Tuesday, April 26th, 2011 at 4:30 pm  |  24 responses

Ron Artest: Winner of NBA’s 2010-11 Citizenship Award

Ron-Ron went from being one of the League’s most reviled players, to one of its true good guys (and a media darling.) It’s kind of incredible. From the OC Register: “Six and a half years since the infamous Pacers-Pistons brawl, Ron Artest has won the NBA’s longest-running citizenship and community-service award. Artest was announced Tuesday as the 2010-11 winner of the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award, presented annually by the Pro Basketball Writers Association to one NBA player, coach or trainer for outstanding service away from the game. I will present the trophy to Artest on behalf of the PBWA just before tip-off of Game 5 of the Hornets-Lakers playoff series Tuesday night at Staples Center. Artest has generated tremendous exposure for mental-health counseling in schools with his speaking engagements, even appearing in front of members of Congress in Washington in February. He raffled the 2010 NBA championship ring won in his first season with the Lakers, and the ‘Win My Bling’ contest wound up in December with lifelong Lakers fans Raymond Mikhael of Hawthorne getting Artest’s ring — and Artest’s Xcel University charity getting more than $650,000. ‘Ron has such a passion for the issue, and has demonstrated such leadership he was a perfect choice for such a prestigious award,’ said Doug Smith of the Toronto Star and president of the PBWA. ‘His work embodies the kind of dedication to important causes that NBA players have become known for.’”

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  • EC Posted: Apr.26 at 4:43 pm
    Artest has just the right amount of ‘crazy’ to still be him and pull this off

  • LakeShow Posted: Apr.26 at 4:48 pm
    Love this guy.

  • Telus Operator Posted: Apr.26 at 4:48 pm
    Because its not about the content of your character, its about your public image in the current media cycle. Giving a citizenship award to Ron Artest is like giving a Nobel Peace Prize to the President before he even takes office. Oh wait…

  • jumpman3224 Posted: Apr.26 at 4:53 pm
    Seriously big ups to Ron-Ron for turning things around and using his means and influence in such a postive and impactful way.

  • Tony Posted: Apr.26 at 5:17 pm
    It doesn’t matter what he’s done in his past,you always have to give some respect to anyone who contributes to their community. I’m an Artest hater, but give some props

  • Ron Artest: Winner of NBA’s 2010-11 Citizenship Award Posted: Apr.26 at 5:27 pm
    [...] SLAM Online [...]

  • The NUPE Posted: Apr.26 at 5:28 pm
    He deserved it for his contribution THIS year. I’m not a fan of his, but giving up your ring for a cause you believe in, multiple ‘free’ speaking engagements and congressional appearance – that’s pretty big stuff to bring awareness to a cause.

  • c_cantrell Posted: Apr.26 at 5:50 pm
    Artest has done great things this year. Looking back several years, i could never have seen him winning the NBA Citizenship Award. Kudos to him.

  • M Cho Posted: Apr.26 at 6:06 pm
    This is well deserved. I know some people will only look back on his past, but this year, Ron did a hell of a lot for charity and mental health awareness. I was part of an art show here in Toronto dedicated to Ron and when I had a chance to chat with him, I was completely floored by now gracious and cool he was. He showed up without an entourage, chatted with all the artists, signed any autographs asked and posed for pics with anyone who wanted one. Everyone was just struck by how humble and natural he was – not at all the crazy dude the media paints him to be. Congratulations, Ron.

  • M Cho Posted: Apr.26 at 6:16 pm
    also: @Telus Operator – I wouldn’t compare Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize to Ron receiving this award. Ron has actually done quite a bit this year and is deserving of recognition. It would be a cynical and small-minded world if wouldn’t accept the idea that a man can grown and change.

  • winitall Posted: Apr.26 at 6:54 pm
    well that good for ron he seem pretty eccentric but looks as if hes a pretty good guy and past only has meaning if it help you or continues and it obviously did not help him and is not continuing so so yeah why bring it up ohh i know why because your haters i might over use that word but its true.

  • burnt_chicken Posted: Apr.26 at 8:59 pm
    @telus operator: how are you able to judge the “content of [Artest's] character”? I’m curious as to how you arrived at such an opinion. Your metaphor also doesn’t work very well–Artest clearly put in the work to earn this award before it was given to him. Perhaps you should go back to gazing lovingly at your Ralph Klein poster.

  • Tarzan Cooper Posted: Apr.26 at 9:08 pm
    id like to thank my psychiatrist.

  • The Black Rick Kamla Posted: Apr.26 at 9:15 pm
    LETS GET IT RON RON!!!!!!!!!

  • Telus Operator Posted: Apr.26 at 9:39 pm
    Who’s Ralph Klein? – - – Anyway I judge Ron’s character by the things he does and the things he says, AND the motivation behind it. Character is who you are when you don’t care who’s watching. Ron’s album lyrics show his true character. Ron’s choice of opponents at basketball-fighting shows his real character. Ron’s choices in private show his real character.- – - The poor widow who donates her last cent is more generous than the rich guys who make a big show of giving just a drop out of their huge bucket. The big awards go to the big show-offs.

  • Telus Operator Posted: Apr.26 at 9:40 pm
    Also, your true character is shown by your ability to ignore the fight-or-flight reflex when you get excited.

  • slamfan4life Posted: Apr.26 at 11:15 pm
    ……now ive seen it all………….lol good job ron

  • MikeC. Posted: Apr.26 at 11:24 pm
    @Telus Operator – do you work for TELUS?

  • Holy Baller Posted: Apr.27 at 12:26 am
    I just don’t by it. I think it’s a league stunt. Seriously, these guys are REQUIRED to do so much community service and such. I bet 3/4 of his free appearances were required.

  • Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Apr.27 at 2:10 am
    @ Telus Operator: Ron’s album lyrics and choice of opponents?
    Okay, first of all–you actually bought his album?
    Second of all, I hope you’re equally as spiteful towards hockey players for fighting with each other and also occasionally beating up fans. It was a brawl… Things happen. Someone threw a beer at his face; please get over it.
    Third, you know just as much about Ron Artest personally as I do–and that’s very little. And your last point doesn’t make much sense because all NBA players are rich, so no matter who wins this *NBA-given* award, chances are, he’s probably rich.
    Also, charities don’t discriminate donations based on the donor–so Artest’s contributions to charity, whatever they may be, are probably a lot more than you think. Do you really think charities care about motive? (even though you don’t know his motive…) Support for charity is support for charity–there is no “but he didn’t mean it!”

  • The Seed Posted: Apr.27 at 9:06 am
    He deserves it.

  • Wayno Posted: Apr.27 at 12:06 pm
    I hope someone throws a cup of beer at him while he’s recieving the award…

  • rondo4mvp Posted: Apr.27 at 5:34 pm
    O I miss the good ol days when ron ron was considered a threat to society instead of an actual citizen come on people the urge of throwing a beer at him is still there

  • Joe Posted: May.5 at 1:39 pm
    What a thug! Hey just tried to take JJ’s head off. This guy belongs in a zoo, not on a court.

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