OT: Ron Artest Pulls A Cheap Shot, Gets Ejected
Ron Artest just took a cheap shot at James Harden, throwing a hard elbow to Harden's head, and was ejected. This play was probably one of the dirtier plays that I've seen happen for a while. I'm guessing that Artest is gone for at least 5 games, if not more. There's no place in any sport for that type of move, just a terrible decision by Artest. Harden is fine though, and he'll still be able to play.
UPDATE: Looks like Harden is out with concussion symptoms now. Artest is an idiot.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=so3TR0bcx9k
Jump to 1:06 if you just want to see it slowed down.
Update #2: GIF
The only elbow to the head I've seen recently (more correctly, the only one approaching the severity of MWP's hit) was Hagelin on Alfredsson, and he was given a pretty decent suspension considering he has no prior disciplinary history.
Don't hockey players remove their helmets and gloves to intentionally deal blows to heads? Isn't that something that happens every game? And it's not like it's in the run of play.
Well, the big difference being what is expected and what isn't. If I square up with a guy and hit him in the face, that's not nearly as bad as hitting someone not expecting it.
Also, the way MWP swung his elbow and connected behind the ear is much more dangerous than a fist to the chin.
April 22nd, 2012 at 10:02 PM ^
I only caught about half of what you're writing, due to the extensive grammar and formatting errors, but I do take exception to the insinuation that racism is the root cause for calling MWP a thug.
Are there thugs in hockey? Yes. Basketball? Yes. Football? Yes. Baseball? Probably. Simply fighting in hockey is not necessarely thuggish behavior; for better or worse, it is tolerated within the structures of the NHL rulebook. Thuggish behavior in hockey is exemplified by actions of people like Marty McSorely, Todd Bertuzzi, or Chris Simon. Guess what; those three guys are white, and their actions were thuggish. MWP is black, and his actions were thuggish. There isn't a limit to thuggish behavior in sports, or a race quota.
April 22nd, 2012 at 10:25 PM ^
If Artest is a "thug", then you would agree that Kevin Mchale....Bill Lambeer were also thugs. Or are they excused from the "thug" label for some mystic reason. I'm sick of this hockey fights are part of the game crap. Where in the rules is that annotated? It isn't anywhere in the rule book. Scraps used to be part of the NBA and now all of a sudden its blasphemy to get into someone's chest.....ridiculous. Stop being sheep people....society has sold you that aggression between black NBA players is "thuggery".....in hockey or baseball its just good clean hard-nosed competition. Give me a damn break. Was MWP wrong.....yes. A thug he is not...even though his skin pigmentation...place of birth and affinity for rap music places him squarely in the crosshairs of that coward stereotype.
April 22nd, 2012 at 10:33 PM ^
The fact that you read my post and replied by saying this
Stop being sheep people....society has sold you that aggression between black NBA players is "thuggery".....in hockey or baseball its just good clean hard-nosed competition.
has precluded me from actually writing a reply discussing the NHL allowing fighting to remain in the game (which is a decent topic to discuss, by the way), because you obviously do not read comments before replying. I'd like to see you point to the wording in my post that makes your reply relevent at all to my comment.
April 23rd, 2012 at 12:00 AM ^
You don't see my grammar/syntax being that bad, do you?
April 23rd, 2012 at 11:44 AM ^
Among various other things. And he was so white you had to wear sunglasses around him. And yet with all the things thrown at him, yelled at him and done to him, he never ran into the stands to slug anyone. And never just gave a forearm shiv to someone as he was running down the court. Laimbeer was borderline dirty. But no one's coming down on Artest for chippy play...they're coming down on him for stuff way outside the game of basketball. There are just as many black players who are borderline dirty in NBA history and they don't (or didn't) get the same grief as as Artest does. Because they manage to limit it to the game. (Notice you haven't thrown Mahorn in there with Laimbeer or McHale, since he completely undercuts your argument).
April 22nd, 2012 at 10:37 PM ^
that was born and raised in the ghetto and although I agree with the premise of your argument, Ron Artest is a bad example. Ron Artest is a THUG! No I do not know him, but I was raised around cats like him and I have a few in my family actually. He is a classic example of a person that was saved by his talent. Trust me, if he didn't have NBA talent he would more than likely be dead or in jail and he has all but admitted to that point.
Why does everybody act like they're afraid of that prick? It's not like he's Shaq's size or something. I would have loved to see what Laimbeer, Mahorn, or Chuck would do to his punk ass.
After seeing the clip, I am pretty sure that "World Peace" should be facing the International Court in The Hauge....or David Stern in New York, whichever you prefer. That is inexcusable - I am pretty sure James Harden just didn't "get in the way", if you will.
My head hurts just watching this clip
April 22nd, 2012 at 10:09 PM ^
What is the point of 5-10 games? That level of punishment is obviously not discouraging him. It's not like this is his first offense.
April 23rd, 2012 at 12:21 AM ^
Apparently most people here have been waiting for Ron Artest to mess up again, there mind was made up long before this last incident.
April 23rd, 2012 at 10:08 AM ^
*their
Classless, simply classless
April 22nd, 2012 at 10:32 PM ^
and I like MWP, but this was just horrible and stupid.
I did not get a chance to see any highlights or aything of the game though. What preceeded this that would make MWP upset?
April 23rd, 2012 at 12:24 AM ^
If Artest had squared off with Harden the outcome wouldn't bother me much. To blast him in the side of the head the way he did is over the top and inexcusable.
April 23rd, 2012 at 12:34 AM ^
is as misnamed as World Peace.
April 23rd, 2012 at 12:50 AM ^
i love Ron Artest.
What are you advocating here? This situation warrants considerable punishment no matter how you look at it. The penalty shouldn't be as stern (pun) as for him going into the crowd, but depending on the severity of Harden's injury, it should be significant. He is a repeat offender who clearly is unable to realize the consequences of his actions in real time and poses a threat to other players. The league has changed and all sports are trying to minimize unnecessary violence (at least ostensibly) particularly with all the attention being paid to neurological trauma. Fortunately MWP is at the point where he is increasingly unlikely to get contract offers in the future because of the risks he poses, and the league will be better off without him. Hopefully he will receive high quality psychiatric care in retirement from basketball.
April 23rd, 2012 at 11:57 AM ^
But he sure has hell knew he was there. If you're going to throw hard elbows at head height, you probably should know what a likely consequence is. There's no claim that can be legitimately be made otherwise. Also, don't showboat like a jackass all over the court.
2. His track record shows a player with severe self-control issues. If that's not "dirty", so be it; it may be a bigger problem
3. The Bad Boys limited things to in play on the court. And boy, did they pay for it too. They sent a plaque to the NBA office saying it was paid for by fines to the Detroit Pistons.
4. The problem with society is attitudes just like yours...that after showboating, instigating, and taking cheap shots the reasonable reaction to getting hit with by a beer (it wasn't in the face, but whatever) is going to hit whoever you can get your hands on so you're not seen as a "bitch" is completely logical...when you're 12. It'd be better if you respected reason and intelligence rather than testosterone. And not giving up millions of dollars to prove how much of a "man" you are. He's not a warrior. He's playing basketball. I think you'd know the difference.
but when I do, I elbow another guy in the face!
He didn't seem so tough when it was go time with Big Ben. The forgotten part of the Malice at the Palace is how clearly uncomfortable and scared Artest was in front of Wallace, only to get his courage up when it was time to fight hapless bystanders. He is a mentally challenged coward, at best.
April 23rd, 2012 at 11:24 AM ^
After seeing the elbow, Shanahan gave Artest 25 games for being a "repeat offender"
Not putting any blame on Harden at all, he did absolutely nothing wrong or even out of the ordinary.
That said, I really don't think Artest hit him on purpose. His celebration was not an uncommon one, it's just really unfortunate that he ended up making contact (hitting) Harden. I agree with the flagrant-2 but I really don't think he should be suspended for too many games. (Maybe two game suspension?) I don't think he ever meant to hit harden, i think he was just recklessly celebrating and I think we should take it easy on calling MWP a monster or a disgrace or whatever. Clearly he has anger management, and control issues; he's getting help for it and he's doing the best he can.
He did something stupid and reckless, and I feel bad for Harden of course. But I really don't think it was intentional. MWP knows he has everyone's eye on him , (for good reason), and I just can't imagine him being so angry that he had to hit someone after what was a great play for him.
This was an accident; a serious accident but we shouldn't be judging MWP the way some people have been judging him.