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"I'm So Happy To Be Back I Want To Scream"

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  • #16
    Re: "I'm So Happy To Be Back I Want To Scream"

    My apologies... thanks

    Comment


    • #17
      Re: "I'm So Happy To Be Back I Want To Scream"

      Things are really looking up.

      I love the pic with Ron and Donnie.

      Comment


      • #18
        Re: "I'm So Happy To Be Back I Want To Scream"

        Give me a second here to compose myself, I have something in my eye.


        Great to see those pictures and read about Ronnie practicing again.

        I like this paragraph All we can do is pray," forward Stephen Jackson said. "Even to think about having him back in that uniform with the No. 91 jersey on, that's definitely making us happy, but that's frightening a whole lot of teams. They don't want to see him back, but we do."

        Comment


        • #19
          Re: "I'm So Happy To Be Back I Want To Scream"

          I'm with you UB, those pictures are great. Ron is a special player and special individual. Great teams have to go through adversity before they can suceed and this team has had more than their fair share. But everything that has been thrown at them they've learnt and grown from it. Regardless of what happens this season, I think that when Ronnie is playing again the Pacers are going to be a force to be reckoned with.

          Comment


          • #20
            Re: "I'm So Happy To Be Back I Want To Scream"

            Originally posted by Dr Huxtable
            Things are really looking up.

            I love the pic with Ron and Donnie.
            Damn you, you beat me to the avatar.

            Don't think I'll forget this, Clifford. You better watch your back.
            Come to the Dark Side -- There's cookies!

            Comment


            • #21
              Re: "I'm So Happy To Be Back I Want To Scream"

              Here is Mark Montieth's version of things.
              http://www.indystar.com/articles/9/211946-7539-092.html

              Artest rejoins Pacers in practice


              Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh visits with Ron Artest after practice today. -- Sam Richie / The Star


              By Mark Montieth
              mark.montieth@indystar.com
              January 24, 2005


              Ron Artest returned to practice today. So did all the cameras.

              The Indiana Pacers forward worked out with his teammates for the first time since Nov. 18, the day before a brawl at The Palace of Auburn Hills resulted in his season-long suspension. A full contingent of local and national media members was on hand to record the moment on the Conseco Fieldhouse practice court, although word had been put out that Artest would not be available for interviews.

              Artest was merely one of several brewing subplots for the Pacers, who have become accustomed to uncertainty in a season filled with injuries and suspensions. Stephen Jackson, suspended 30 games, worked with the blue-shirted starters for the first time in preparation for his return Wednesday against Boston. Jamaal Tinsley stayed home with the flu. A banged-up Jermaine O'Neal sat out the contact portions of practice. Austin Croshere, who missed the past two games with the flu, returned but was still weak. Anthony Johnson practiced, but was coughing throughout.

              "We've got the nasal irrigator in there going full-time," coach Rick Carlisle said, motioning toward the training room. "We're dealing with some things."

              The Pacers view Artest's return as mutually beneficial. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year will don a white jersey and work with the second and third teams the rest of the season, doing what he can to raise the competitive level and make teammates better.

              He also will try to improve his game. He has been working with coaches on the court, and has enhanced his conditioning with swimming, Pilates and yoga. He worked privately with Jackson on Sunday and was the first player on the court Monday morning.

              Now, at least, he can be part of the group again.

              "After sitting home watching the media and hearing all this (stuff) he needs to be with his team where people care about him," Jackson said. "Being around the team is the best thing for him.

              "It's good for him and for us. We need him. We got in this situation because we were supporting our team. To not support him now would be defeating the purpose of fighting in Detroit."

              Artest has been with the Pacers for nearly three years and he's been around his teammates some in the fieldhouse the past month. His return, therefore, seemed more like a return to normalcy than a sudden jolt.

              "Just another day of practice," Jeff Foster said. "It was like he's been injured for a while and this was his first day of practice."

              Carlisle agreed, although he sensed that Artest was "humbled" by the opportunity.

              "It's a meaningful day for him, given what's transpired," Carlisle said. "He didn't say anything, he just came out here and played. And played great."

              Jackson said he had "no clue" if NBA commissioner David Stern would consider reducing his suspension and allow Artest to play this season. Carlisle, however, reiterated his view that Artest's suspension will stand for the rest of the season, which means he will continue to work without a paycheck or the glory that comes from playing in the games.

              "It's hurting him," Jackson said. "Anybody who grew up like we did and worked their butt off to get to the NBA, to lose money and not do what you love . . . guys like me and Ron, we look at basketball as our life. This is all we can do. I feel sorry for him, because this is what he loves to do.

              "All we can do is pray for him and be behind him as a team. I'm behind him 110 percent."

              It remains to be seen how much Artest's absence hurts the Pacers this season. Carlisle, however, emphasized the importance of remembering there will be more seasons ahead for him and the team, and that his current experience might prove to be a positive one.

              "Ron Artest is a very young player at age 25 and is going to have a very long career," Carlisle said. "In the grand scheme of things, there's light at the end of the tunnel."

              Comment


              • #22
                Re: "I'm So Happy To Be Back I Want To Scream"

                I just watched the clips. Man, if Jack played half as fast as he talked, he'd be unstoppable.
                Come to the Dark Side -- There's cookies!

                Comment


                • #23
                  Re: "I'm So Happy To Be Back I Want To Scream"

                  Originally posted by Unclebuck
                  Give me a second here to compose myself, I have something in my eye.

                  You clearly missed the "salty" conversation.
                  You, Never? Did the Kenosha Kid?

                  Comment


                  • #24
                    Re: "I'm So Happy To Be Back I Want To Scream"



                    Okay, why is Donnie showing Ron the finer art of choking someone?
                    Come to the Dark Side -- There's cookies!

                    Comment


                    • #25
                      Re: "I'm So Happy To Be Back I Want To Scream"

                      Pacers Welcome Artest Back for Practice


                      By Conrad Brunner | Jan. 24, 2005
                      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      There was no fanfare, no speeches, no need for re-introductions. It was all about the basketball when Ron Artest returned to practice Monday.


                      Artest

                      "It was just another day of practice," said Jeff Foster, "He's been a part of this team for two-and-a-half, three years now so it's just like he'd been injured for awhile and this was his first day back."

                      The NBA cleared Artest to resume practicing with the Pacers, and Monday was his first day back since the Nov. 19 incident in Detroit that led to his suspension for the rest of the regular season and playoffs. In the interim, he had been working out either on his own or in individual sessions with members of the coaching staff.

                      Artest wasn't available for comment, but his teammates and Coach Rick Carlisle spoke warmly of his return.



                      Carlisle

                      "Having a guy like Ron in practice helps raise the level of your practice in terms of intensity because he's one of the real warrior-type players we have in this league," said Carlisle. "He came back in here today and it was like he never left. He's been working awfully hard. He's been doing swimming, pilates, yoga and a lot of other stuff to keep himself in great shape. And he's been working out a lot with our coaching staff on his own. I'm very pleased he has the opportunity to come back and be with the team. This is an important day for him in that respect.

                      "My sense is that he was a little humbled by the chance to come back. It's a meaningful day. It's a meaningful opportunity for him, given what's transpired. And he did great. He didn't say anything; he just came out here and played, and played great."

                      Stephen Jackson, whose 30-game suspension expired with the Pacers' 95-93 loss to Washington Saturday night, said the ability to spend time on the court with teammates will be therapeutic for Artest.



                      Jackson

                      "I was feeling down myself being out 30 games but this guy got the whole season, so I know it's good for him to be around for him and for us," Jackson said. "I think the best thing for him is what was the best thing for me: to be with the team.

                      "Obviously, sitting at home and watching the news and hearing all this B.S., he needs to be around the team where people care about him and people support him. Being around the team is the best thing for him, not sitting at home and dwelling on what happened."

                      Though Artest has only been cleared to practice and there has been no indication from the NBA that the terms of his suspension will be altered, even his limited presence could have a positive impact on the team. A physical, intense player, Artest will work with the second and third units during practice, giving the backups a major weapon with which to push the starters.



                      Croshere

                      "He's still a part of this team," said Austin Croshere. "I don't think you can ever fully get over what happened in Detroit until everybody's back and everybody's practicing. Then you can kind of begin to move on. It's certainly a reminder of how talented he is, having him on the third team and seeing the things he does defensively and some of the things he does offensively.

                      "At times it's kind of frustrating, because it's a reminder of what we don't have, of how good of a piece we're missing. But it's a step toward putting the whole thing behind us."

                      Each step in that direction is a positive one for the Pacers.
                      http://www.nba.com/pacers/news/artest_050124.html

                      Comment


                      • #26
                        Re: "I'm So Happy To Be Back I Want To Scream"

                        Here is another interesting article


                        http://www.nba.com/pacers/news/jackson_050124.html

                        Jackson Vows to "Do Everything" to Help Team


                        By Conrad Brunner | Jan. 24, 2005
                        --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        True to his character, Stephen Jackson made no attempt to hide his emotions.
                        "I'm so happy to be back," he said, "I want to scream."

                        The feeling is decidedly mutual, for Jackson's return to the court gives the Pacers several dimensions they have lacked since the Nov. 19 incident in Detroit that resulted in the suspensions of Jackson (30 games), Jermaine O'Neal (15) and Ron Artest (the rest of this season and the playoffs).

                        "Having Steve Jackson back is going to give us a lift," said Coach Rick Carlisle after practice Monday afternoon. "It's not going to solve all of our problems or our quandaries relative to some of the issues we've had with consistency, but it will help. We know that."

                        Jackson will start at small forward when the Pacers face the Celtics in Boston Wednesday night. He started the first nine games of the regular season at shooting guard while Reggie Miller was injured and averaged 15.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists. But he'll need to provide much more than scoring.



                        Jackson

                        "I know I bring a lot of energy to the game," Jackson said. "If anybody has to play on both ends of the court, it's me because not having our defensive stopper in Ron, I have to guard and I have to score. So I'm willing to take on that challenge. I did it in San Antonio, I did it in Atlanta and I'm willing to do it here.

                        "I'm just going to go out and try to do everything on the court. I don't limit my game. I can pass, I can shoot, I can defend, I can do it all. So I'm going to try to do it all to help my team."

                        With both Artest and Jackson out, the Pacers were the most shorthanded at small forward. James Jones, a 2003 second-round pick who played sparingly as a rookie, was thrust into the starting lineup and after some initial encouraging moments began to struggle. Veteran Michael Curry was signed to add defensive presence to the position, but he is not an offensive threat. In the 30 games since Nov. 19, the Pacers' starting small forwards have been outscored 463-186.

                        Jackson is a threat on the perimeter, in the post and on the move.



                        Foster

                        "It'll be different because J.J. and Mike really haven't been asked to score," said Jeff Foster. "We've basically playing Jermaine and Jamaal (Tinsley) and then whenever Reggie (Miller) gets a shot, he gets a shot. It'll be nice to basically have four options out there now with me doing my normal role of cleaning up.

                        "I expect Jack to get at least 10 shots a game. I don't know how many we were getting from the small forward position before, but it was nowhere near that many."

                        As many physical dimensions as he brings, Jackson raises the team's overall level of intensity and emotion.

                        Carlisle

                        "He's one of our top competitors," Carlisle said. "Let's face it: our best competitors are the guys in our starting lineup – Jermaine, Reggie (Miller), (Jamaal) Tinsley, Jackson and (Jeff) Foster. Those guys really compete at a high level. Getting him back helps us on the floor and helps us with our depth chart but it also gives us an extra spark and that's important because he's not only a good player, he's a guy with size and athleticism, and he's a guy that has that competitive fire that every team needs."

                        Jackson said he learned from the events that led to his suspension, although he hasn't been humbled by the experience. The 30-game absence reportedly cost him a $1.8 million in lost salary.

                        "It hasn't changed me at all," he said. "I'm the same Steve. Obviously, I won't go in the stands again, but I'm the same person. I'm still for my team. I'm still going to go down fighting with my team but I think we've got to be a little smarter. The situation set us back a lot and set the organization back a lot so we've got to be smarter, try to think first before we do things. We can't afford to get into any more incidents.

                        "We've got to come out, play basketball, win games and not worry about the B.S."

                        Comment


                        • #27
                          Re: "I'm So Happy To Be Back I Want To Scream"

                          Originally posted by Kegboy


                          Okay, why is Donnie showing Ron the finer art of choking someone?
                          "Now Ronnie, when Stern walks throught the door, don't think, just choke, like this!"

                          Comment


                          • #28
                            Re: "I'm So Happy To Be Back I Want To Scream"

                            Hell yes it says that Jack will be starting against Boston Thank You Rick. I thought they would keep him on the bench for a few games but glad I was wrong.

                            Comment


                            • #29
                              Re: "I'm So Happy To Be Back I Want To Scream"

                              Is it really that surprising, Jermaniac? He wasn't injured, and he's been practicing with the team for weeks, so there's no need to ease him back in. He's heading straight to the starting-5.

                              Comment


                              • #30
                                Re: "I'm So Happy To Be Back I Want To Scream"

                                I anticipate Jackson getting at least 35 minutes per game. He's a guy who can play a lot of minutes anyways, and considering he has been out for 30 games. he might play 40 minutes per game.

                                .

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