Ron Artest won't be suspended by the NBA

Lakers forward Ron Artest will not be suspended by the NBA for a variety of inflammatory comments he made to a magazine, a league official said today.

Artest will play tonight against the Miami Heat at Staples Center.

Artest said earlier this week that he consumed alcohol during halftime of games earlier this decade with the Chicago Bulls. He also criticized referee Joey Crawford's performance in last season's Western Conference finals, when Artest was with the Houston Rockets.

There's a chance Artest will be fined for his comments, though it is only a small possibility.

-- Mike Bresnahan

Photo: Ron Artest dribbles around Peja Stojakovic on December 1 in Los Angeles. Credit: Harry How / Getty Images.

Artest explains drinking comments

Lakers forward Ron Artest explained today why he told the Sporting News that he drank alcohol during games while playing for the Chicago Bulls earlier in his career, saying it was to reach out to youths who may be dealing with the same issues.

Artest said he has a program soon to start in Los Angeles in which he’ll share his story with youths about the difficulties of fame and fortune and how it can push a person in the wrong direction. Artest told the publication that he drank Hennessy cognac during halftime of games when he played for the Bulls.

“The whole purpose of the testimony was to share problematic times in my life with the youth…,’’ Artest said after practice Thursday. “…It was mainly to just share the situation that I was going through. There are a lot of kids out there right now that are going to through the same things that I’ve gone through.”

Artest spent 2½ seasons with Chicago after being drafted as a 19-year-old out of St. John’s in 1999. He was traded to Indiana and has played in Sacramento and Houston before joining the Lakers this summer.

Artest said he has grown since his drinking days in Chicago and that he is continuing to evolve as a person.

“I was slowly cleansing myself in Sacramento,” Artest said. “I was 98% cleansed in Houston.”

Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said he had not talked to Artest before practice about his revelations, but planned on doing so. Jackson said he thought the article was “blown out of context” and that “I just don’t believe that at all.”

“I just don’t think that a player can get away with that type of thing in the NBA,” Jackson said. “Somebody is going to see it. There’s going to be alcohol on your breath. It’s just not going to happen on a day-to-day basis. I know Ron said those things and I have to respect that he’s speaking the truth. But I still don’t know how far that went and if that was a once or twice occurrence.”

The NBA had planned on talking to Artest about his drinking statements and his criticism of referee Joey Crawford.

-- Broderick Turner

NBA reviewing report of Ron Artest's early-career drinking

The NBA is pondering what action, if any, to take regarding the news that Ron Artest admitted drinking alcohol during games while playing for the Chicago Bulls earlier in his career.

Artest, signed by the Lakers during the off-season, told the Sporting News that he used to drink Hennessy cognac at halftime of games in part because the team was losing so often. Artest spent 21/2 seasons with the Bulls before being traded to Indiana near the midpoint of the 2001-02 season.

Artest also criticized referee Joey Crawford for his officiating during last season's Western Conference semifinals, according to the report. Artest played at the time for the Rockets, who lost to the Lakers in seven games.

"Joey Crawford basically said, 'Who cares about the Houston Rockets? Kobe Bryant is on the floor,' " Artest told the magazine.

The league has not decided whether to fine or suspend Artest -- or take no action -- according to NBA spokesman Tim Frank.

Frank declined to comment other than to say, "We hope Ron has a successful season."

Artest, 30, is averaging 12.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 17 games for the Lakers.

Strangely enough, Artest posted a party-themed post on his Twitter account early Wednesday afternoon.

"Let's party!!!!!!!" it read. "This Friday:)))"

The tweet had a link to an electronic flyer in which Artest was promoting a party at Club Empire in Los Angeles. Paradoxically, the flyer showed the backside of a scantily clad woman but also offered 50% off a $20 cover charge if club-goers brought a toy to be donated to "the children's hospital."

Artest has posted such club outings on his Twitter account in the past, most recently to tell people he was going to a club last week for Lakers teammate Shannon Brown's birthday, but the timing of this one was poor at best, given the timing of the news earlier today.

-- Mike Bresnahan

Photo: Ron Artest listens to the national anthem before a game against Oklahoma City on Nov. 22. Credit: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times

Ron Artest admits to drinking during games, likes to have fun

After disclosing last week that he used to ride in the Houston Rockets' team bus wearing only his underwear, Lakers forward Ron Artest told the Sporting News of another activity he used to do while playing with the Chicago Bulls (1999-2002).

"I used to drink Hennessy ... at halftime," Artest told the magazine. "I [kept it] in my locker. I'd just walk to the liquor store and get it."

It's good to know Artest gets his liquor like any other guy on the street, but I'm not so sure if drinking during games is such a great idea. Of course, this begs the question: Did Artest drink before the brawl at The Palace back in 2004?

Artest told the magazine the infamous brawl wasn't his fault and that he still doesn't "see anything I could have done different" to prevent the melee. He also told the Sporting News that he still likes to have fun.

"When I was a 19-year-old father, whew. I was a single pimp! I was wild. A lot of marijuana and alcohol.... I still party and I have fun, but not like I used to. I used to drink every night and party every night."

Ron Artest on Tiger Woods' accident

Ron Artest knows something about being the target of a media swarm. Five years ago Artest made his way into sports lore when he and some of his Indiana Pacers teammates got involved in a melee in the stands during a game against the Detroit Pistons.

 

Artest was suspended for 73 games without pay.

 

On Monday, after the Lakers practice, Artest was asked about the controversy surrounding Tiger Woods after his car accident in Florida last week.

 

"Everybody made a big deal out of it, but it's not a big deal because the only one perfect is God. Nobody's exempt from controversy and problems. Everybody's going to go through it some way or another," Artest said.

 

"[Woods] is just known. It was only a matter of time before something happens, good or bad, mediocre or not. It was only a matter of time before something just doesn't go his way. But he'll get over it."

 

-- Mike Bresnahan

 

Photo credit: Lakers forward Ron Artest guards the Knicks' Danilo Galinari in a game last week in Los Angeles. Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times.

Ron Artest shows up to 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' in his underwear

It's reassuring to know Ron Artest feels comfortable in Los Angeles.

On Monday night, Artest paid a visit to "Jimmy Kimmel Live" wearing only a fancy hairdo and his underwear. He blamed his compromised attire on "running late," but I'm sure it was just Artest's way of channeling his inner Dennis Rodman.

At least he didn't show up in a wedding dress and try to sing karaoke. Check out the video:

-- Austin Knoblauch

Bill Plaschke: Ron Artest is crazy, but a good kind of crazy

One of the well-researched, long-pondered reasons that I opposed the Lakers' signing of Ron Artest was because he is, well, crazy. But, OK, I must admit today, sometimes it can be a good crazy.

Did you check out his first promotional appearance as a Laker in San Diego on Monday? Artest was nuts, but it was the kind of nuts that maybe the Lakers need.

First, he was accountable nuts, immediately hoisting the season on his shoulder at the risk of self-vegetation.

“They won last year, and I’m the new addition,” he said. “The fans expect to repeat. Everybody in L.A. expects a second ring. And if we don’t, then, yeah, they should point right at me, throwing tomatoes and everything.”

Have you ever heard any Laker place such pressure on himself? Have you ever heard any NBA player doing that?

Second, he was Kobe nuts, wearing a Kobe Bryant jersey that wasn’t even a real jersey, but some black souvenir thing that turned him into a walking tribute.

 “It makes me more excited, gives me a better understanding of what jersey I’m actually wearing,” Artest said. “So today I decided to wear the black Kobe Bryant jersey because he is the ‘Black Mamba’ and I’m really happy to be part of this team.”

Giving Bryant public love is one thing Artest must do, and do often, for this potentially combustible combination to work.

I will write more on my new pal Ron Artest later today. But anything that can distract Lakers fans from the upcoming sacred union between Lamar Odom and One Of Those Kardashian Clowns is surely a good thing.

But what do you think? Leave a comment on if you think Artest is the kind of crazy the Lakers need or if he is going to disrupt a winning team.

-- Bill Plaschke

Photo: Ron Artest. Credit: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times

Wednesday's poll: Did the Lakers make the right move in signing Ron Artest?

It has been a few weeks since the Lakers added Ron Artest to the roster, during which Artest has been a hit at karaoke bars, and searched for dates on his Twitter account. (What did his wife think about that anyway?)

He also may be single-handedly keeping YouTube in business.

But while he may be entertaining, what will he bring to the Lakers. Another title? Or disgrace? Vote in today's poll, then leave a comment letting us know what you think.

-- Houston Mitchell