Unlikely role model in Artest
By Gabe Taylor
Sometimes the outcome of being illogical is becoming logical. For Ron Artest, at least, this rings true.
Craziness doesn't even begin to describe Artest. But craziness, in the Artest-sense, is not necessarily linked with a negative connotation.
Although he is remembered for charging the stands in the infamous Pistons vs. Pacers brawl, and pounding shots of Hennessey at halftime of games, Artest is in no way as destructive as the label attached to him suggests. Last year, Artest announced his intention to raffle off his 2010 championship ring and to donate the proceeds directly to mental health charities. As expected, the raffle struck nothing but net, raking in more than $500K. Talk about community involvement.
If that fails to provide enough shock value, I guarantee this next sentence won't. Artest also declared his plan to donate "all" or "some" of his 2010-2011 salary to, wait for it, mental health charities. His contract states that his earnings will be $6.79 million. Talk about aiding those in need.
Resembling an unpredictable plot line, Artest's life in the NBA is crammed with life-lessons. And just last week, his volatility reached a new career high.
During the Lakers vs. Mavs game, a fight erupted after Jason Terry unnecessarily shoved Steve Blake onto the baseline floor. As the crowd rose to witness the rambunctious scene, and players and coaches wrapped teammates up to avoid a clearing of the benches, something appeared to be off. One element was missing from the equation. Where was Artest?
The crowd stood tall. The players and coaches stood tall. Every individual in the stadium stood tall, except for Artest; the same Artest that raced into the stands in 2004, precisely the same Artest that relied on Hennessey during games.
But this was not the same Artest and that's what makes his story significant and worth noticing. While many may argue that mentioning Artest and role model in the same sentence is an abomination, Artest's actions over the past two years have led me to see him as a unique and necessary role model.
He has struggled with aggression, alcohol and has admitted to working with a psychiatrist to hurdle tough patches. Countless youth and adults experience instability with their mental health. Artest is demonstrating that despite poor past choices, he is striving to change. It's the growth that counts. So the next time you see Artest pouring his heart out on the court in a Lakers jersey, forget the illogical fist-swinging Artest because a new, logical Artest has arrived. You can thank his psychologist for that.