I'm sure Les will do his part in making Artest feel comfortable. Expect to hear more songs like this in the Toyota Center: <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vHyB_FRr4-M&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vHyB_FRr4-M&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
Yes, Mutombo is the one. No one disses this dude, not even Ron Artest. Artest is not rotten. He just plays rough. Sometimes he needs people who have as much manhood as he does to tell him to calm down and shut up. He is not evil, just really strong and a bit unruly.
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JuanValdez is right on target. It is somewhat disturbing that Artest thinks fighting back when you get dissed is "culture"; I think of culture as music, art, literature. . . . Artest's combination of "ghetto" and "black culture" borders on racial essentialism, i.e. stereotyping: "True blackness sometimes equates to (retaliatory) violence" and so on. Surely Artest has some basic beliefs about blackness and all, but I think he says stuff off the top of his head and doesn't really worry about consistency from one moment to the next. I wouldn't accept the premise that what he says represents some kind of coherent body of thought. He's a little mixed up, and we're asking for answers where there aren't any.
Now that PG is the weakest link of this new Rox team. If Francis could step up to become a serviceable backup, I will be happy.
If Francis give us ANYTHING next season, on OR off the bourt, it will be a bonus. Basically he is in the same situation he was heading into last season, trying to get healthy and in playing condition, and trying to find a niche' in a team that's loaded with talent. This year we are even more talented than last. Far more talented actually. I'm thinking Stevie will be most valuable as an expiring contract at the deadline.
Mutombo should be that guy if we bring him back. He is a vocal leader and can be just as crazy(not looney) as Artest to keep him in line.
If Artest can't be professional enough to blend in with a group of Yao, Battier, Adelman, McGrady, Scola, and possibly Mutombo, thats why its good he's got 1 year left on his deal. Artest isnt like Spanoulis new to the country and cant relate to anything US culture. Not saying dont help him if you can, but as-is NO one on the team's gonna do anything bad to him. The Yao comments are as bad as its gonna get and that was even milder than it looked. So if he messes things up, the consequences will be fitting
