Embarrassing.

No other word is more applicable to describe the comments by Ron Artest in response to new teammate Yao Ming’s wishes that Artest refrain from entering into any pugilistic activities with fans as a member of the Houston Rockets. While Ming could have found a better foot to get off on with his new colleague, what Artest countered with is both disrespectful to his associates with the Rockets and his cultural peers.

“I understand what Yao said, but I’m still ghetto,” Artest said, according to the report. “That’s not going to change. I’m never going to change my culture. Yao has played with a lot of black players, but I don’t think he’s ever played with a black player that really represents his culture as much as I represent my culture. Once Yao Ming gets to know me, he’ll understand what I’m about.

“If you go back to the brawl, that’s a culture issue right there,” Artest added. “Somebody was disrespecting me, so he’s got to understand where I’m coming from. People that know me know that Ron Artest never changed.” [LINK]

Sadly, these comments will not come as a surprise to even less-than-casual NBA followers.

Artest has constantly been a problem wherever he suits up. No one can argue the fact that he is a highly talented basketball player. However, it can be argued that he may be more interested in his “image” and status as a rap “artist” than the game he is very well compensated to play.

My youth was spent in the rural tomato farming countryside of Grainger County and the middle class suburbs of Fountain City, Tennessee.

I do not expect Artest to understand fully my background or experiences garnered from that background, nor do I expect to understand fully the background or his experiences garnered from that background. However, I do expect Artest to take advantage of his leadership role as a professional athlete to tear down racial stereotypes rather than play into them.

As teachers, politicians, businessmen, athletes, professionals, etc., we are all examples of behavior to our peers. Artest is merely on a larger stage than many and has a unique opportunity to be a positive role model to many youth who are raised in the urban areas that tend to have above average crime and poverty rates.

Unlike some other prominent black Americans such as Bill Cosby and Congressman J.C. Watts, just to name two, Artest continues to squander his opportunity to spread a message regarding how to overcome challenges these youth face during their day-to-day lives.

Rather than self-absolve his inexcusable behavior in the melee at Auburn Hills, by labeling himself as “ghetto”, maybe he should take reponsibility for his action and urge those who look up to him to not make the same mistakes he has.

Imagine if a prominent white athlete, or public figure, excused some form violent behavior by saying he is a redneck or white trash awnd will always be that way. It would be a headline story for weeks. For some reason, unbeknownst to me, people from poor white backgrounds are expected to conform socially and become “well-rounded” individuals (think Barack Obama wanting every American child to learn two languages-think he was talking about the kids from Harlem?), while minorities from the inner cities are allowed a free pass on destructive behavior due to culture differences.

I guess I should simply accept Artest’s statement as the world I am surrounded by, but I won’t. Ron Artest should be embarrassed of the comments he made and contact the leaders of the black community to issue a public apology. End of story.

Heisman

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