Does Houston have a problem? Artest responds to Yao comments

This reminds me of the comments Berkman made about Valverde in the offseason; and we all know what came of that....nothing.


Seriously doubt the trade will get rescinded because of a few cautious remarks about Artest's past. Speaking of, if a few blunt remarks damages the psyche of a player to the point where he doesn't want to play for the team anymore, then maybe he isn't the "true warrior" he's been billed as.

This is a non-issue...hell Berkmans remarks were more brutal and more direct.

 

Might as well serve the Tru Warrier some snake soup.

I agree, Yao is not smart in this interview. It may not be good to have Yao called Ron Ron at once, a conference call amongst TMac, Ron Ron and Yao would be more appropriate. TMac could cover Yao's ass should he say something politically incorrect in the conversation.

 

No problems if RonRon like Chinese food. Yao will invite him a nice dinner then they'll be very good friends.

 

This isn't a matter of the trade somehow getting rescinded. It's just a matter of getting along and getting started on the right foot. (Sorry, Yao -- bad metaphor.) We are dealing with a head case, people. That's what Artest is, a magnificent head case. You have to treat him gently, so he doesn't sulk, spout off, etc. You don't say the kinds of things Yao said. You make these accommodations for practical, not moral reasons. Yao will learn.

 

I don't see a problem here at all. Anyone who has established a track record like Ron has in his profession knows how the business is. He's been part of several teams, perhaps hasn't gotten the commitment from them that he wanted, so he hopes this will be the team that will. He knows he's a star but this is a great fit for him, maybe the best fit he's ever had, so he's already trying to fit in, he knows it's not his team. He's negotiating through the press to let the Rockets know what he's looking for and what he's prepared to accept.

Yao didn't say anything wrong either. He used the press to let Ron know that he doesn't know him well, chemistry is very important to him, but at the same time he's a great addition to the team and because of his skills he can help them get past Utah.

No big deal.

 

Agreed. I knew exactly how what Yao said would be interpreted as soon as I read the article.

 

Thanks.

 

**** the media, they should have shown Scola's comment to Ron Ron instead, I found it pretty nice:

but then, why would they, **** the media for trying to ruin our team.

Yao isn't speaking very clever this time IMO, unlike the usual him.

 

I agree as a team leader Yao should have been more supportive of Artest. I know it was pretty hard for Yao not to question Artests effect on the teams chemistry with Artest's history but he should have taken the high road like Tracy and Rafer and praised Artest for what he could do for the team.

My real concern is we are going to have a disgruntled Artest just like he was in
Sacramento because Les isn't going to commit to an extension like Artest wants. This is really looking like a one year rental, just don't see Les paying the luxury tax necessary to sign him.

 

"I wanted to use alphabets"



Artest is awesome.

 

I feel the people who are blaming Yao too agressive now are the same ones who blamed Yao was too soft before.

 

Yao shouldn't have said it, sure. Just like Berkman needs to learn to shut his hole too. But this seriously would be a non-issue if the media (this forum included) didn't blow it out of proportion.

 

ron artest is a little crazy - he definitely shares a bit too much of what goes on in his head with the media.

i think he needs some help, and i say that in the most kindest and benevolent way. i hope he is able to find happiness here in Houston and all this talk doesn't derail the deal.

 

Jon has spoken for us

Link:

http://blogs.chron.com/nba/2008/07/welcome_to_the_first_day_of_th.html

Quote:

"Read Sam's full transcript and you will note the contradictions, with Artest going from excited to leery about the move. But understand that they really don't mean much of anything.

It is also worth considering the reaction Artest's representative Mark Stevens said Artest had to the trade.

"He's outrageous," Stevens said. "He's happy, he's jumping, he's fantastic right now.

"He is happy as he can be to be put in a situation to compete for a championship. He's ecstatic."

The trade will go through. Yao will chat with Artest and both will be pleased with the conversation. And sometime down the line, Artest will say something that will make Daryl Morey cringe again.

Not sure if Daryl did much surfing in Ohio, but the key is to handle it like a surfer riding a wave. Deal with it, don't overreact and keep on going.

The Rockets have been good at this, having had a few curious Tracy McGrady comments and the few Bonzi Wells flare-ups to manage.

For that matter, Rockets fans should have this down, too.

When Charles Barkley arrived in town, I was doing a lot of radio at the time and cautioned not to take Charles seriously or literally because he says a lot for comic effect.

When McGrady came to Houston, I said not to take everything he says literally because he at time says things for dramatic effect.

Few listened either time, but it is worth trying again.

Don't take the things Artest says too literally. He says some for how they affect him, how they sound at the time he says them.

Eventually, teams have gotten tired of that. The end in Indiana came when he asked to be traded. Sacramento had its fill when he said he regretted not opting out of his contract after reversing his position on his career decisions enough to impress Brett Favre.

By Aug. 14, Artest will happily display a Rockets uniform with an unusual number. It should be a pretty press conference.

As Shane Battier, who has played with or against Artest for 15 years, said, the whole season will be interesting.

"It will be a dynamic locker room and team for sure next year," Battier said. "We will have many an eyeball glued to our team all year."

 

Dammit, this guy sounds like Mike James. That's never good, is it?

 

This Sac Bee moron is trying hard to create a rift here, but Artest is pretty positive.

 

I don't really have a problem with anything Artest said here... I think if anyone was in the wrong here, it was Yao. He didn't need to say any of the things he said, and he should have known that no good could come of it. From a basketball standpoint, there is almost ZERO risk involved in this trade.

I really like these comments from Artest, though:

I'm just excited to be reunited with Rick Adelman. I don't care about anything else. If Rick Adelman has Yao Ming, they win championships without even thinking about me. I don't even want people to think that because the Houston Rockets are acquiring Ron Artest, then that's the reason they'll get over the hump. They would've been over the hump if Yao Ming hadn't gone down. They were having a great season.
I'll come off the bench, I don't care. Let Shane start, and bring me off as a sixth man or seventh man. I would love to come off the bench in Houston. It doesn't even matter.

That more than anything showed his commitment, IMO... IF he really meant it...

 

I'll say it again ... Ron Artest is crazy.

but i think he undersands his role, and as long as he does, he really is that missing piece. I think this thing will get sorted out once they meet face to face. I've actually never heard anything negative about Artest as a teammate. It's just his crazy persona, off-the-court antics, and advisarial relationship with past ownership and management.

Hopefully he's got a better handle on that stuff now that he's older.

 

So true! You really nailed it!

(sorry for the double post)

 

Beautiful. Ron Artest sounds ready to kick ass and take names, without being a distraction either.