Ron Artest - the guy is no monster.

Witness for the Defense: Re: Ron Artest.

I feel I'm well enough acquainted with Ron Artest to make some comments.

These incidents on the basketball court when Ron over-reacts, mistakes all, are taken to heart by him, deeply. Seldom do you see a kid so readily acknowledge that he's got a problem and be so eager to improve. I'm not a Ron apologist - he does some goofy things, but there are few in Indianapolis who don't know how hard this guy is trying to do the right thing. Sure, he's not a rocket scientist that can simultaneously calculate in a nanosecond the cause and effect of ten courses of instinctive action, and then choose the appropriate response, but he's honest and without guile.

This morning, NBC corralled him at a radio station publicity promo for his label (planned long ago) and then proceeded to let their next guest call him an oaf for promoting his R & B album on the air. Hmmmm. THEY came in a ratings grab to HIS long planned, contractual publicity event. Could it be the media failed to contextualize its cherry-picked sound bites?? Gee, like THAT's ever happened before…

So, I guess the word is out now about THE FAN - 3 drunk driving arrests, arrest for carrying concealed and one arrest for assault and battery.