Artest defends his actions in the brawl ............ to kids!
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by user DRE-LO
Like everyone else on that fateful November 2004 ESPN telecast between the Pacers/Pistons, I stood with my eyes glued to the screen and my jaw on the floor as I watched Artest rush the Detroit crowd after being struck with a water bottle looking for the first person to deliver a TKO to. Then we watched as it continued to escalate into a riot that rivaled riots and altercations that you see in big-time soccer matches overseas. The image I will remember most is the image of a young African-American child holding on to his dad crying bitterly. That moment provided a painful reminder that athletes weren't given the option to choose whether they want to be a role model or not to young kids. Needless to say, Artest's behavior as well as the actions of Jermaine O'Neal and Stephen Jackson was nowhere near exemplary.
There would come a day when Artest would have to answer for his actions to a source twice as essential as a court of law or a judge.
That day was today.
As part of his sentence to community service, Artest talked to 50 inner-city youth in the Judge Mathis Community Center. He offered this quote to defend his actions: "Someone started trouble and I ended it,"
Isn't this the same junior-high mentality that lands so many of our youth in trouble?? Artest was suspended, sentenced and his character and credibility took more than the proverbial beating due to his actions. One would think he would use his act of stupidity from that night in order to emphasize to these young kids how not to proceed in such situations.
Instead, he proceeds to say "It's so over, That night has been so far over, I don't really have any thoughts on it."
It's not going to be quite so easy for those kids and their parents who were there on that night to put that scary incident behind them.
Artest busts his behind on defense on the basketball court and gives 100%.
On this occasion, his defense was weak.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2551458
Date
Wed 08/16/06, 6:00 pm EST
