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Artest wants to stay a Rocket

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by ebu, Mar 25, 2009.

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ebu Member

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Read the bold, said Houston would be his first choice
If only we can get a 100% healthy T-mac to go with him and Yao

So Artest has learned his lesson with pets

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/chronicle/6341810.html

In 2007, animal control officers were called to basketball star Ron Artest’s home in Sacramento, Calif.
Artest, now a Houston Rocket, played for the Sacramento Kings back then.
Neighbors said that Artest often went on long road trips with the Kings and left his dog Socks without food or water.
When officers got to Artest’s house, they found the female Great Dane underweight and sick. They seized his dog and accused Artest of animal neglect. The dog was placed with a local veterinarian. It took a month for the dog to regain its proper weight and strength.
Charges were never filed. Artest claimed that he hired people to come to his house and care for the dog, and it wasn’t his fault that they never showed up. He did agree to let another family adopt the Great Dane, though.
This was not the only time that animal control officers seized animals from Artest’s home. It happened three times before. Each time, the dogs were removed, nourished back to health and placed with new owners.
Monday night, Artest will host a fundraiser for the Houston Humane Society at Capone’s Restaurant and Bar, 4307 Westheimer, just inside the Loop. Capone’s is a throwback speakeasy with brick-oven pizzas and tapas on the menu. Starting at 7 p.m., Artest will throw on an apron and begin tossing pizzas in the air. There will be a meet ’ n’ greet, a silent auction and plenty of autographs. It’s free to get in. You donate just by ordering food and something to drink.
Artest also recently filmed a public service announcement for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. In the spot, Artest urges people to spay and neuter their pets. And definitely don’t get involved with dog fighting. That’s Artest, wearing a PETA T-shirt, shooting hoops and playing with a pit bull from a neighborhood shelter. You can check out the spot by clicking on www.ronartest.com.
How did Artest go from animal abuser to animal advocate? PETA showed him the way.
“I was an irresponsible pet owner, and I got in some trouble,” Artest said after a practice last week at Toyota Center. “PETA came and showed me how to be a better pet owner. A lot of times, it’s a simple thing. One of my problems was that the fence around my home wasn’t safe enough. I had a lot of dogs, and they kept getting out. The thing is, just because you’re irresponsible, it doesn’t mean you don’t love your pets. I loved my dogs. You just need to be more mature and accountable for how you treat your animals. I had to be educated.”
Artest said he’s had pets all his life. It’s just recently, though, that he’s learned how to take care of them.
“I grew up in New York City, in an apartment in Queens. We had cats mostly. My thing was cats. We had 10 or 11 cats at one time. The house would be really, really stinky. I remember one time, my mother got us a dog. I didn’t know how to train it, and before we knew it, my dog was super mean. We had to take it to the shelter and have it put to sleep.”
Artest played college basketball for St. John’s in New York and joined the NBA in 1999. He admits that he wasn’t emotionally mature. He began picking up dogs and bringing them home.
“I had maybe 10 dogs then. I got my first pit bull later on when I was playing in Indiana. I didn’t know anything about pits, but I had one. I got it at the animal shelter. You have to learn how to raise them the right way. I didn’t know how to do it. In my PETA spot, you see me letting a pit bull lick my face. I would never let my own pit bull near my hands even,” he said.
As time wore on, Artest’s behavior on the court became more aggressive, with incidents leading to suspensions, and his neglect of animals at home became a bigger problem.
Some animals were seized by officials. Other animals, he simply brought to the shelter or gave to friends.
Then they came and took Socks. Enter PETA.
Artest, wife Kimsha and their three children have no pets in the house now. He doesn’t have the time to properly care for them. <b>Artest said that once “I get settled in Houston,” he will adopt a couple of dogs.
His wife has laid down the law … no cats.
That “get settled” line may mean he intends to stay with the Rockets after he becomes a free agent in June.
“I would like to stay here. I love it here, and the organization is pleased with me. That’s a good sign. This is my first choice,” he said.</B>
Another good sign is his solid, incident-free play that has the Rockets square in the playoff hunt. He’s practically been a choir boy this year. He said working with PETA and the Houston Humane Society has helped.
“I really like the Houston Humane Society. I’ve been down there doing a lot of things with them. I’ve told my people that whenever they need me for something, they’ve got to make it happen. I’ve always loved animals. Now I’ve learned how to be responsible. If you’ve watched me play basketball, people might not say I was a nice guy. I’m a totally different person off the court now. Over the years, I’ve become more mature, and I’ve learned to control my energy and temper. Maturity has also taught me the right way to treat animals, too. I’ve grown up.”
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#1 ebu, Mar 25, 2009

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Good to read that.At least we don't know what it's gon' turn out on the status of T-Mac,whether he's gon' be okay or not is still iffy.

Ron Ron needs to play team games most of the night and lessen his ISOs and dribble-dribble-penetration layups.That hurts our offense sometimes.

#2 J.Will.Xu, Mar 25, 2009
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Although he has been saying this for a while, I personally hope we let him walk. I feel this team needs a different kind of player. No, I'm not saying lets go get Kobe, or Wade, or Bosh, or Lebron. I think a Mike Miller would fit nicely. (As DD has always said.) I also think a player in the Kevin Martin mold would do wonders for this team. Artest jacks too many bad shots IMO for this team. Not saying he hasn't been great so far, just feel that this team can get to the next level with a different type of player.

#3 The Joker, Mar 25, 2009
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Well, if he keeps shooting like this, the $'s on his contract goes down.. Good thing for the Rockets, yes?

#4 HTown_TMac, Mar 25, 2009
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Imagine this team with at least last years version of McGrady. I would love to sign with a team that has a healthy McGrady and Yao with amazing role players as well...

#5 TheGreat, Mar 25, 2009
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I think we should keep him

He brings the toughness to this team that no other player can bring

Do u really think teams want to play in a 7 game series facing Artest?

#6 ebu, Mar 25, 2009
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ebu said:

I think we should keep him

He brings the toughness to this team that no other player can bring

Do u really think teams want to play in a 7 game series facing Artest?
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While I agree he does bring toughness this team severely lacked, his skill set isn't what we need from our SG position.

#7 The Joker, Mar 25, 2009

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I guess whatever.

It's good to know he wants to stay a Rocket, but in the end it is what will WE do...and if we are matched up with anyone BESIDES UTAH in the first round and still fail to reach the 2nd...this season will be a complete failure and EVERYONE...besides Morey...job should be under question.

#8 JayGoogle, Mar 25, 2009
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I think it will depend on his playoff performance. If the rockets can pass 1st round this year, the rockets should resign him. Otherwise, the rockets should go a different direction.

#9 abc2007, Mar 25, 2009
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JayGoogle said:

I guess whatever.

It's good to know he wants to stay a Rocket, but in the end it is what will WE do...and if we are matched up with anyone BESIDES UTAH in the first round and still fail to reach the 2nd...this season will be a complete failure and EVERYONE...besides Morey...job should be under question.
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Almost correct. Unless we drop out of homecourt range and face the Spurs or Lakers.

#10 HTown_TMac, Mar 25, 2009
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HTown_TMac said:

Almost correct. Unless we drop out of homecourt range and face the Spurs or Lakers.
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Yeah, while that is a probability for sure, I think we'll get home court.

Then though I think we have no business falling 7th or 8th then the season will be a failure unless we pull off the upset.

#11 JayGoogle, Mar 25, 2009
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I hope he stays unless he is asking for more than 10 mil a year. What other player can we GET that is better than Artest. We can let Tmac try out his knee for a half season and then parlay his contract into another max player. Joe Johnson would be nice.

#12 rockbox, Mar 25, 2009
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rockbox said:

I hope he stays unless he is asking for more than 10 mil a year. What other player can we GET that is better than Artest. We can let Tmac try out his knee for a half season and then parlay his contract into another max player. Joe Johnson would be nice.
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I would love to sign and trade Ron Artest for maybe a Josh Smith? Smith can play SF and is a great help defender and would help out Yao so much getting blocks.

That's just me but I love J-Smoove.

#13 TheGreat, Mar 25, 2009

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TheGreat said:

I would love to sign and trade Ron Artest for maybe a Josh Smith? Smith can play SF and is a great help defender and would help out Yao so much getting blocks.

That's just me but I love J-Smoove.
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Ron Artest > Josh Smith, Josh smith is overrated.

#14 Marcus Bryant, Mar 25, 2009
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The Joker said:

While I agree he does bring toughness this team severely lacked, his skill set isn't what we need from our SG position.
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The amazing thing is that we may not get what we need from that position,
but yet we keep winning games

#15 ebu, Mar 25, 2009
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ebu said:

The amazing thing is that we may not get what we need from that position,
but yet we keep winning games
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I'm not saying that he's bad.. lol I'm just saying if you were to build the team you wanted he wouldn't be the type of SG you'd pick for the players we have. But after saying that, I'm very glad he is on the Rockets this season

#16 The Joker, Mar 25, 2009
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Marcus Bryant said:

Ron Artest > Josh Smith, Josh smith is overrated.
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We need to get more athletic..

#17 TheGreat, Mar 25, 2009
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Marcus Bryant said:

Ron Artest > Josh Smith, Josh smith is overrated.
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Your on crack. No one talks about him, AND he can block shots and rebound which is a plus.

#18 HTown_TMac, Mar 25, 2009

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TheGreat said:

We need to get more athletic..
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we need to get more athletism? like snyder or swift, or even Gerald Green?

#19 Marcus Bryant, Mar 25, 2009
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Marcus Bryant said:

we need to get more athletism? like snyder or swift, or even Gerald Green?
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Obvious his post is going towards JSmoove... Who is better than those 2 players... By far.

#20 HTown_TMac, Mar 25, 2009

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