SAN DIEGO -Pardon Ron Artest if he's a bit geographically challenged and had no idea that San Diego has a big league baseball team, even though he was wearing a Padres cap.
This much he's sure of — If his Los Angeles Lakers don't repeat as NBA champions, fans can point their fingers at him.
"They should. That's exactly what should happen if we don't repeat," the star forward said during a visit to promote the Lakers' exhibition game against the Denver Nuggets at the San Diego Sports Arena on Oct. 23.
"They won last year, and I'm the new addition. The fans expect to repeat. Everybody in L.A. expects a second ring. And if we don't then yeah, they should point it right at me, throwing tomatoes and everything."
Artest joined the Lakers as a free agent on July 8, signing a five-year deal worth about $33 million. He is the team's only addition, essentially switching places with Trevor Ariza, who left the Lakers to take Artest's spot with the Rockets.
Artest said he was proud to be making his first promotional appearance for the Lakers. He wore an all-black Kobe Bryant jersey as a tribute to his new teammate.
"It makes me more excited, gives me a better understanding of what jersey I'm actually putting on," Artest said. "So today I decided to wear the black Kobe Bryant jersey, because he is the 'Black Mamba,' and I'm really happy to be a part of this team and I'm really excited just to be an addition, an asset, to the guy, to the (Derek) Fishers and the (Andrew) Bynums and all the rest of the players."
During a wide-ranging news conference at the San Diego Chargers' media trailer, Artest drew some laughs with a few slip-ups.
"I didn't realize how far L.A.'s tentacles, or whatever you want to call them, extend, all the way to San Diego. I thought I was going to be getting some Golden State Warrior fans, because I didn't know where I was at. Most of the fans are Lakers fans, so that's great.
"And I'm also here to say that next year I'll be trying out for the San Diego Chargers, so I look forward to that. Hopefully I can play some baseball. Is there a baseball team here?"
You're wearing the hat, he was told.
"I know I'm wearing the hat. I just love the SD. The logo looks great. I didn't realize there was a baseball team in San Diego."
A tough, physical defender, Artest had some spirited moments against Bryant when the Rockets pushed the Lakers to seven games in the second round of the playoffs.
"That was friendship what you saw out there with me and Kobe," Artest said. "That's like hard-core friendship, you know, like back in the days — fight against your best friend when you were younger and go out and get some ice cream later? That's what that was. It was just so competitive.
"I just knew that my team was going to win. Of course we lost Yao (Ming), which hurt the Rockets. And Kobe wanted to win, and he knew his team was going to win. It was like, 'OK, I know you but I don't care nothing about you, maybe I have to step on your toes and give you a couple of elbows and get you ejected twice, whatever it takes to win, that's what I'm going to do."
Artest was ejected from Games 2 and 3 against the Lakers. In Game 2, he received a technical and was ejected after pointing and making a gesture near his throat after complaining that Bryant had elbowed him in the throat under the basket.
Artest was ejected from Game 3 after a flagrant foul on Pau Gasol.
It's all good now that they're all teammates.
"That's what I love about Kobe. He's so tough," Artest said. "He was great when he was younger, but he's much more competitive now. I didn't envision myself playing with him. I always wanted to play against him. I always wanted to beat Kobe Bryant. But I'm more than happy to be playing with Kobe."
A native New Yorker, Artest said he's turning into a West Coast kind of guy.
"I'm learning a lot of different ways of California. Is this Southern California?" he said, apparently not realizing San Diego is as southern as it gets. "It never rains in Southern California, huh? I'm turning into a Southern California guy. I'm happy to be a Southern Californian, or whatever you want to call it."
The Lakers open training camp Sept. 29 at their headquarters in El Segundo.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
and the reason ??? are many ;
Zasha( the machine) , Farmar, Mbenga, Bynum , Kobe
and Jerry ;
PJ , Pau Gasol and the rest of the team will do their best
to peat but at the end of the day NO PEAT, guarantee.
in the world not only as the best center in bb world
but also as a decent man in and out of the court ala
Duncan , Manu and Parker to name a few , no tattoos
here or drugs and not raping anyone to said the least;
Botton line, bb is more International then ever and in
this planet right now Pau Gasol is well respected and
love by anyone that loves the game.
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shttttttt about BB and never got game and he asks ?
Does the West have an all-star center ??????
YES , Tomashttttt his name is PAU GASOL !
Let me introduce to you , in 2002 ROY ( rookie of the year)
2004 juventus Euroleague champions MVP, 2006 World
champions MVP, 2008 Silver medal Olympics in china,
2009 champion in the NBA and 2009 Champion in
European elimination and another MVP;
This is the same guy that told Kobe in the series with
Houston " chill , relax and star sharing the ball a bit
more or else" this is the same guy that popovich wanted
to boycott his transfer to LA cause he knew that he was going
to take care of Duncan ,firm.
So , you ignored the best center in the planet not just in the NBA ???
hhmmmm I wonder why moron I wonder why.
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in love with Kobe but that will not hurt the team chemistry
but if he gets into an ego trip about his position in the
team ( at best #5) then PJ will have to adjust for a long time.
instead ron-ron hero, happens to be Kobe and the fans
are confused about this fact but either way what LA is
missing is an excellent point guard ala CP3 or D.Williams
of Utah;
In the meantime they should let go " the machine" , farmar ,
Mbenga and if neccessary playboy mansion Bynum, done.
in fact , CP3 knows very well that he will never get a
ring with that kind of company that he is with, right now.
If LA landed Pau Gasol ( the best center in the planet )
they can do the same with CP3 , especially that he knows
now that he will never get a ring with that kind of company;
It is not about ron-ron or Trevor is about an excellent point guard.