Updated: Ron Artest honored for winning 2010-11 J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award
For his efforts raising awareness and funds for mental-health issues, Lakers forward Ron Artest was named Tuesday as the winner of the 2010-11 J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award.
"I'm not going to tell you there it's up there with the NBA championship, but it's definitely over the Defensive Player of the year award that I got," said Artest, who won that honor for the 2003-04 season. It's important because there are kids here in America who aren't doing well. I want to see those kids have an opportunity to succeed, whether they're on drugs, are abused or have a lack of confidence, bullied, cyber bullied or have family issues. I'm trying to help out and bring awareness."
The award honors an NBA player or coach who has displayed "outstanding service and dedication to the community" and is determined by the PBWA, a panel of 150 writers who cover the NBA for newspapers, magazines or the Internet on a regular basis. Artest, who's made leaps in overcoming his soured reputation for his involvement in the 2004 "Malice at the Palace" incident, became the first Laker since Magic Johnson in 1992 to win the award, which has been handed out annually since the 1974-75 NBA season and is named after the NBA's commissioner from 1963 to 1975.
Artest took many steps this season in mental-health advocacy, an initiative Lakers Coach Phil Jackson praised him for "going out to visit schools and kids and registers the importance of using counseling during troubled times for kids in their developmental years." He raffled off his 2010 NBA championship ring for more than $650,000 toward the cause, appeared in a public-service announcement with the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health and appeared before Congress in support of the Mental Health in Schools Act.
"It's just giving people the opportunity to have opportunity," said Artest, who plans to follow through on unspecified initiatives once the NBA playoffs end. "If they're not mentally stable, you never know where people will end up. You never know what potential they may have had or goals that could've been reached."
-- Mark Medina
E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com
Photo: Ron Artest. Credit: Harry How / Getty Images
Congrats Ron!
Posted by: D(erek)J(eter) | April 26, 2011 at 11:40 AM
So we are churning out new threads at the speed of light, and at the same time the posts that are being moderated are taking ages to show up; great job MM, at this rate we will have about 5 active bloggers left by season's end.
Posted by: Practice Season Police | April 26, 2011 at 11:52 AM
Congrats Ron! You deserve it more than anyone in the NBA. NOW go out and have a career high tonight!
Posted by: ChicNstu | April 26, 2011 at 11:57 AM
*******************Shallow Thoughts by Troll Man*********************
1. When the Pau Gasol trade first went down most experts said it was the ultimate steal of a deal. Well 3 years later the Grizzlies are on the brink of winning their first playoffs series against the #1 seed. No so lopsided a trade was it?.
2. Pau Gasol never won a playoff game with Memphis.
3. The Lamar Anthem will be posted shortly. Some things never change.
4. Sonny B. banned? Wow!! An icon for many years and just like that GONE? MM should ban his distasteful posts but show some respect for him.
5. The Laker coaching staff needs to be held accountable for such poor strategy.
6. A loss tonight will send this blog into mass hysteria.
7. Aaron Gray is what, 8 feet tall?
Posted by: Troll Man | April 26, 2011 at 12:13 PM
JUST WONDERFUL
MODERATION ON THE BIGGEST GAME DAY OF THE YEAR
BAN MM
Posted by: Troll Man | April 26, 2011 at 12:16 PM
Moderation freakin blows..
And MM if ur gonna ban a poster so be it.. But it'd be nice if you can back it up with specific comments that poster made when to whom with these are my reasons for the ban.... rather than one morning just almost impusively declaring "ok I'm sick of this ur now banned".
Whatever life will go on.. GO LAKERS!
Posted by: yellofever | April 26, 2011 at 12:17 PM
From a no good thug who goes into the stands to attack fans, to Mr Citizen of the year. Give me a break!!! How much did he $hell out for that lousy award? Who's next, that "Caracter"who beat a pregnant waitress? The NBA is joke!!!
Posted by: Rick Noir | April 26, 2011 at 12:24 PM
Carl Landry is not a scrub, he is the most talented undersized center in the NBA.
Posted by: Frank in midtown
He may not be a scrub but the most talented part is not true by any stretch of anyones imagination including walt disneys himself.... He's at best questionable nba starter material who was run out of sac behind demarcus and even jason thompson and got run out of houston behind chuck hayes and luis scoh-lah.
Posted by: yellofever | April 26, 2011 at 12:31 PM
And let's not forget landrys "supposed" to be david west backup! So yes pau gettin punked by this guy is embarrassing!
Posted by: yellofever | April 26, 2011 at 12:34 PM
Posted by: Rick Noir | April 26, 2011 at 12:24 PM
Wow!! too much pent up anger!! Feel better!!
Posted by: Shivalingam | April 26, 2011 at 12:37 PM
Expanded version of the Lamar Anthem
verses 3 & 4 compliments of chikNstu
sung to the tune of "If I Only Had a Brain" from the movie The Wizard of Oz
I COULD BE A BETTER BALLER
IF MY HEAD WAS ONLY SMALLER
IT JUST GETS IN THE WAY
dodo dodo dodo
I WOULD FLY THROUGH THE AIR WITH EASE
AND DUNK IT WITH AUTHORITY
IF I ONLY HAD A BRAIN
I COULD REALLY GET MORE REBOUNDS
IF I DIDNT SMOKE THE 3 POUNDS
I BOUGHT THE OTHER DAY
dodo dodo dodo
I WOULD PLAY REALLY FANTASTIC
NOT A DAY WOULD I BE SPASTIC
IF I ONLY HAD A BRAIN
I COULD BE A BETTER SHOOTER
BUT I'D RATHER BE AT HOOTERS
DRINKING BEFORE A GAME
dodo dodo dodo
I WOULD MAKE ALL MY 3 POINT SHOTS
BUT HANGOVERS BLUR MY VISION LOTS
IF I ONLY HAD A BRAIN
THEY SAY I COULD BE MAGIC
BUT THAT WOULD BE JUST TRAGIC
TO DRIBBLE MY LIFE AWAY
dodo dodo dodo
SO I'LL TOKE AND TOKE THE CHRONIC
WHO CARES IF IT MAKES ME MORONIC
IT'S ONLY JUST A GAME
THEY SAID WHEN I GOT MARRIED
MY GAME WOULD SOMEHOW VARY
AND LOOK IT’S STILL THE SAME
dodo dodo dodo
SO I SLEEPWALK THROUGH A GAME OR 2
IT’S JUST WHAT YOU’RE ACCUSTOMED TO
DID YOU THINK I’D EVER CHANGE
Posted by: Troll Man | April 26, 2011 at 12:45 PM
We, as Lakeraholics, have the right to be a bit angry.
There is NEVER an excuse for lack of effort in the playoffs.
NEVER.
Oh, we deal with it during the regular season because "They're saving up their energy for the playoffs."
Well, guess what? IT'S THE FRICKEN PLAYOFFS!!!!
MAN UP, AND START PLAYING LIKE MEN!!!
What do we play for? RINGS!!!
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!!!
Posted by: Jon K. | April 26, 2011 at 12:49 PM
I fully expect Lamar to have a good game tonight
The Lamar Anthem is used as a motivational tool
Posted by: Troll Man | April 26, 2011 at 12:54 PM
So we are churning out new threads at the speed of light, and at the same time the posts that are being moderated are taking ages to show up; great job MM, at this rate we will have about 5 active bloggers left by season's end.
Posted by: Practice Season Police | April 26, 2011 at 11:52 AM
@PSP
Yep, impossible to keep up with and a bit irratating to the point I agree it is more work than fun to be a part of this blog community.
Congrats my favorite Laker RON RON!!!!!!
Posted by: NBA4ever | April 26, 2011 at 01:01 PM
Nice one Ron ron.Go Lakers lets kick some ass tonight!!!
Posted by: Adrian Palomar | April 26, 2011 at 01:05 PM
From a no good thug who goes into the stands to attack fans, to Mr Citizen of the year. Give me a break!!! How much did he $hell out for that lousy award? Who's next, that "Caracter"who beat a pregnant waitress? The NBA is joke!!!
Posted by: Rick Noir | April 26, 2011 at 12:24 PM
Are you jealous?
Posted by: NBA4ever | April 26, 2011 at 01:45 PM
Congrats to Ron Ron! Much deserved for his selfless acts this year, bringing attention and raising money for mental health.
- - -
OK Lakers, repeat after me, inside-out, inside-out. The Lakers have to reestablish their inside-out game, they have been trying too much to attack from the perimeter and the Hornets have been doing a fine job (led by Ariza's inspired defense) keeping the Lakeshow from getting good looks at the basket.
Especially now that Kobe might be hurting, go down low to the bigs and have them utilize their mismatches at the post. When the defense starts to collapse, the Lakers will get better perimeter looks.
Hammer the Hornets into submission, at some point they will collapse their defense and the outside game will open up.
Also, if Kobe is hurting, how about utilizing Shannon some defending Paul? He can't do worse than we are currently playing him...
AS ALWAYS - AND FOREVER - GO LAKERS!!!!!!
Inside-out game Lakers! Feed the big dogs!
Posted by: CyberCosmiX | April 26, 2011 at 02:05 PM
Congrats Ron! You deserve it more than anyone in the NBA. NOW go out and have a career high tonight!
Posted by: ChicNstu | April 26, 2011 at 11:57 AM
I'd like to second that...and, GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Kobeayashimarue | April 26, 2011 at 02:16 PM
From a no good thug who goes into the stands to attack fans, to Mr Citizen of the year. Give me a break!!! How much did he $hell out for that lousy award? Who's next, that "Caracter"who beat a pregnant waitress? The NBA is joke!!!
Posted by: Rick Noir | April 26, 2011 at 12:24 PM
The real JOKE is the one you see in the Mirror.
Posted by: Moreofme | April 26, 2011 at 02:58 PM
Someone set a pick like you mean it rather than like you are afraid of being touched. When guarding 1 person, do not look at that person for more than 2 seconds without looking around. Start yelling to each other. Wake up! Kobe start playing basketball, stop looking for highlight film moves.
Posted by: mdinct | April 26, 2011 at 03:54 PM
my boy ron ron has been the only consistent laker so far, we love you ron ron! queensbridge baby!
Posted by: jerseylakersfan | April 26, 2011 at 05:02 PM
Congrats Ron. I was rooting for you to turn it around, and not only have you done that, you've shown men that it's okay to seek help, in terms of dealing with anger and other issues. As a man, I'm very proud, and as a black man, I'm even prouder.
Posted by: Shag | April 26, 2011 at 05:29 PM