Did you ever dream of one day winning an NBA Championship as a kid? Well now that dream could become a reality for you. LA Laker Ron Artest is auctioning off his championship ring he won with the team last season. The cost of a raffle ticket is just $2.00, but you must buy at least 5 tickets. All proceeds will go to Artest’s charity Xcel University, which mentors and helps high-at-risk children and those who suffer with mental illness.
On Larry King, Artest said he is not raffling off the ring for money but more for the message: “We did what we had to do last year to win a championship, and it presents all these opportunities and these ideas. For it to go toward mental-health awareness, I’m pretty happy about that. That’s already in motion.”
“We did what we had to do last year to win a championship, and it presents all these opportunities and these ideas,” said Artest. “For it to go toward mental-health awareness, I’m pretty happy about that. That’s already in motion.”
Artest was once the NBA’s most hated player. In 2004, Artest was the culprit for the Menace at the Palace, when Artest got into a fight with fans during an Indiana Pacers Detroit Pistons game.
Artest received his ring just this week at the Lakers’ opening night banner raising ceremony. The ring is 16 white diamonds set in 16-karat gold.
Legendary hockey bad boy Bob Probert died tragically this past summer of cardiac arrest. Although Probert spent most of his NHL days in and out of legal troubles, he was always the go to tough guy. Probert played most of his career with the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks. Before his death, Probert wrote a memoir with Kristie McLellan Day titled “Tough Guy: My Life on the Edge.” The Detroit News published excerpts from the book today, and it sums everything that made Probert the hockey player that he was…
I had a little trouble staying current with my probation requirements, so the Red Wings cut a deal with a judge that I would spend one night in jail. They didn’t tell me, because they were afraid I would disappear. Assistant coach Colin Campbell phoned me up and said, “I’ll pick you up at 8 a.m. Have a suit and tie on.
So the next morning, I got into his car and he said, “OK, look. We’re going to see a judge. We’ve cut a deal. You’re going to spend one night in jail.”
I said, “Oh, that’s just a bunch of bull!”
He said, “We’ve cut a quiet deal. The media doesn’t know. The judge is going to clear out the courtroom, and all you are going to do is spend one night in jail. I brought some stuff for you. Sweats and a toothbrush.”
So we appeared in front of the judge, and he says, “Mr. Probert, I don’t agree with this, I feel your punishment should be much harsher, but we’re going to have you spend one night in jail for breaching your probation. What do you have to say for yourself, Mr. Probert?”
And I said, “Well, I think it’s a joke, Your Honor!”
Soupy looked really choked and he whispered, “Probert … you idiot.”
The judge looked up from his binder and said, “You think it’s a joke, Mr. Probert?”
I was trying to step away from Soupy because he was kicking me, and I said, “Well, I don’t think it’s right. They didn’t tell me about this.”
The judge said something like, “Mr. Probert, I’m allowing this deal against my better wishes. But I know you will be back here. You’ll screw up again. So for now, you’ll spend one night in jail. Now get out of here.”
The San Francisco Giants are hoping to win their first World Series since 1954 and are hoping signing legend Tony Bennett will give them a little good luck. It’s working so far the Giants won Game 1 of the World Series against the Texas Rangers, 11-7.
Bennett was on hand to sing “God Bless America,” but Bennett also sang his classic hit, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”
Although Bennett’s performance of “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” was not shown on TV, maybe it should have been. Baseball playoffs have struggled in the ratings, with the NFL’s Monday Night Football winning in the ratings race. In the past, the Yankees are a ratings magnet but were outdone by the less than monumental Jacksonville Jaguars Tennessee Titans game last Monday.
Passittothebulls.com is reporting an interesting theory that the Atlanta Thrashers are actively acquiring black players to improve attendance. The hockey blog pointed out the Atlanta Thrashers have six black players on their current roster. The players are not just American but of Canadian and European decent too. Atlanta has one of the lowest attendance ratings in the league but also has one of the highest African American populations in the city.
The blog post has caught much criticism from civil rights groups and has even caused Thrashers President Don Waddell to deny any racial basis. Waddell told the New York Times: “It all just kind of happened. It wasn’t like we went out and tried to pick up black players.”
Currently, the Atlanta Thrashers have about 20% of all black players on their roster.
Jersey Chaser of the Month: Samantha Steele- December 2012
ESPN sideline reporter Samantha Steele is engaged to Minnesota Viking QB Christian Ponder earning her the honor of December 2012 Jersey Chaser of the Month. Share It
Did you ever dream of one day winning an NBA Championship as a kid? Well now that dream could become a reality for you. LA Laker Ron Artest is auctioning off his championship ring he won with the team last season. The cost of a raffle ticket is just $2.00, but you must buy at least 5 tickets. All proceeds will go to Artest’s charity Xcel University, which mentors and helps high-at-risk children and those who suffer with mental illness.
Legendary hockey bad boy Bob Probert died tragically this past summer of cardiac arrest. Although Probert spent most of his NHL days in and out of legal troubles, he was always the go to tough guy. Probert played most of his career with the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks. Before his death, Probert wrote a memoir with Kristie McLellan Day titled “Tough Guy: My Life on the Edge.” 
Passittothebulls.com is reporting an interesting theory that the Atlanta Thrashers are actively acquiring black players to improve attendance. The hockey blog pointed out the Atlanta Thrashers have six black players on their current roster. The players are not just American but of Canadian and European decent too. Atlanta has one of the lowest attendance ratings in the league but also has one of the highest African American populations in the city.