...... A day after the Rockets and Sacramento Kings agreed in principle to a deal sending Artest to Houston for Bobby Jackson, Donte Greene and a first-round draft pick, Yao expressed concerns about team chemistry to the Houston Chronicle and referenced Artest's involvement in the 2004 brawl with Pistons fans.
"Hopefully, he's not fighting anymore and going after a guy in the stands," Yao said, according to the Chronicle.
When asked about those comments, Artest said Yao had bought into "all the propaganda" about him, according to The Sacramento Bee.
"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, according to the report. "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."The agreed-to deal sending Artest to Houston cannot become official until Aug. 14. And Artest, who has one year remaining on his contract, also said he was looking for a long-term deal from the Rockets, according to the report.Now let me first say that Yao was flat out wrong for his remark. He should have given the non qualifying remark, 'it'll be great to have Artest on our team as he brings an edge that we haven't had in the past along with 20+ points per game'. That would have been lovely. Then this is a non issue. But then Ron Ron hears that and goes all,......hood on us and says what he says. Why can't this dude see that he needs to hire a publicist for EVERY occasion, even when he calls his mom. Even if Yao said what he did, just say that 'hey, when Yao and I get a chance to sit down and talk, he'll understand me better'. All of the rest of the ignant stuff that came out of his mouth was uncalled for. Is there EVER a reason that you'd want to proclaim 'I'm still ghetto'? Then to go on and say that Ron represents black culture. He doesn't represent mine, he represents a whole different thing. Just say 'I'm from the QB and if you don't know about that, you don't really know me' or something to that effect. So by putting this ignant stuff in the papers,......I have to do it,......there's no other choice,........I Denounce Ron Artest.
