Ron Artest's comments that he drank cognac at halftime of Bulls games were met with widespread skepticism by several people who were inside those locker rooms.
Two former teammates, one coach and one front-office employee, all speaking on the condition of anonymity, chalked up the claim to Artest trying to go for shock value.
"That's just Ron being Ron," one former teammate told the Tribune.
In an interview with Sporting News Magazine, Artest claimed he drank to blunt the pain of the heavy losing those Bulls teams endured. The Bulls drafted Artest in the first round of the 1999 NBA draft and he played with them until a February, 2002 trade to Indiana.
"I used to drink Hennessy . . . at halftime," Artest said in the magazine. "I (kept it) in my locker. I'd just walk to the liquor store (near the stadium) and get it."
Photo: Ron Artest says he used to drink during halftime when he played for the Bulls. (Andrew Gombert/EPA)
A league spokesman said the NBA had no comment and hopes Artest has a successful season.
In the same interview, Artest claims veteran official Joey Crawford verbally displayed bias for the Lakers against Artest's Houston Rockets during their Western Conference semifinal series last season.
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I love this article.
Hoiberg!? LOL.
Who cares people. He is probably blowing smoke for one and two WHO CARES. There is always at least one person who says "they should think about what they say; what about the kids. They are role models whether they like it or not". How about raising your own kids? These guys and anyone like them (actors, all other sports players, politicians - kidding here -, etc.) ARE NOT ROLE MODELS. Quit putting them up on a pedestal. I don't recall growing up and my mom telling me I should be like Jim McMahon or Ryne Sandburg. I'm sure she would have been happy had I had their talent, but seriously. Think about how dumb that is. Turn off the TV if you don't want them to learn bad behavior from the "role models".
I think idiots like Antanicka should learn how to spell before they worry about kids learning from Ron Artest, the role model. Seriously, what kind of role model are you if you cant read and write????
yeah...guys like fred hoiberg, brad miller, elton brand, ron mercer, and dalibor bagaric were doing tons of blow back in the day.
I think that this is a sad case for a celebrity, whether or not he realizes thier are kids that look up to him . By Ron being a famous basketball player aspiring young men will look at him and say oh will its okay to play ball and be drunk at the same time. I think that these celebritys need to lead by example and recongnize that they have people looking up to them so lead by example or get out the spot light.