http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1971932 Friday, January 21, 2005 Ron Artest has been cleared to return to practice with the Indiana Pacers, Sports Illustrated reported on its Web site. The 25-year-old forward, who was suspended for the season after the brawl in Detroit, will begin workouts with his teammates Monday, team president Donnie Walsh told the Web site. "He's been cleared. It's all set," Walsh said to SI.com. "He's been working out on his own, separately, all along. Now he'll get a chance to practice with the team again." Artest remains ineligible to play in any 2004-05 games, including in the postseason, after going into the stands Nov. 19. The All-Star was averaging 24.6 points and 6.4 rebounds a game when he was suspended. The Pacers remain hopeful that Artest will be allowed to return sometime this season, perhaps especially so after a judge ruled that teammate Jermaine O'Neal could return without serving the final 10 games of the 25-game suspension commissioner David Stern had imposed.
Uh, yeah they should...he should be suspended, but the entire year is ridiculous...Half a season, maybe...
Well for one because what he did was really no worse than what S. Jackson did and he got what 35 games (or something like that). He should be allowed to return sometime this season. Actually i thought i saw on the ESPN ticker that he WILL he allowed to play in the playoffs. Anyone else know if thats true. His return could make Indiana contenders in the East again.
