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Matt Barnes Arrested
09.08.10
And from the world of, “I Knew This Off Season Was Going Too Well,” newest Laker Matt Barnes was arrested tonight on felony assault charges, and booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail.
According to police, Barnes was arrested for assualting the woman “who lived with him and with whom he had a dating relationship.” He posted a $50,000 bond and was released shortly after 9:30 PM tonight.
According to Sacbee.com,
Both parties were said to have visible injuries, but Barnes was determined to be the primary aggressor according to police. Barnes is also charged with maliciously obstructing the use of a telephone line. He’s scheduled to appear in court on Monday.
Wow, thanks Matt. Great timing too. Let’s hope this isn’t as bad as it sounds.
Ron Artest To Sell Championship Ring
09.08.10
So he finally wins a title and a ring in the NBA, and the first thing Ron Artest wants to do is sell it? Well that’s what he plans to do, according a report on NBA.com.
In his campaign to promote mental health, Artest will sell his championship ring as a fundraiser to help provide more psychologists and therapists in schools. Quite a bold and classy act for a man who once started US professional sport’s most-notorious brawl in Detroit in 2003.
“You work so hard to get a ring, and now you have a chance to help more people than just yourself, instead of just satisfying yourself,” he said. “What’s better than that? For me, this is very important.”
Artest hopes to raise awareness in one of college sport’s most under-covered issues, mental health. And by doing his part to help make mental health therapy more readily available to students at a younger age, there is hope it will curtail the attempts of suicide amongst college players. According to the report on NBA.com, around 20-25 athletes in Division I sports attempt suicide each year.
You really need to take your hat off to Ron. The turnaround he has made in his career, with all of his admitted emotional issues, is quite amazing. Rarely do you see an athlete attack his own demons head-on during his playing years like he has, and come out a winner.
If you’re interested in the entire story about Artest and his battle with mental-health awareness, you can read it on NBA.com.
The Derrick Caracter Weight-Loss Contract
09.07.10
So apparently the Lakers have a new way to motivate rookie forward Derrick Caracter to stay in shape, “keep your weight down, and we’ll pay you.”
According to a report on ProBasketballTalk.com,
Caracter has a $473,000 contract this year with $250,000 guaranteed. If Caracter weighs 275 pounds or less on Sept. 10, the contract becomes fully guaranteed.
There is a future for Caracter in “Laker Land,” especially with the team letting both DJ Mbenga and Josh Powell go this off season. If Caracter can keep himself in shape, there is some playing time to be had. And it seems the Lakers are willing to reward him financially for doing so.
This writer knows that for $177k, he’d surely keep himself under 275 pounds. Of course it would take two of him to equal that weight, but I digress.
Maybe the Lakers should have thought about employing this when Shaq still wore purple and gold.
“The Numerology of Ron Artest”
09.06.10
Ron Artest gave a typical “Ron Ron” interview to NBA TV about all of his jersey numbers and switches. Even he seemed confused trying to go through them all.
NBA TV blocks the embedding of YouTube videos on other sites, so click the link below.
“The Numerology of Ron Artest”.
Enjoy!
Kobe’s Rehab “On Track”
09.05.10
The Sporting News reported today that Kobe Bryant’s rehab from off season arthroscopic knee surgery appears to be “on track” according to Luke Walton.
I’ve seen Kobe at the gym the last couple weeks rehabbing his knee,” Walton told Lakers.com. “He’s itching to get back on the court. He shows up every morning at 7 a.m. at the team’s facility and is kind of wrapping up around the time I get there at around 9 a.m. Kobe looks great—he says his knee feels great. He’s just about to start doing basketball workouts again and can’t wait for it.
So good news indeed, as it seems Kobe will be ready to go when training camp opens.
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