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Artest works on image, selling CDs
Ron Artest was benched by his coach two weeks ago because he wanted time off to promote a new CD he produced for an R&B group. Well, the Indiana Pacers forward has plenty of time on his hands now.
So, two days after NBA commissioner David Stern suspended him for the rest of the season for climbing into the stands to fight with Detroit Pistons fans, Artest began trying to scrub his image and sell some records, doing a series of local and national TV interviews and promotional appearances.
He was contrite and soft-spoken during his interviews, during which he mixed plugs for the CD with statements of regret for Friday's brawl.
While repeatedly saying he wanted to stay positive, Artest said he didn't want his own four children to see the often-replayed videotape of him throwing ！ and taking punches ！ in the stands after a spectator threw a cup at him.
Artest spent much of Tuesday morning at the studios of an Indianapolis radio station, where dozens of supportive fans gathered outside as he appeared on WNOU's morning show and did an interview on NBC's "Today" show.
During the "Today" interview, Artest held up the new CD three times and wore a T-shirt and hat emblazoned with the logo of his record label ！ TruWarier Records.
His description of the CD ！ "It's positive, it's about love" ！ seemed to be Artest's message for the day.
"Things happen and you move on," he said. "Nobody benefited from this situation."
Two fans who say they were injured in the fracas sued the Pacers and players Artest, Stephen Jackson and Jermaine O'Neal on Tuesday, filing suits in Oakland County Circuit Court in Pontiac, Mich. They are seeking unspecified damages.
Ackerman, 67, says he was hit by O'Neal and then knocked unconscious by a thrown chair. His suit also names Palace Sports & Entertainment Inc., which operates the Pistons' arena. Paulson, 26, says Artest and Jackson assaulted him.
People hoping to catch a glimpse of Artest on Tuesday seemed willing to forgive.
"Everybody here loves him. We don't want to see him out for the season," said Mike James, one of more than 50 fans who waited for Artest outside the radio station. "You shouldn't go by a person's past. He's already paid for his past. It's a new season."
This was the seventh time in the past two years that Artest has been fined or suspended by the NBA. Earlier this month, he was held out of two games by Pacers coach Rick Carlisle after he asked for time off because he was tired from working on the CD.
He later said it was to spend time with his family and heal his aching body.
The season-long suspension for the fight will cost Artest almost $5 million in salary. That ban and those of his teammates Jackson (30 games) and O'Neal (25 games) were appealed by the players' union Tuesday.
Fans were brought two at a time into the studio's lobby, where a relaxed and smiling Artest signed autographs.
Outside, other fans waited, some carrying signs reading "All I want for X-mas is Artest playing," "We support Artest," "Go Ron, we support you" and even "Ron, can I have a hug?" A radio station employee wore a T-shirt with the message "Free Ron."
Artest said he planned to continue promoting the new CD from the R&B trio Allure, a group signed to his record label. He clearly appreciated the show of support from Indiana fans. "It's great. They're good Pacer fans," he said. "I want them to keep coming to games. We're going to the playoffs." In the "Today" interview, Artest said the length of his suspension was not appropriate. "I don't think it was fair ！ that many games," he said. "I respect David Stern's decisions, but I don't think I should have been out for the whole season." Artest said he wishes the brawl in Detroit never happened. "It wasn't good at all, for anybody. ... This is the third time that I've been hit with something out of the crowd," said Artest, who claimed he had been struck previously in Detroit and in Cleveland. From an interview with People magazine to a statement Artest released through the Pacers, Artest's message was a change from the anger on his face during the brawl. "It really hurt me to see the children crying on TV and I think about how it could have been my own kids," his statement said. He also offered some advice to others during his interviews. "I hope that if that would happen to any other players in the NBA that they won't react how I reacted," he said.
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