Bench Artest!

Last year, Ron Artest cost the Pacers a shot at the NBA Championship by taking a few shots at fans in Detroit. This year, his trade demand and subsequent activities have contributed to the Pacers underachieving. Then, when the Pacers and Sacramento Kings agree on an Artest for Peja trade, Artest's agent says he doesn't want to go to Sacramento. First, he wants out of Indiana. Then, he doesn't (he stated a couple days after his initial demand that he wanted to stay with Indiana). Then, he doesn't want to go to Sacramento. After a little coaxing, he'll go anywhere ... and he ends up in Sacremento!

David Stern should step in. Antonio Davis gets a 5-game suspension for making sure his wife is okay. Ron Artest doesn't have to do anything and he's still getting paid. Stern should take Artest out of play. He should be banned from the league and should have to ask for reinstatement, as should any player who doesn't want to play for a given team (Jim Jackson comes to mind). The Pacers will be rewarded with a supplemental draft pick in the next draft, the position to be determined by the league office. Some people around the league believe Artest is a top-10 talent. Thus, the Pacers would receive a very good draft pick.

Jim Jackson wouldn't report to the New Orleans Hornets last year, and essentially forced them to trade him (he ended up in Phoenix). Why is there a salary cap? Why is there a draft? Why not just let everyone play for whatever team they want? Two words: competitive balance!

On a somewhat related note, Chris "Birdman" Andersen was dismissed from the NBA for violating the substance abuse policy. That's fine. I've never been a "Birdman" fan, in spite of the fact that he seems to be following me around. He played for the Nuggets when I was in the Denver area and ended up playing in Oklahoma City for the Hornets, who are now the local team in my new area. Frankly, I'm not all that surprised that he was on something. However, does it make sense for someone to be dismissed from the league for at least two years (players can seek reinstatement after two years) for testing positive for cocaine or LSD when a player who incites a brawl and fights with fans only gets the remainder of one season. OKC news coverage had a fan saying that Andersen should be suspended because athletes are role models, so using drugs is unacceptable.

Now, don't get my message wrong. I don't think players should use illegal drugs, including illegal (and banned) performance enhancers. But, who would know if Chris Andersen spends his nights smoking crack or strung out on LSD? I hadn't given it a whole lot of thought, and I'm pretty sure most people didn't come home from Hornets games thinking "Chris Andersen is awesome, and he uses cocaine, so I should too!" Ron Artest incited a brawl, which most sports fans in the U.S. have probably seen a dozen times. Then, this year, he forced his way out of Indiana (although he probably doesn't see it that way). Artest is a black eye for the league. Chris Andersen was, before being outed and dismissed, a little bruise concealed by clothing.

As people say, rules are rules. The rules should be followed. It's my opinion that bad (and/or stupid) rules should be changed (like any rule that would prevent the Chris Simms to Edell Shepherd pass from being a TD). It's time to overhaul sports. Get Chris Andersen some help. Drugs can be a serious problem. Don't ban him from the league, that's as stupid as him using the drugs in the first place!