Gotta be the shoes: Phil Jackson blames Peak for Artest's slump
Tuesday, 26th January 2010 ~ Maggie ~ Link ~ Comments (0)
The question has crossed my mind more than once after watching a commercial featuring an NBA player pitching Chinese-made basketball shoes: How often does he really wear them? Are they hurting his performance?Now Phil Jackson is asking that question, too. Well, he's not asking it so much as answering it. Jackson recently spoke to the LA Times about Ron Artest, who wears Peak brand basketball shoes, and suggested that Peak may be to blame for the small forward's recent aches and pains:
"I've called his shoes concrete boots for about the last month," Jackson said. "Those shoes look like they are made for the Hudson River. But he stays with them and he gets his feet worked on. But he does not move really quickly. He looks like he's clogging around out there."
Shane Battier (Houston Rockets) and Jason Kidd (Dallas Mavericks) also wear Peak. Here's a commercial they did together and one featuring Battier alone. I've never tried Peaks, but my personal experience with another Chinese basketball shoe had me running back to Nike with aching knees.
Tags: Jason Kidd, NBA, Peak, Ron Artest, Shane Battier, sports marketing
Yao's comments on Artest, and China's basketball fights
Friday, 1st August 2008 ~ Maggie ~ Link ~ Comments (1)
Ron Artest
The Houston Chronicle reported earlier this week that the Rockets were going to acquire forward Ron Artest from the Sacramento Kings, bringing a much-needed scoring threat and a strong defensive presence to help Yao and Tracy McGrady.
Yao should have a simple response to a trade for a proven veteran who would give the Rockets one of the NBA's best trios and a shot at an NBA title: "Good move. I can't wait to play with him." Leave the speculating about Artest's past to the media.
But when Yao got word of the trade in Nanjing, where he is getting warmed up for the Olympics with the Chinese national team, he didn't sound too excited. Artest has been involved in some controversial situations, most famously a brawl four years ago at the Palace of Auburn Hills in a game against the Detroit Pistons, which resulted in Artest getting the longest ever NBA suspension for an in-game fight.
Apparently the fighting has Yao concerned. Here are his widely reported comments from Wednesday:
"There's worry. Obviously, yes. We will think about it, of course. Hopefully, he's not fighting anymore and going after a guy in the stands. I haven't talked to Ron yet, so it's hard to say. I have to find a way to talk to him and see what we can do as a basketball team. He has a history. But we know he is a physical player. He is a good player. He really can help us. And Ron is on a contract year, too. I think Ron Artest is a good player if coach (Rick) Adelman can control the team well."
The Rockets are Yao's team, but on this one he probably should have followed the lead of teammate Luis Scola, who is also in Nanjing playing with Argentina's national team and had a more positive reaction. "I don't know anybody that knows him personally. So I'm not gonna judge him for anything that I don't know," Scola said. "It's always a help. Great players are always welcome."
It should be noted that the guys Yao is playing with right now—the Chinese national team—have also been known to throw some blows when things get heated on the court. The team was involved in a fray in a game against Lebanon at the 2001 Asian Championships in which Li Nan, who is still playing with the national team, reportedly brandished a pair of scissors. Yao was on the bench at the time and not involved in the fight. More recently, and documented with video evidence, China had a good dust-up with Puerto Rico in the 2005 Stankovic Cup (56.com video).
Artest and Yao finally spoke yesterday, Artest said on ESPN's Pardon the Interruption. "It was great," Artest said of the conversation, adding, "I can't wait to be a part of that team. I don't care if I have to come off the bench. I could be a sixth man, a seventh man. All I want to do is contribute and win a lot of games." Listen to the interview here.
Image: NBA.com
Tags: basketball, Houston Rockets, Li Nan, NBA, Ron Artest, Yao Ming
Rocket Ron: Artest to join Yao in Houston
Wednesday, 30th July 2008 ~ Maggie ~ Link ~ Comments (0)
A nine-year veteran of the league, Artest joins recently acquired guard Brent Barry as a new Rocket, bringing more talent and experience to help Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady. The Kings reportedly get guard Bobby Jackson, rookie forward Donte Green, a draft pick next year and $1 million cash.
Tags: basketball, Brent Barry, Houston Rockets, NBA, Ron Artest, Tracy McGrady, Yao Ming