony?

I should have went to college damnit.
Click to expand...

Haha! Love your sense of humor

#16 kaocsaephan, Jul 31, 2008
ROCKET!!! Member

Joined:

Feb 25, 1999

Messages:

647

Likes Received:

6

It is most definately irony. It is extremely ironic!

Iron Man the "Peacemaker!"

Ooooow! That would be a great nickname!

#17 ROCKET!!!, Jul 31, 2008
ROCKET!!! Member

Joined:

Feb 25, 1999

Messages:

647

Likes Received:

6

There is a revolver from the 1800s wild west era called the "Peacemaker."

Everytime Artest goes in the game its, "Send in the Peacemaker!"

#18 ROCKET!!!, Jul 31, 2008

sirbaihu Member

Joined:

Nov 2, 2006

Messages:

8,517

Likes Received:

2,851

I like Scola's role in this mini-drama. He appears to have had a similar reaction to Yao, which--say what you will--did show some reservation about Artest. Neither Yao nor Scola feels bowled over by the Ron Artest aura. They play at an international level and they are not going to defer to him. None of the players seem as scared of Ron Artest as some fans seem to be.

#19 sirbaihu, Jul 31, 2008
errpac Member

Joined:

Jun 26, 2008

Messages:

157

Likes Received:

5

lol bynum better then yao. U can just imagine how pissed kobe will be if laker had a chance to get yao for bynum and don't. Common they gotta have more common sense cant they imagine a kobe and yao combo. No doubt jerry buss will do it jus for ticket sales. I'm sure in their hearts the lakers will die for that combo though, but too bad yao is ours. I'm so excited bout the Rockets team next yr, this season needs to start tomorrow.

#20 errpac, Jul 31, 2008

(You must log in or sign up to post here.)

Page 1 of 2

Share This Page