IC Cold Links: Fever Keeping Fieldhouse Hot, Ronnie Artest Still Ronnie

by Tom Lewis on Aug 28, 2011 11:32 AM EDT in Indiana Pacers News

The Indiana Fever are having another solid WNBA campaign, leading the Eastern Conference with a 19-9 record despite a loss last night to their nemesis, the Atlanta Dream. I bring this up because I caught the end of this game and absolutely loved seeing the Fieldhouse rocking for the Fever.

There were about 9,000 fans there filling the club and lower level of the Fieldhouse which is a great crowd for a beautiful Saturday night. As the Fever continue making their push toward the playoffs they are definitely worth going to check out.

Also, I'm catching up on a few links from the past few days including a story about Ron Artest that is alarmingly unsurprising. First, his name change to Metta World Peace was held up by the court, likely making Artest the first person ever to have a name change denied pending the payment of oustanding traffic tickets.

Yep, that makes sense, as does Ronnie's explanation to Marc Spears about why he is changing his uniform number to 70.

"I’m changing it to 70 because it’s like something to do with the universe," Artest said. "Everything kind of repeats itself. The universe is one. It’s the same thing. Healthy minds, just keeping the kids positive."

Of course, when I say Ronnie's explanation makes sense I mean I expected the explanation to be nonsense. Name? Number? Some things never change and it's always entertaining.

More links after the jump including a solid dissent from Jared Wade on Reggie's GM potential.

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I THINK SPEAK FOR EVERY PACERS FANS

When I say the team would rather have Ron “Rappin’ Ron” Artest back over Mike Doneleavy Jr. But I will give credit where credit is due, if Jim O’Brien second only to Kelvin Sampson as the worst basketball coach in Indiana history were still running the show Mike Dunleavy Jr. would be back when the next NBA season starts as a Pacer.

by PatsR18andDONEwithoutCHEATING on Aug 28, 2011 12:45 PM EDT reply actions

Correction I think SPEAKING for every Pacers fan

by PatsR18andDONEwithoutCHEATING on Aug 28, 2011 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions

not even close

by IndyPacers on Aug 28, 2011 6:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Playoff stats

Mike Doneleavy<Ron Artest.

PS.
Mike Doneleaving WILL NOT BE A PACER NEXT SEASON!!!!!!

by PatsR18andDONEwithoutCHEATING on Aug 28, 2011 6:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh yeah btw, just for the record

I would like to make it perfectly clear that no one in Indiana wants Artest or Doneleavy back in a Pacers uniform next season. But all I’m saying is that as a Pacers fan me and most of the other fans would rather see Ron “Rappin’ Ron” Artest in a Pacers uniform over Mike Doneleaving who WILL NOT BE A PACER NEXT SEASON, neither Larry Bird, Herb Simon, or Frank Vogel have any intention what so ever of keeping Doneleavy on the team.

by PatsR18andDONEwithoutCHEATING on Aug 28, 2011 6:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Hahahhahahahahaahhaha

no.

"A champion is someone who gets up when he can't."
- Jack Dempsey

by infinityzero.systemerror on Aug 28, 2011 8:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Hahahahahahahhaaha

NO ONE STILL WANTS MIKE DONELEAVY OR RON “RAPPIN’ RON” ARTEST BACK NEXT SEASON!!!!!!!!!!!

BTW.
Mike Doneleavy’s PER in the playoffs-5.

by PatsR18andDONEwithoutCHEATING on Aug 28, 2011 11:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah.

Your PER is wrong, he had a 14.9 PER in the playoffs. He played in 5 games. I seriously don’t get why you hate Dunleavy so much. He is a legitimate NBA talent player, certainly he was overpaid, but he plays well.

"A champion is someone who gets up when he can't."
- Jack Dempsey

by infinityzero.systemerror on Aug 29, 2011 2:40 AM EDT up reply actions

Wrong

14.9 was his PER for the season when Jim O’Brien was starting him NOT THE PLAYOFFS when he was benched by Frank Vogel, the PER on ESPN’s trade machine is the average for the entire season including the playoffs NOT JUST THE PLAYOFFS. Second I hate him because lets just face the facts THE PACERS DON’T NEED HIM!!!!! He play’s the same position as Danny Granger, Paul George, and Brandon Rush and when Vogel was appointed head coach he was moved down to third string SG and SF now thanks to the George Hill trade he is moved down to 4th string SG (that is assuming the Pacers have any interest what so ever in keeping him which they clearly do not). WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT THIS GUY BACK? Plus he only had what one good season with the Pacers. Not to mention the fact that every single Pacers fan or person who has any knowledge about the Pacers I’ve talked to in person agrees with me that the Pacers have NO INTEREST WHAT SO EVER in re-signing Mike Doneleavy.

by PatsR18andDONEwithoutCHEATING on Aug 29, 2011 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions

Be honest, you don’t like him because of your irrational hatred of all things Duke.

by donnyfher on Aug 29, 2011 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions

OK, that's one reason

But another reason is because he is worthless to the Pacers third string at best.
Face the facts HE IS NO LONGER A PACER!!!!!!!!

by PatsR18andDONEwithoutCHEATING on Aug 29, 2011 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions

OH ESPN TRADE MACHINE...

This disputes your claims on his PER. I’m not advocating the idea of bringing him back, although I’d prefer him to Brandon Rush, you know that guy who has a career 9.7 PER and is actually a waste of space on the roster. Now that’s a guy to hate.

"A champion is someone who gets up when he can't."
- Jack Dempsey

by infinityzero.systemerror on Aug 30, 2011 12:48 AM EDT up reply actions

I agree. I don’t really care if he’s back or not, but at the right price I’d much rather have him than Rush or even D Jones. His basketball IQ is so high I think he could really help teach some of our young guys like PG, Hill, and especially Lance. All we keep hearing about Lance is how skilled he is, but that he is struggling to grasp the team game after spending his entire life playing a one on one style. Seems like Dunleavy would be the perfect mentor for him.

by donnyfher on Aug 30, 2011 8:44 AM EDT up reply actions

I would agree with that.

He’s a smart basketball player. You mention PG and, as I recall, there was an article/comment where he said that Dunleavy was helping him learn how to play off the ball (Lance could use this teaching). This is a skill that will really do wonders for PG, or any basketball player, in the future. Again, I’m gonna pick on Rush here. Rush’s idea of playing off the ball is standing in a corner and being mildly prepared to take a shot.

"A champion is someone who gets up when he can't."
- Jack Dempsey

by infinityzero.systemerror on Aug 30, 2011 9:20 AM EDT up reply actions

Doneleaving isn't coming back

No one on the Indystar website as far as I know is making any case to keep him and Larry Bird hasn’t said a peep or shown any signs of wanting to keep Mike Doneleavy since Jim O’Brien left.

by PatsR18andDONEwithoutCHEATING on Aug 30, 2011 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions

OK, Rush sucks too and needs to go

But in the playoffs he did out play Mike Doneleavy and btw I hate Rush and Jones too they will both not be Pacers in 2 seasons!!!!!!!!

by PatsR18andDONEwithoutCHEATING on Aug 30, 2011 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: Conseco Fieldhouse Article(s)

It’s nice to see the place get some love after some negative stuff that has been said the last couple of years (usually around finances). I really hope that whenever IU gets around to building a new arena they’ll try to mimic Conseco and not the KFC Yum Center as has been hinted (personally I think if they did a building that would imitate the HPER building for the new gym that would be awesome). And yes, it’s also nice to see the Fever drawing so well.

by Aaron Go Bragh on Aug 28, 2011 2:09 PM EDT reply actions

is there really talk of a new Assembly Hall?

I couldn’t blame em, for all the lore and tradition and everything that’s a terrible building to watch a ball game.

by IndyPacers on Aug 28, 2011 6:05 PM EDT up reply actions

In 2007 (when they initially made plans to add on to the football stadium and build the new basketball building) part of what was approved was to build a new basketball arena to replace assembly hall “when appropriate” so while it’s obviously openended the issue is on the table. I agree that Assembly Hall’s sight lines and especially its acoustics leave a lot to be desired but at the same time they probably add to the lore of the place. I know that opposing teams definitely hate playing there.

by Aaron Go Bragh on Aug 28, 2011 9:15 PM EDT up reply actions