and that's because he sucks.

I think it's amazing how Iverson came into the league and decided he wasn't playing the MJ game and was still able to be one of the most popular players in the world.  Remember, before AI, no one wore cornrows.   Now Samuel F'ing Dalembert is sporting them.  

Did anyone read that article on Carmello Anthony in ESPN?  It seemed like he was trying too hard to "keep it real" and that's off-putting.  

Artest is who he is and I'm fine with that.  The guy is a headcase but he can ball.  He's not the smartest person in the world but last I checked, he wasn't hurting anyone.  For the record, I defended Ron Ron after the melee in detroit.

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Thank you for your comments I genuinely appreciate them.  It is nice to know that I can write something and actually make people think about it and formulate their own opinion. That's what it's all about.  I definitely see the difference between the players Stern sold me and who's left.  I did write that story with guys like MJ, Magic, LeBron in mind.  But just to re-emphasize what I was getting at is there are guys in the league that still keep to who they are off the court.  AI is the perfect example, he came in and did the rap cd, cornrows, and stayed who he was.  But he gets the fact that he is a role model even though he doesn't want to be. Another prime example is Charles Barkley.  He spit on a little girl some years ago, '85 I think, and Charles did that commercial saying he didn't want to be a role model.  But he got it too, that no matter what he said or felt people were going to look up to him because of who he was.  I would call guys like AI and Chuck socially responsible becuase even though they don't see themselves as a Michael Jordan they are like him in a way that kids look up to them.  
I didn't mean for it to seem like I was tired of AI and Stephon because I am not. I'm tired of Ron Artest.  Not because of Detroit, but it just doesn't seem to me like he takes responsibility for anything.  He doesn't seem genuine. You are definitely right that I probably don't see the things he and other players do in their own communities and what they give to charity, but what I saw, and I am sure other people saw, is a man who simply is irresponsible.  
If he doesn't care about his image...he doesn't care about his image. He will do whatever he wants.  I would never call for every athlete to need to be straight laced and perfect gentlemen, because lets face it even MJ wasn't. All I'm saying is it would be nice to see Artest man up and say I get the fact that I am a role model and I do make impressions on some kids, I'm going to be me, but I'm going to take responsibility for what I do.

Thanks for the feedback, I really appreciate it.

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