Someone better ring Celene Dion, because Ron “Metta World Peace” Artest is going to need some consoling.
After months of talking about how much he wants to play for the Chelshire Jets, and how they’ve already offered him all the love in the world to make it happen, it looks like the dreaded lack of insurance is going to keep those dreams from coming true.
Though Artest declared his intention to The Times two weeks ago that he’s “definitely going to play” for the British Basketball League’s Cheshire Jets, his agent, David Bauman, said the team hasn’t offered Artest insurance, which poses a “major problem” and would prevent the Lakers forward from joining the team.
“It’s still on the table,” Bauman said Tuesday in a phone interview. “But again, this insurance thing is a significant and a serious obstacle for any of the NBA players.”
Artest has a three-year, $21.8-million deal remaining with the Lakers. Without insurance, Artest could risk his contract becoming void should he suffer an injury with another team during the NBA lockout. That issue, said Bauman, also partly explains why Artest postponed his trip to the U.K. to speak with Jets officials, hold a news conference, mingle with fans and, in his words, “make sure it’s a good fit.” Tweeted Artest: “Uk Sorry I couldn’t make it this week Can’t wait to meet the JETS!!!!”
Poor Ron. I hope he lives out his dream for playing for a horribly obscure team in the middle of a dreary part of the world where the food sucks.
Go get ’em Ron!
