Ron Artest Considering Retirement After 2006-07 Season

In 2004, Ron Artest was lauded as one of the best overall players in the league. His stellar defensive play and powerful offensive moves made him a terrific player in all aspects of the game. He was on a team that had the best record in the NBA and had just won the Defensive Player of the Year award. Then the Indiana Pacers lost to the eventual national champions in their main rivals the Detroit Pistons. And then Ron Artest, seemingly, went insane.

First there was the reports that Artest asked for time off to pursue a music career. As ludicrous it seemed that a professional ball player would ask an owner paying him millions to play a game for time off, the best was yet to come. In an infamous scene at the Palace of Auburn Hills, Ron Artest vigorously defended his honor by pursuing a drunk fan who made the mistake of throwing a cup at him. The rest is history.

An unprecedented season ban kept Ron Artest sidelined for the rest of the 2004-2005 season. When he came back, he asked for a trade almost immediately and was indefinitely benched until the team too fifty cents to his dollar and gave him to Sacramento. Apparently forgetting that he single-handedly destroyed a championship contender already, the Kings fans took him in and lavished him in cheers and praise. And Artest responded. Ron led the team to the playoffs and helped them push the Spurs to a tough first-round series despite holding an eighth seed.

But once again, Ron Artest refused to accept success. This season the Kings have suffered from inconsistent play and leadership, both on and off the court, from the once star of the NBA. Artest has already once mentioned he wouldn't mind being traded again. No longer considered an All-Star player, Artest has driven his career to the point where he is telling teammates he will retire to spend more time with his family.

Retire? What makes this person think he can just retire? Retirement is a privilege for those who have worked hard for a number of years. After all he has done, the Kings should take the first step and fire Ron Artest. Just go up to him and say, "You don't want to be a King? Fine. Find a different team or stay at home, we don't care anymore."

Retire. How laughable. I bet David Stern is real broken up about this news. I bet the Indiana Pacers and Larry Bird are on the phone now trying to convince Ron Artest to not waste his talent.

Go ahead and retire Ron Artest. The league will be better for it.