The Billiken's Bluff

I was looking through the Billiken posts and noticed there is a conspicous absence of sporting news on this blog. This would come as a real shock if you saw just how much Sportscenter I watch. I guess I haven't really had much to get heated about. The Knicks haven't even been worth talking about. Any team that gives DerMarr Johnson and Vin Baker significant playing time is a joke. Despite their best efforts, the Knicks limped their way into the playoffs. I never thought I would yearn for the good ol' days when Allan Houston was firing up jumpshots, but Knicks have no shot of beating the Nets in the 1st round without him. But enough about underachieving New York athletes, let's talk about a someone from the neighborhood who made good... Ron Artest.

If the Knicks had any feel for talent or business savvy, Ron Artest, NBA All-Star and Defensive Player of the Year, would be a Knick today. Scott Layden, quite possibly the most inept GM in the history of professional sports, decided to draft 7'2'' Frenchman Fredric Weis. Weis never even made it across the Atlantic, and has the dubious distinction of being the stoog that allowed Vince Carter to jump over his head for a dunk.



Artest was a proven hometown player. He took St. johns to the Elite 8 in the NCAA tournament, he was born in raised in Queensbridge (Ooochiewally,). But, there's no use crying over spilt milk.



Artest has turned into a terrific player, averaging 18 points 5 rebounds and 2.5 steals a game. Big Ron has always had a temper problem. He had a few run ins last year with some officials and television monitors. But this year he has toned it down.

On the same day that he was named Defensive Player of the Year, he was also suspended for Game 2 of Indiana's 1st round playoff series against Boston. Jermaine O'Neal got into a shoving match with a Boston player, and Artest leaped off the bench to get his teamate out of trouble. He ran all of 5 steps off the bench before realizing that it was against NBA rules to leave the bench during a skirmish.

This is the same rule that caused 2/3 of the Knicks' team team to be suspended for a playoff game against teh Heat a few years back. It's ridiculous. David Stern and Stu Jackson need to look at the spirit of the rule on this one. It's meant to punish those who leave the bench to participate in a fight. Only problem is; 1. Artest wasn't in the fight, and 2. there was no fight.

It's clear Stern is punishing Artest for being such a thug last year. He could have let this one slide. On the same day, Saturday, the Net's choir boy Richard Jefferson left his seat when Jason Kidd and Frank Williams exchanged shoves. Stern must fallen asleep during that game (which is understandable because the Nets were playing the Knicks!)