Stern Hopes Artest has "All-Star" Season Associated Press <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> MIAMI -- Count NBA commissioner David Stern among those happy to see Ron Artest playing again. They met briefly Thursday night before the Indiana Pacers' game in Miami, the second the forward has played in since completing his nearly yearlong suspension stemming from last season's brawl with fans at Detroit. "I think he's a great player and I hope he has an All-Star season," Stern said. "I wished him well before, visited him a bit. And he's made an already-strong Pacer team even stronger. They feel pretty good about their roster right now." Artest was greeted by lusty boos from the sold-out Miami crowd, something he knows will be commonplace throughout the season. He insists crowd reaction won't faze him -- but acknowledged he was curious how Stern will be received when he visits Indiana. "I can't wait until he comes to Indiana," Artest said. "Indiana fans can't wait to see him." Artest was suspended for the final 73 regular-season games, plus the playoffs, after running into the stands after a fan who he thought tossed a drink cup in his face late in the Pacers' game at Detroit on Nov. 19, 2004. Yet Artest doesn't sound like he's harboring any resentment toward Stern, who levied a punishment that caused him to miss about $5 million in paychecks. "He's a cool cat," Artest said before the game. "I think he's from the 'hood."</div> The last line
