Yao Ming has gone and kick-started an old-fashioned, Far-Eastern Rap Feud. Speaking with the Houston Chronicle regarding his team’s acquisition of forward Ron Artest, Yao admitted some fears to how his new teammate might fit in.
“Hopefully he’s not fighting anymore and going after a guy in the stands.” Yao, everybody hopes that, except maybe Pacers fans, but major props for using the home town press to call out your team’s (new) biggest lunatic. Whatever, I’m sure Shane Battier is going to have your back when things get nasty.
But not so fast, said Mr. Artest. Yao isn’t worried, he’s just ignorant! According to Artest it’s a black-people thing.
“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.”
The obvious damage to race relations aside, what exactly does that statement mean? What’s Yao supposed to find out? Who is Ron Artest?
“If you go back tot he brawl, that’s a culture issue right there.” Artest said, “somebody was disrespecting me, so he’s got to understand where I’m coming from. People that know me know that Ron Artest never charged.”
So first off, I believe Ron’s coming from about the 3rd row. More importantly, doesn’t that basically confirm everything Yao is afraid of?
To summarize:
1 - There is no reason for Yao to worry. Ron isn’t going to cause another incident.
2 - Yao is worried because he doesn’t understand Ron’s culture.
3 - If anybody disrespects Ron, he’ll fucking kill them.
Don Imus could not be reached for comment.
I love this story. Ron Artest “Tru Warrior” is just way too funny a character to be on a shitty team. Even as a Kings fan, I am glad he is gone so he can run his mouth in the spotlight. I can’t get enough of Artest calling himself ghetto. Doesn’t he know that people don’t want to be ghetto? That carries along the idea that you are poor too. Artest isn’t poor. 2012 - Celebrity Boxing - Artest v. Yao. What a fight. Stick and move Yao!
I once physically ran into Ron Artest when he played for the Pacers coming around a corner near their locker room and about fell on my ass. That’s a large man.
As for the Rockets as a team. If Tru Warrior acts right, D’s up, and shuts up, and all injuries from TMac and Yao aside, the Rockets are legit contenders.
This smells like one of those weird deals that ends up working out perfectly in the long run. As crazy as Artest is, he’s going to give them another legit scorer (big time need) and contribute heavily to what was one of the league’s top 5 defenses already.
They’ll never win b/c Yao and T-Mac will break down, but they’ll whoop anybody on their given night.
I just hope that Artest decides to help his teammate and show Yao Ming what “real ghetto” is.
Update: Artest is now downplaying the incident, describing himself as “a Yao Ming Soldier” on a local Sacramento radio show.
I would like to be a Yao Ming Soldier.
Artest was also on PTI today… very hard to listen to…
That PTI interview deserves a spot in the television Hall of Fame. My favorite part was where he tried to justify his role in the Palace Brawl by saying “That’s why we all have different DNA.”