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Stern slams door shut on idea of Artest's early return
By Mark Montieth, The Indianapolis Star
NEW YORK — NBA Commissioner David Stern brought finality to Ron Artest's status Monday, reaffirming his season-long suspension of the Indiana Pacers forward.
Stern had left the door open for Artest's reinstatement in recent interviews, but told The Indianapolis Star that he believes that Artest will benefit most from sitting out this season, including the playoffs.
"Our goal is to do everything we possibly can to ensure Ron's return to the NBA next season is as smooth as it can possibly be," Stern said in an interview from the league's headquarters in Manhattan.
"There's a lot of things we're participating in to that end and we're confident he'll be back as a contributing member of the Pacers and the NBA next season."
Stern suspended Artest for the remainder of this season on Nov. 21, two days after Artest had gone into the stands at the Palace of Auburn Hills in response to being hit by a beverage thrown by a fan. He also suspended Stephen Jackson for 30 games and Jermaine O'Neal for 25 games, although O'Neal's penalty was later reduced to 15 games by an arbitrator and upheld in federal court.
Stern acknowledged that he had considered shortening Artest's suspension.
"At a certain point in the last week or two we decided the most important thing here is Ron's return to the NBA and the best path for that is through a program in which he's now engaged," Stern said.
Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh said Monday that he wasn't surprised by Stern's decision, although he held out hope for reinstatement.
"I haven't had any indication at any time that he would change his mind," Walsh said. "We certainly tried to get him to change his mind. But when you're starting out thinking that won't happen (options are limited)."
Stern deflected a question about Artest's return over All-Star Weekend by saying the Pacers had not applied for reinstatement. Walsh, however, said the Pacers had done that in December when he and other representatives of the franchise met with Stern to appeal on Artest's behalf.
Artest has been practicing with the Pacers in Indianapolis since Jan. 24. Stern recently gave them permission to allow him to travel with the team, and he made the trip to New Jersey for Tuesday night's game against the Nets. Walsh said Artest will travel with the team on selected trips the rest of the season.
Artest was not available for comment. He has not been made available to the media since becoming a client of Tri-Star Sports and Entertainment Group in Nashville, a life management company.
"He's in great spirits and has been working out hard," Tri-Star's Lou Taylor said Monday. "He has great respect and admiration for Commissioner Stern."
Taylor said Artest will be made available to the Indianapolis media sometime after April 19.
Walsh said he couldn't discuss details of Artest's activities during his suspension, but is pleased with them.
Stern said he understands the arguments of those who believe that he was too severe in suspending Artest for the season, and admitted having second thoughts.
"If you're human and you don't have second thoughts, you're not as human as you thought you were," he said. "I'm always rethinking everything I do. But I'm at peace with the decision.
"I wouldn't disagree with anyone's perspective on it. But I had to make a decision based on the events. That's the one that I made."
Stern said Pacers owners Herb and Mel Simon have expressed "a sharp difference of opinion" to him regarding Artest's suspension.
"It's been personally very painful for me, because I understand their view and their feelings on it," Stern said. "But I felt my obligation to my job required a result that might be different than the one they think is the correct one."
Artest was suspended for 12 games in the 2002-03 season, and was benched by Pacers coach Rick Carlisle for two games shortly before the brawl in Detroit. Stern, however, said he believes that Artest will return to the league next season a different person.
"On the basis of all the reports and my visit with Ron, I truly believe that," said Stern, who met with Artest at the NBA office on Feb. 28. "I would like to make sure that comes to pass, rather than rushing him back in to the heat of battle.
"The most important thing isn't exacting a pound of flesh, but the return to our game of somebody with All-Star talents who has allowed circumstances and emotion to combine to deprive him of the status he should achieve in our league."
Stern slams door shut on idea of Artest's early return
By Mark Montieth, The Indianapolis Star
NEW YORK — NBA Commissioner David Stern brought finality to Ron Artest's status Monday, reaffirming his season-long suspension of the Indiana Pacers forward.
Stern had left the door open for Artest's reinstatement in recent interviews, but told The Indianapolis Star that he believes that Artest will benefit most from sitting out this season, including the playoffs.
"Our goal is to do everything we possibly can to ensure Ron's return to the NBA next season is as smooth as it can possibly be," Stern said in an interview from the league's headquarters in Manhattan.
"There's a lot of things we're participating in to that end and we're confident he'll be back as a contributing member of the Pacers and the NBA next season."
Stern suspended Artest for the remainder of this season on Nov. 21, two days after Artest had gone into the stands at the Palace of Auburn Hills in response to being hit by a beverage thrown by a fan. He also suspended Stephen Jackson for 30 games and Jermaine O'Neal for 25 games, although O'Neal's penalty was later reduced to 15 games by an arbitrator and upheld in federal court.
Stern acknowledged that he had considered shortening Artest's suspension.
"At a certain point in the last week or two we decided the most important thing here is Ron's return to the NBA and the best path for that is through a program in which he's now engaged," Stern said.
Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh said Monday that he wasn't surprised by Stern's decision, although he held out hope for reinstatement.
"I haven't had any indication at any time that he would change his mind," Walsh said. "We certainly tried to get him to change his mind. But when you're starting out thinking that won't happen (options are limited)."
Stern deflected a question about Artest's return over All-Star Weekend by saying the Pacers had not applied for reinstatement. Walsh, however, said the Pacers had done that in December when he and other representatives of the franchise met with Stern to appeal on Artest's behalf.
Artest has been practicing with the Pacers in Indianapolis since Jan. 24. Stern recently gave them permission to allow him to travel with the team, and he made the trip to New Jersey for Tuesday night's game against the Nets. Walsh said Artest will travel with the team on selected trips the rest of the season.
Artest was not available for comment. He has not been made available to the media since becoming a client of Tri-Star Sports and Entertainment Group in Nashville, a life management company.
"He's in great spirits and has been working out hard," Tri-Star's Lou Taylor said Monday. "He has great respect and admiration for Commissioner Stern."
Taylor said Artest will be made available to the Indianapolis media sometime after April 19.
Walsh said he couldn't discuss details of Artest's activities during his suspension, but is pleased with them.
Stern said he understands the arguments of those who believe that he was too severe in suspending Artest for the season, and admitted having second thoughts.
"If you're human and you don't have second thoughts, you're not as human as you thought you were," he said. "I'm always rethinking everything I do. But I'm at peace with the decision.
"I wouldn't disagree with anyone's perspective on it. But I had to make a decision based on the events. That's the one that I made."
Stern said Pacers owners Herb and Mel Simon have expressed "a sharp difference of opinion" to him regarding Artest's suspension.
"It's been personally very painful for me, because I understand their view and their feelings on it," Stern said. "But I felt my obligation to my job required a result that might be different than the one they think is the correct one."
Artest was suspended for 12 games in the 2002-03 season, and was benched by Pacers coach Rick Carlisle for two games shortly before the brawl in Detroit. Stern, however, said he believes that Artest will return to the league next season a different person.
"On the basis of all the reports and my visit with Ron, I truly believe that," said Stern, who met with Artest at the NBA office on Feb. 28. "I would like to make sure that comes to pass, rather than rushing him back in to the heat of battle.
"The most important thing isn't exacting a pound of flesh, but the return to our game of somebody with All-Star talents who has allowed circumstances and emotion to combine to deprive him of the status he should achieve in our league."
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