Ron Artest: (2:32 PM ET ) Hello everybody. I'm ready for your questions.
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Peter (Cincy): Ron, congrats on your Defensive MVP. What are you doing so far this offseason? Relaxing? Chilling? Are you married?
Ron Artest: (2:33 PM ET ) Yes, I do have a family. I've been relaxing a little bit. I've been doing my music thing and I've been working out.
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Mark (Indianapolis): Ron, what are your future interests in music? Rapping, producing, what?
Ron Artest: (2:35 PM ET ) I'm executive producing an album that comes out September 21 -- it's an all girl group called Allure on my label --Truwarier. I'm also working on my own album that will probably come out in September also.
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Lance (Traverse City MI): Ron, I coach jr high kids and have a question for you regarding defense: Is playing good D a question of conditioning, desire and fearlessness, or, a combination of all three? And, what would you tell a jr high kids who just wants to jack up 3s and ignore the opposite end of the court? Thanks!!
Ron Artest: (2:38 PM ET ) It's a combination of all three. You hit it right on the nose. I think kids will eventually learn that it takes effort at both ends to get to victory, but when you're young, you don't know that. It will come.
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Chris (Royal Oak, MI): Hey Ron- Does it hurt less to see the team that beat you destroying the Lakers and know that you lost to the very best? Can't wait to see my Pistons battle your Pacers again next year.
Ron Artest: (2:39 PM ET ) It still hurts not to be playing right now, but we're definitely looking forward to playing against them next year.
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Sam (Houston): Tougher to guard, Kobe or Rip? Also, if Detroit wins who is your MVP vote?
Ron Artest: (2:40 PM ET ) They're both big problems. Kobe is proabably the better player, but they both create problems in their own way.
Ron Artest: (2:40 PM ET ) Richard Hamilton is my MVP of the Finals right now, though.
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Luke (BOSTON): Hey Ron how you doing man? First of all i would like to congradulate you on an excellent season. My question is do you think that if you beat the Pistons would you being having the same success against the Lakers as Detroit is right now? Thanks and good luck next season!
Ron Artest: (2:43 PM ET ) I think we would be matching up just fine. We would have had a great opportunity to win if we have played the way we should have. Thanks for the compliments and hopefully we'll get there next year to bring home a championship like I think we can.
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Lance (Traverse City MI): Ron, congrats on D Player of the Year...you earned it. My question: Did you ever think the Pistons would be handling teh Lakers like they are? And, does that make you more hungry for next year knowing your team could have been there?
Ron Artest: (2:45 PM ET ) I knew it was going to be hard to beat the Pistons b/c they beat the best team in the NBA to get to where they are right now, so that says something. But I don't think they were going to make it look so easy.
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Jimmy K (Ft. Wayne): I've been a huge believer in you since the trade that brought you to Indy! While you've always been a intimidating physical presence on the court, this year saw display a mental fierceness that I admire and respect as a show of your professionalism. How much impact, either directly or indirectly, did Larry Bird's recent comments have on you?
Ron Artest: (2:47 PM ET ) It was just funny. It didn't really impact me, it' was just pretty funny actually that he was insulted that they would put a white defender on him. He was a great player that not many people would be able to stop.
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J Fresh - NYC: Ron - Talk about the Big East. What was it like playing for St. John's? Do you think Gordon and Okafor can represent the Big East next year?
Ron Artest: (2:48 PM ET ) I think they can. THe Big East is a great conference, I wish St. John's would have done a little bit better this year, but I think Okafor is a great player who will be in the NBA for a long, long time.
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Tyler (Indy): If you were asked to play on the USA Basketball team would you play?
Ron Artest: (2:48 PM ET ) Yes, I think I deserve it, I want to play, and I think the Defensive Player of the Year should be on the team.
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Chris Timmerman, Michigan: Do you think Al Harrington will be with the pacers next year?
Ron Artest: (2:49 PM ET ) I think Al will be a big time player ... hopefully he will be a big time player with the Pacers next year.
Ron Artest: (2:58 PM ET ) Sorry we're having some problems with our cell phone. That's why we've been answering so slowly. Thanks for all of the questions and compliments. We're working hard to take home a champtionship next year. Keep an eye out for the Allure CD I produced in September and my own album that will be released right around the same time. Thanks again everybody.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Peter (Cincy): Ron, congrats on your Defensive MVP. What are you doing so far this offseason? Relaxing? Chilling? Are you married?
Ron Artest: (2:33 PM ET ) Yes, I do have a family. I've been relaxing a little bit. I've been doing my music thing and I've been working out.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mark (Indianapolis): Ron, what are your future interests in music? Rapping, producing, what?
Ron Artest: (2:35 PM ET ) I'm executive producing an album that comes out September 21 -- it's an all girl group called Allure on my label --Truwarier. I'm also working on my own album that will probably come out in September also.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lance (Traverse City MI): Ron, I coach jr high kids and have a question for you regarding defense: Is playing good D a question of conditioning, desire and fearlessness, or, a combination of all three? And, what would you tell a jr high kids who just wants to jack up 3s and ignore the opposite end of the court? Thanks!!
Ron Artest: (2:38 PM ET ) It's a combination of all three. You hit it right on the nose. I think kids will eventually learn that it takes effort at both ends to get to victory, but when you're young, you don't know that. It will come.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chris (Royal Oak, MI): Hey Ron- Does it hurt less to see the team that beat you destroying the Lakers and know that you lost to the very best? Can't wait to see my Pistons battle your Pacers again next year.
Ron Artest: (2:39 PM ET ) It still hurts not to be playing right now, but we're definitely looking forward to playing against them next year.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sam (Houston): Tougher to guard, Kobe or Rip? Also, if Detroit wins who is your MVP vote?
Ron Artest: (2:40 PM ET ) They're both big problems. Kobe is proabably the better player, but they both create problems in their own way.
Ron Artest: (2:40 PM ET ) Richard Hamilton is my MVP of the Finals right now, though.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Luke (BOSTON): Hey Ron how you doing man? First of all i would like to congradulate you on an excellent season. My question is do you think that if you beat the Pistons would you being having the same success against the Lakers as Detroit is right now? Thanks and good luck next season!
Ron Artest: (2:43 PM ET ) I think we would be matching up just fine. We would have had a great opportunity to win if we have played the way we should have. Thanks for the compliments and hopefully we'll get there next year to bring home a championship like I think we can.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lance (Traverse City MI): Ron, congrats on D Player of the Year...you earned it. My question: Did you ever think the Pistons would be handling teh Lakers like they are? And, does that make you more hungry for next year knowing your team could have been there?
Ron Artest: (2:45 PM ET ) I knew it was going to be hard to beat the Pistons b/c they beat the best team in the NBA to get to where they are right now, so that says something. But I don't think they were going to make it look so easy.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jimmy K (Ft. Wayne): I've been a huge believer in you since the trade that brought you to Indy! While you've always been a intimidating physical presence on the court, this year saw display a mental fierceness that I admire and respect as a show of your professionalism. How much impact, either directly or indirectly, did Larry Bird's recent comments have on you?
Ron Artest: (2:47 PM ET ) It was just funny. It didn't really impact me, it' was just pretty funny actually that he was insulted that they would put a white defender on him. He was a great player that not many people would be able to stop.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
J Fresh - NYC: Ron - Talk about the Big East. What was it like playing for St. John's? Do you think Gordon and Okafor can represent the Big East next year?
Ron Artest: (2:48 PM ET ) I think they can. THe Big East is a great conference, I wish St. John's would have done a little bit better this year, but I think Okafor is a great player who will be in the NBA for a long, long time.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tyler (Indy): If you were asked to play on the USA Basketball team would you play?
Ron Artest: (2:48 PM ET ) Yes, I think I deserve it, I want to play, and I think the Defensive Player of the Year should be on the team.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chris Timmerman, Michigan: Do you think Al Harrington will be with the pacers next year?
Ron Artest: (2:49 PM ET ) I think Al will be a big time player ... hopefully he will be a big time player with the Pacers next year.
Ron Artest: (2:58 PM ET ) Sorry we're having some problems with our cell phone. That's why we've been answering so slowly. Thanks for all of the questions and compliments. We're working hard to take home a champtionship next year. Keep an eye out for the Allure CD I produced in September and my own album that will be released right around the same time. Thanks again everybody.
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