I know this will be hard to believe but Ron Artest, the man most famous for the fight at the Palace and unusual behavior, is the winner of the 2010-11 NBA J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award. What’s next, Michael Vick denouncing dogfighting video games?
Yep you read that right. Ron-Ron now represents NBA citizenship. Here’s the NBA’s reasoning:
Artest won for his tireless efforts to promote awareness of mental health, including fund-raising, appearing before Congress in support of Mental Health in Schools Act and his all-around advocacy on the issue. Artest also raffled off his 2010 championship ring, raising more than $650,000 for mental health awareness, and took part in a public service announcement in conjunction with the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health.
The award is clearly given based on a player’s latest actions, not their overall body of work. How else do you explain Calvin Murphy, Alonzo Mourning, and Kevin Garnett also being Citizenship Award recipients? All jokes aside, it’s great to see how Artest’s life has rebounded since the fight at the Palace and all the nutty activities since then. And this proves once again that a bad night does not the man make.
Lakers’ Artest receives Kennedy Citizenship Award [NBA]
Gotta give it to the guy. Not an Artest fan, but shows you how people deserve second chances.
Artest is a mental health case himself ! Did you see him acting as Bynum’s bodyguard, walking right alongside him all the way to the tunnel, when this punk was thrown out for his cheap shot closthesline of jj berea in game 4 against the Mavs ? Watch the film ! Artest is the same punk he’s always been, looking for someone to come after his 7’2″ buddy bynum so he could pop off again !! I thought he was going to get whiplash he was turning his head in so many directions just looking for trouble ! Nice choice NBA-Nobody But A**holes !!
I agree with Joe!