Forward denies he asked for month off from team to work on rap album
By Mark Montieth
mark.montieth@indystar.com
November 12, 2004
Ron Artest acknowledges that he has been busy with off-court interests but says he did not ask the Indiana Pacers for a month off to finish a rap album.
After being vilified on national airwaves throughout the day Thursday, Artest told The Indianapolis Star that his offending comments to reporters on Wednesday should not have been taken literally.
"I just told (coach Rick Carlisle) I wanted to take some time off to get healed up," said Artest, who sat out part of the preseason with a twisted kneecap. "I said it in a bad way. Rick was right. It did compromise the integrity of the team. But I didn't ask him to take a month off to finish no rap album."
Carlisle confirmed that Artest did not ask for a month off to work on an album, but did not want to comment further.
"This is what Chuck Daly would call a 'moving forward' situation," Carlisle said Thursday. "It's time for Ron to play; it's time for our team to get as many healthy guys as we can."
Artest traveled with the team to Philadelphia and will play in tonight's game against the 76ers.
Carlisle benched Artest for two games after an incident before practice on Monday. Artest said he told teammates that he wanted to get away for a while, and that a subsequent conversation with Carlisle led to his benching.
"I was ready to take some time off, at least like a month off, but two games is enough," Artest told reporters before Wednesday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Thursday, he said some of his comments were meant in jest.
"I can't be serious all the time," he said in a telephone interview. "It would be boring. I have to have some fun."
Artest acknowledged that some of his teammates have been frustrated with his recent actions. Carlisle agreed, saying Artest "has some fences to mend."
Artest had a confrontation with Jermaine O'Neal in the locker room at halftime of the game against Chicago on Saturday. Artest said he became frustrated when the Bulls made a run while he wasn't getting the ball on offense late in the first half. He sat down in the front row of the end-zone seats after being pulled from the game, moved briefly to the bench, and then went to the locker room before the half ended.
"Jermaine always sets me straight," Artest said. "I'm not the easiest teammate to play with. Jermaine's a leader on this team and he has to set me straight.
"J.O. told me to stop acting like a damn fool and I agreed."
O'Neal declined to comment on the matter when reached on Thursday.
Artest said he has no conflict with O'Neal now.
"He's our MVP," Artest said. "Without Jermaine, it would be very, very hard to win a championship."
Analysts throughout the country weighed in on the controversy Thursday, some of them questioning Artest's mental stability and others suggesting he should be traded.
Local reaction was mixed. Greg Rakestraw, host of a sports talk show on WXLW-950 AM, said 80 percent of his callers and e-mailers supported Artest. John Michael Vincent, who hosts a show on WNDE-1260 AM, said reaction from his listeners was 50-50.
Artest acknowledged that he has been busy with his musical career which, combined with his injuries, has left him fatigued.
The three-woman rhythm and blues group that he produces, Allure, is scheduled to have an album released on Nov. 23. It was originally scheduled for release in September, before the start of training camp, but Artest said he added a song at the last minute.
He also plans to release an online collection of his own rap songs sometime in December.
He said, however, that he doesn't believe his musical interests will remain an issue throughout the season.
"It's better if I play and I fight it until I can't breathe no more," he said. "That's what I'm going to do."
By Mark Montieth
mark.montieth@indystar.com
November 12, 2004
Ron Artest acknowledges that he has been busy with off-court interests but says he did not ask the Indiana Pacers for a month off to finish a rap album.
After being vilified on national airwaves throughout the day Thursday, Artest told The Indianapolis Star that his offending comments to reporters on Wednesday should not have been taken literally.
"I just told (coach Rick Carlisle) I wanted to take some time off to get healed up," said Artest, who sat out part of the preseason with a twisted kneecap. "I said it in a bad way. Rick was right. It did compromise the integrity of the team. But I didn't ask him to take a month off to finish no rap album."
Carlisle confirmed that Artest did not ask for a month off to work on an album, but did not want to comment further.
"This is what Chuck Daly would call a 'moving forward' situation," Carlisle said Thursday. "It's time for Ron to play; it's time for our team to get as many healthy guys as we can."
Artest traveled with the team to Philadelphia and will play in tonight's game against the 76ers.
Carlisle benched Artest for two games after an incident before practice on Monday. Artest said he told teammates that he wanted to get away for a while, and that a subsequent conversation with Carlisle led to his benching.
"I was ready to take some time off, at least like a month off, but two games is enough," Artest told reporters before Wednesday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Thursday, he said some of his comments were meant in jest.
"I can't be serious all the time," he said in a telephone interview. "It would be boring. I have to have some fun."
Artest acknowledged that some of his teammates have been frustrated with his recent actions. Carlisle agreed, saying Artest "has some fences to mend."
Artest had a confrontation with Jermaine O'Neal in the locker room at halftime of the game against Chicago on Saturday. Artest said he became frustrated when the Bulls made a run while he wasn't getting the ball on offense late in the first half. He sat down in the front row of the end-zone seats after being pulled from the game, moved briefly to the bench, and then went to the locker room before the half ended.
"Jermaine always sets me straight," Artest said. "I'm not the easiest teammate to play with. Jermaine's a leader on this team and he has to set me straight.
"J.O. told me to stop acting like a damn fool and I agreed."
O'Neal declined to comment on the matter when reached on Thursday.
Artest said he has no conflict with O'Neal now.
"He's our MVP," Artest said. "Without Jermaine, it would be very, very hard to win a championship."
Analysts throughout the country weighed in on the controversy Thursday, some of them questioning Artest's mental stability and others suggesting he should be traded.
Local reaction was mixed. Greg Rakestraw, host of a sports talk show on WXLW-950 AM, said 80 percent of his callers and e-mailers supported Artest. John Michael Vincent, who hosts a show on WNDE-1260 AM, said reaction from his listeners was 50-50.
Artest acknowledged that he has been busy with his musical career which, combined with his injuries, has left him fatigued.
The three-woman rhythm and blues group that he produces, Allure, is scheduled to have an album released on Nov. 23. It was originally scheduled for release in September, before the start of training camp, but Artest said he added a song at the last minute.
He also plans to release an online collection of his own rap songs sometime in December.
He said, however, that he doesn't believe his musical interests will remain an issue throughout the season.
"It's better if I play and I fight it until I can't breathe no more," he said. "That's what I'm going to do."
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