Artest vows to put team ahead of temper
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-07-12 08:50

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) _ NBA bad boy Ron Artest arrived at the Indiana Pacers' rookie-free agent camp on Monday pledging to be a smarter player focused on helping his team win a championship.

Ron Artest

The star forward spoke to the local media for the first time since a November fight in Detroit resulted in a nearly season-long suspension. That night, Artest went into the stands at The Palace and attacked a Pistons fan after he was hit with a cup of beer.

Artest said he wants to cut down on technical fouls and remain in control to help his team. He called his tendency to draw technicals "playing against your team.

"As you get older, you get a bit more wise," he said. "Probably next year, you'll see an older guy, an older player. Like everybody else, as they get older, they mature."

Artest knows he's being watched.

"I'm a ghetto-type guy," he said. "I'll be ghetto for the rest of my life. But at the same time, there's a lot of kids who look up to me. For that, I'll change."

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