<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Indiana Pacers suspended forward Ron Artest met Monday with NBA commissioner David Stern in New York, but a league spokesman said the conversation was not about his possible return. "It was just an opportunity for them to talk," NBA vice president of communications Tim Frank said. "They didn't discuss an early reinstatement."</div> Source
He will be back for the playoffs if the Pacers make it, I can promise that. Stern said it was a possibiliity, they have now met..and Artest has been practicing for awhile now...If Indiana gets in, Artest will be playing.
I don't like the idea of him playing. What he did was stupid and in my eyes unforgivable. Of course Stern will allow him to return, that's not anything new. At the All-Star weekend he hinted of Artest's possible return and it got us (fans) talking, and now coming closer to the playoffs he's meeting with him, so it's getting us talking again. I think the whole thing about his return may in part due to ratings.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Sasha:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't like the idea of him playing. What he did was stupid and in my eyes unforgivable. Of course Stern will allow him to return, that's not anything new. At the All-Star weekend he hinted of Artest's possible return and it got us (fans) talking, and now coming closer to the playoffs he's meeting with him, so it's getting us talking again. I think the whole thing about his return may in part due to ratings.</div> I agree, the NBA should not allow him back this year. Stern has to stand firm on his decision despite the TV ratings it could bring, especially if Detroit and Indiana face off in round 1 of the playoffs. I'm actually rooting for the Pacers to miss the playoffs entirely, so there won't be any decision on Artest to be made.
I really don't see how you can hold this against him. Any player would of acted the same way..Duncan, LeBron, Wade, Rodman, Kobe, Tmac, Shaq, Carmelo, Arenas, Hughes,..anybody in the league would of...tempers were flaring and everyone snaps. What was uncalled for was Stephen Jackson up there, I understand if he went up there to pull Artest off, but not to go at a fan...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Kobe 8 Ball:</div><div class="quote_post">I really don't see how you can hold this against him. Any player would of acted the same way..Duncan, LeBron, Wade, Rodman, Kobe, Tmac, Shaq, Carmelo, Arenas, Hughes,..anybody in the league would of...tempers were flaring and everyone snaps. What was uncalled for was Stephen Jackson up there, I understand if he went up there to pull Artest off, but not to go at a fan...</div>I don't hold it against him, but what he did was wrong and he needs to fulfill the punishment handed out to him. Even if other people would have acted the same way, it does not make it right. It was hardly self defense, he was hit by a plastic bottle, which led him to go into the crowd. I would have reacted the same considering the situation, but I would also expect to get in trouble for it afterwards. If that happened anywhere else he would be in jail and have some assault and battery charges filed against him. What he did was stupid and over the top.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Kobe 8 Ball:</div><div class="quote_post">I really don't see how you can hold this against him. Any player would of acted the same way..Duncan, LeBron, Wade, Rodman, Kobe, Tmac, Shaq, Carmelo, Arenas, Hughes,..anybody in the league would of...tempers were flaring and everyone snaps. What was uncalled for was Stephen Jackson up there, I understand if he went up there to pull Artest off, but not to go at a fan...</div>I don't think he should be allowed back at all this season. I want to see him play but in the end what he did was WRONG and he should be punished accordingly. And I do not think that the above said players would react the way Artest did in Detroit. Maybe I can see Rodman doing it because he is a little wacky but everyone else mentioned I just can't see it happening. They have more self control than Artest and that is a fact.
The only reason it was the rest of the regular season was because he had a record. It is very true that anybody would've reacted the same way. Put yourself in that position, what would you do? I don't think he should be kept out of the playoffs. That just seems too extensive. There's really not much to say about this except about the punishment. But what I don't understand is how everyone is mad at Artest when he was punished the most? Ben Wallace instigated the fight, but he only got 6 games... I don't know, I don't wanna spark a debate about it.
