Le Basketbawl

Can a leopard change their spots? Can an old dog learn new tricks? Or is what an old friend of New York Vinnie’s correct with his philosophy of “Once A Douche Always A Douche“? As The NBA preseason starts to wrap up and the regular season opens early next week the reports out of the Los Angeles Lakers training camp have been nothing but positive about their new forward Ron Artest. “Tru-Warrior” signed as a Free Agent with the Lakers this past summer and so far everything seems to be running smoothly. The question though is how long will we see the new “mellow version” of Ron Artest?

New York Vinnie has told you repeatedly that there is no question about what Artest can do on the floor. The question that comes into play is his mind-set; his attitude. Artest can go from incredibly charming to a Frickin Pud in not time at all. And there does not always seem to be a rhyme or a reason behind it.

“Tru-Warrior” spoke with the Boston Globe recently and blamed his problems the last couple of seasons on himself. However he did say there was a qualifier behind that admission. The NBA veteran said “Playing for a team that has chances to win again is really encouraging. The last couple of years I was a very bad teammate. It was all me. It had nothing to do with the teams I played on. I just had a big ego and had to control it and now I’m able to control it. I still have an ego, but now I kind of have fun with it. That’s the difference now.”

Okay New York Vinnie will give Artest his propers for what he said. It takes some pretty big stones to admit you were a lousy teammate! To admit that you have played selfishly; and that it has been all about you. New York Vinnie also understands; although I disagree that playing on a losing team can effect your attitude. Yo Ron, there is such a thing as pride and Frickin self respect. New York Vinnie has never allowed others to bring me down. To New York Vinnie that is nothing but a Frickin excuse; but other players have been the same way over the years.

The Sacramento Kings are a Crapolla team; but that is not where “Tru-Warrior” played last season. Artest forced the Kings to trade him to the Houston Rockets a team that made it to the Western Conference Semi-Finals. So Ron your Frickin excuse does not work for last season. Why were you a bad teammate then? Why did you go out of your way to Frickin rip the Rockets after you signed with the Lakers?

Artest told the paper that his new philosophy this season will keep the Frickin demons from his door. The forward said “I was talking to my sports psychologist and I was trying to figure out a way to stay together, not put a lot of pressure on myself. When I got here, I thought it was going to be on me. Before I met everybody, I felt I really had to do it. Now that I have been around the organization and team, I realize that we’re going to do this together. Always have fun but stay hungry. Find that balance.”

Okay Ron you are saying that when you first signed with the reigning NBA Champions the Los Angeles Lakers that you thought the most pressure would be on you? Maybe you have heard of your teammate Kobe Bryant who won the NBA MVP two seasons ago and has won four NBA Titles without you? How about all the guys that remain from that team that want to win back to back titles? Do you think maybe anyof these guys have a more legitimate reason to “feel pressure” than you do?

See Ron; the way New York Vinnie perceives things it is all still all about YOU this season. As it has been since you came into the NBA.  New York Vinnie knows you are going to explode My Man; the only questions are when and how hard?