Why I'll Always Love Ron Artest

In a lengthy interview for the December 7 issue of Sporting News magazine, Artest—best known as the central figure in the infamous Malice at the Palace in 2004—bared all, including a startling admission that he drank alcohol during games as a member of the Chicago Bulls, for whom he played from 1999-2002. "I used to drink Hennessy … at halftime," Artest says in the interview, which hits newsstands this week. "I (kept it) in my locker. I'd just walk to the liquor store (near the stadium) and get it." Artest speaks openly in the interview on many other sensitive topics. Ron Artest admitted that he was a 'head case' when he broke into the NBA with the Bulls. On his life as a St. John's star and a first-round draft pick, Artest says: "When I was a 19-year-old father, whew. I was a single pimp! I was wild. A lot of marijuana and alcohol—even before (that age). … I (still) party and I have fun, but not like I used to. I used to drink every night.

I know he's a Laker now and I'm supposed to have this new hatred towards him but I can't. He was one of my favorite players growing up and you don't just turn on first loves like that. This solidifies why I've always liked him. He's just so open with everything. Artest doesn't give a fuck and that's a trait that is quickly going out of style with today's youth. Back in my day, if the field hockey team pissed you off by getting top priority, you got your team together and you went and ripped apart that field that was blessed by the pussy juices of the athletic director and walked away with your heads held high. And just like Ron-Ron, you'd drink before that homecoming game and then you would have to skip the dance that night because those stupid fucking breathalyzers would pick up on how awesome you were 5 hours before. The last quote of the interview is my favorite though. "When I was a 19-year-old father, whew. I was a single pimp! I was wild. A lot of marijuana and alcohol—even before (that age). … I (still) party and I have fun, but not like I used to. I used to drink every night. Hilarious. I'm not gonna comment on that any further for obvious reasons but you know exactly where I want to take this. The parallels in our lives are alarming.