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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