Ron Artest Crazy Wins Championships

Last night I stayed up to watch the Boston Celtics… lose. It’s no secret that I’m a fair weather basketball fan. I only watch when the Celtics are in the playoffs. Even then, most nights I go bed by the half. Last night, though, I had to stay up. Because the Celtics were obviously going to win.

Right.

As was common all season, they blew it in the fourth. Some think that the Celts played hard and gave it their all, others think they pissed away the chance at another championship.

As for my glorious opinion, I think they gave it their all. The Lakers earned that win. They outplayed the Celtics, they outshot the Celtics, and they were more aggressive than the Celtics. More importantly, they out crazied the Celtics. I mean, come on. Did you hear Ron Artest after the game? The man thanked his shrink.

I have a theory that you can’t beat crazy. This series was all about proving that. Get the drool and Pixar character comparisons going, and you’re going to win the game. Bulge your eyes a bit more than normal, you’re going to win the game. Be Ron Artest crazy, you’re going to win the game.

I’ll leave you with Ron Artest’s post-game interview because just watching that is enough to amuse you for the rest of the day.

Samantha Lewis is a conference production assistant by day and a sports blogger by night. Seeing Ron Artest makes her feel better about her own wiring. You can read more from Samantha at Beantown Athletic Supporters and follow her on Twitter here.

Can the Ron Artest Deal help the Celtics Snag 'Sheed?

Maybe we should have seen this one coming?

As the news about Ron Artest joining the Lakers becomes official, I can't help but think this is a good deal for the Boston Celtics. Yes, this adds a capable defender to the world champions, something they sorely lacked in the 2008 Finals. Yes, this means that Kobe will not have to face Artest this year, which will keep his possible technical and flagrant foul count down. I still think this is a good thing for the Celtics and, in particular, can make Boston even MORE attracive to Rasheed Wallace.

1. Crazy Ron Artest and Crazy Rasheed Wallace facing off in the Finals.

You cannot tell me that a Lakers team with Artest and a Celtics team with Rasheed facing off in the Finals wouldn't be a good time for all involved. There is already some bad-blood with these two teams (just ask Sasha Vujacic), think throwing two loose cannons into the mix wouldn't add some more spice to this rivalry? Rasheed Wallace is a competitor, and you cannot think this potential match-up has not crossed his mind. Many remember the Pistons/Spurs Finals as one of the most boring seven-game series' in history, so for a guy who went to North Carolina, I bet he would love to add a Celtics/Lakers' Finals to his resume, as it would be slightly more historic than Spurs/Pistons was.

2.Artests' Mohawk wigs in LA

Man-Ram has the dread-lock wig, which means an Artest Mohawk Wig is already being produced. Now, dueling wigs. If Manny's wig was a hot seller in LA, imagine a 'Sheed wig with a green spot on the back in Beantown? (PS Anyone who markets this idea will owe me commission)

3. Crazy Ron took less money to play with a champ.

How bad does 'Sheed look if he signs with another team for more money? Currently it sounds like the Spurs, Mavs, and Magic are in play (hat tip to Gary Tanguay's Twitter page). If he signs with San Antonio, it looks alright. If he signs with the other two for more money (or slightly more money), it looks like a money grab. If crazy Ron didn't go for the bigger pile of cash, why would 'Sheed? Also, he has played with Vince Carter before in college, do you really think he wants to do that again?

4. Wallace has won a title before, and he knows awesome it is.

Many people have hypothesized that because 'Sheed has won a title before, he won't be as hungry to join the Celts for less money. I think exactly the opposite, because he has won a title before, he will want to make this move. He has been on a team that went all the way, and he knows how rare it is to do that. Will he want to join a Dallas team with an emotionally broken Dirk Nowitzki? An Orlando team that got as lucky as any team to make it to the Finals (facing a skeleton-crew Celtics team and getting to face their ultimate favorable match-up in Cleveland and clueless Mike Brown)? Does he think the Spurs will have enough to compete with LA if he goes there? The Celtics provide the best option of making it to the Finals, because they play in the East. Don't let the acquisitions of an aging Shaq (now without the magic powers of Phoenix's training staff) and an overrated Vince Carter (does VC over Hedo make Orlando better?) fool you, the Celtics are still the team to beat.

In closing, I think this deal gets done. I think the recruiting push that Boston has done will push them over the top, and I think Rasheed's competitive spirit wins out over his wallet. I never thought I would openly campaign for Rasheed Wallace to play in Celtics Green, but I am. God help us all.

Saturday Morning Quick Hits

Well Jason Bay, welcome to Boston!!! Bay scored both Red Sox runs, got on base 4 times, made 2 nice defensive plays and almost hit a walk off HR in the 12 inning. Trust me Mr. Bay, the days won't all be like this. Bay just missed a HR in the 12 having to settle for a triple. The A's then intentionally walked JD Drew to get to Jed Lowery, who left the bases loaded in the 10th. Lowery hit a chopper to Alan Embree that was too high to get and too slow for Bobby Crosby so Lowery beat the throw and Bay scored the winning run. Both starters, the A's Justin Duchscherer and Tim Wakefield both pitched very solid games. The Sox won 2 - 1. More and more is coming out about Manny Ramirez. Gordon Edes has an absolutely bizarre account of Manny's last Red Sox actions.

The California Angels beat the NY Yankees 1 - 0 in the Bronx. Torri Hunter continued an amazing stretch of offense for him, getting the game winning hit against Mo Rivera in the 9th inning. The win put the Angels 12 1/2 games uop in the AL West and the Yanks 5 games back of Tampa in the AL East.

With the Manny Ramirez show heading west to Los Angeles, The LA Dodgers played NL West leading Arizona Diamondbacks. Chan Ho Park gave up the 1 - 0 lead in the 7th inning with a HR to Tony Clark and a Steven Drew double, and Manny grounded into a 6-4-3 double play in the 9th, to give Arizona a 2 - 1 win. Arizona is now 3 games up on LA in the west.

Pedro Martinez returned to the mound for the Mets Friday night against the Houston Astros. Pedro went 5 good inning allowing 5 hits and 3 solo home runs. The Huston Astros loaded the bases in the bottom of the 8th and pinch hitter and former Red Sox 2nd baseman Mark Loretta launched a grand slam off reliever Aaron Heilman, leading the Astros to the 7 - 4 win over the Mets.

The Philadelphia Phillies missed an opportunity to increase their lead over the Mets, losing to the St Louis Cardinals 6 - 3. Cole Hamels got beat up and former Phillie Kyle Lohse took a no hitter into the 5th and finished with 6 strong innings. The Phillies stayed 1 game up on the Mets.

The Milwaukee Brewers' offense came to life against the hapless Atlanta Braves in a 9 - 0 win. The win keeps the Brew Crew 3 games back of the Cubs.

Tampa stays 3 games up on the Sox by beating Detroit 5 - 2.

Jeff Karstens paid immediate dividends for the Pittsburgh Pirates, pitching 6 strong inning leading to a shutout of the NL Central leading Chicago Cubs. They beat the Cubs 3 - 0.

Another newcomer, Ken Griffey Jr., helped keep the Chicago White Sox 1/2 game up on the Minnesota Twins, with 2 hits and 2 RBIs and beating the KC Royals 4 - 2.

The Twins kept pace by beating Cleveland 4 -1.

NFL

Steve Smith went Muhammad Ali on Panthers CB Ken Lucas during practice on Friday. The Panthers are weighing disciplinary actions.

ESPN reports, shocker, Todd Sauerbrun suspended from the NFL a second time.

NBA

Ron Artest attempts to smooth things over with Yao.

The law claims another NBA player, Josh Howard arrested for street racing.

Don Nelson wins big arbitration case against Mark Cuban.

Paul Pierce still says he is "the best player in the world".

SHOCKER!!! College Football

Georgia got 22 1st place votes to take the pre-season poll. The Top 5 teams are Georgia, USC, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Florida.

Ron Artest Headed To Houston

The Houston Chronicle is reporting that Ron Artest has been traded to the Rockets for Bobby Jackson, a no. 1 pick in 2009, and an unidentified player. McGrady, Yao and Artest, good lord. Nice trade for the Rockets here, it was time for them to either go all in or fold, looks like they just pushed their chips to the middle of the table...