Is Lakers star Ron Artest a danger to others? Remember this is the same guy who ran up into the stands to beat up a fan back in 2004.
2 weeks ago, Lakers star Ron Artest, 31, auctioned off his NBA championship ring for $500,000 and donated the proceeds to help fund mental health treatment for at-risk youth.
Most saw his charitable act as a turning point in his troubled career. But during the 1st quarter of the Knicks vs. Lakers game at the Staples Center yesterday, Artest started to choke out Knicks player Shawne Williams. Artest jerked his hand back when he suddenly remembered that there were literally millions of witnesses watching on national TV.
This is what happens when a mentally unstable man snaps for just a quick second. Now imagine what would have happened if there were no eyes around.
Artest was assessed a technical but he should have been ejected from the game for putting his hand on the throat of another player. What kind of message does this send to the youth? Notice how the sportscasters laughed off the threat of violence?
Artest certainly deserves all the praise sent his way for his charitable act, but should we turn a blind eye to his obvious mental problems which continue to plague him on and off the court?
The question is not IF Artest will one day snap and kill somebody — it’s when.
Watch the video of Artest confronting Williams after the break!