"I didn't know what was wrong with me," Artest was quoted as saying. "I've probably had it a lot of times in my career, but I never, ever sat out with it. I know guys who have actually sat out with sore feet, but there's no need for me to complain about it. "I just don't like excuses. That's it. No excuses. I don't want nobody saying, 'Oh, Ron Artest has got plantar fasciitis, so that's why he didn't play a good game.' No, I didn't play good or I didn't do what I did because that's just what happened. No excuses." Oh, c'mon, Ron. How about one excuse? Lakers coach/wise guy Phil Jackson suggested that Artest's foot ailments stem from the kicks he wears. "I called his shoes concrete boots for about the last month," Jackson said in reference of Artest's Peak basketball sneakers, made by a Chinese company that also outfits the feet of teammate Sasha Vujacic(notes), Mavericks' point guard Jason Kidd(notes) and Rockets' forward Shane Battier(notes). "Those shoes look like they're made for the Hudson River."
I think Ron's shoes, and his weight has taken a toll on his feet. He needs to lose some weight to take all that pressure off his feet, he bulked up too much this offseason. This isn't a body building contest, this is NBA!
I don't think be bulked up too much, as he's always been a big dude. I just think he needs better fuckin' shoes.
