<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'></p> <div class="bi">Artest Fights Suspension</div> <div> <span style="font-style: italic">Oct 24</span> - Kings forward Ron Artest will be in New York on Thursday, Nov.1 to attend a hearing to have his seven-game suspension reduced by an arbitrator.</p> </p> In suspending Artest after his March no-contest plea to infliction of injury on his wife, Kimsha, the NBA factored in his tumultuous history and repeat-offender status.</p> </p> The NBA Players Association seeks to have the suspension reduced to the standard three to four games for domestic disputes. -- <font color="#000000">New York Daily News</font></p></div></div>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'></p> <div class="bi"> Stern Won't Be A Factor</p> </p> </div> <div><span style="font-style: italic">Oct 26</span> - Ron Artest vs. David Stern, this is not. </p> As the Kings' small forward neared his Nov. 1 arbitration hearing in New York regarding his seven-game suspension to start the season, he had expressed a hesitance to follow through with the appeal based on the belief the NBA commissioner would not allow his ban to be shortened. And while Stern has certainly used a heavy hand in dealing with Artest since his part in the 2004 brawl in Auburn Hills, Mich., as well as making clear the influence of Artest's history when deciding on seven games for Artest's no contest plea to domestic violence in May, the commissioner will play no part in the outcome of the appeal. -- <font color="#000000">Sacramento Bee</font></p></div></div>
