A day after the Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings agreed in principle to a deal sending Ron Artest to Houston for Bobby Jackson, Donte Greene and a first-round draft pick, Yao Ming, the ‘face of the franchise’, expressed concerns about team chemistry to the Houston Chronicle and referenced Artest’s involvement in the 2004 brawl with Pistons fans.
“Hopefully, he’s not fighting anymore and going after a guy in the stands,” Yao told the Chronicle.
That’s a wise, bold statement from a team leader. Of course, Artest felt the need to respond and spoke to the Sacramento Bee:
“I understand what Yao said, but I’m still ghetto,” Artest said, according to the report. “That’s not going to change. I’m never going to change my culture. Yao has played with a lot of black players, but I don't think he’s ever played with a black player that really represents his culture as much as I represent my culture. Once Yao Ming gets to know me, he’ll understand what I’m about.
“If you go back to the brawl, that’s a culture issue right there,” Artest added, according to the report. “Somebody was disrespecting me, so he’s got to understand where I’m coming from. People that know me know that Ron Artest never changed.”
Well, Yao currently plays with Rafer ‘Skip To My Lou’ Alston, a street-ball legend from Jamaica, Queens who actually represents all the best of his ‘culture’. Alston also toured America’s inner-cities several years ago making those ‘And 1’ mix tapes…so, right there Artest loses any ‘street cred’ argument. Alston gives back to his community, while Artest only steals what he can and moves on.
Also, why should Yao even have to ‘get to know’ a malcontent like Artest? What does Ron plan on learning about Yao and his culture? Yao Ming sacrifices anything and everything for his country. Yao Ming is a national treasure in his homeland and is held in the highest esteem by his countrymen.
In this country, Ron Artest is a national punchline who is best known as a selfish, childish, arrogant prick.
Don’t the Rockets already have one overpaid, unproven crybaby to deal with? What do they need with another?
