Great Moments of 2008: Cultural Exchange

Yao Ming, on Ron Artest being traded to the Rockets:

"There's worry. Obviously, yes. We will think about it, of course. Hopefully, he's not fighting anymore and going after a guy in the stands. I haven't talked to Ron yet, so it's hard to say."

That's pretty damn stupid. Ron Artest, your response?

Yao has played with a lot of black players, but I don’t think he’s ever played with a black player that really represents his culture as much as I represent my culture.

Sweet Jesus, that's even worse. But you get an even better story when Ron goes back on his meds the next day:

Artest was admittedly stung by the remarks when he heard them Wednesday, specifically the comment about "going after a guy in the stands," saying that Yao's words "hit me in the soft spot when I read that."

By Wednesday night, though, Artest was already downplaying the controversy in an appearance on a Sacramento radio show he frequents -- KHTK-AM's Carmichael Dave show -- and describing himself as "a Yao Ming soldier." Artest also tossed out the possibility of traveling to China to show support for Yao during the Olympics.

And then during the first month of the season, Ron Artest keeping his word and acting as a Yao Ming Soldier:



Ron Artest and Yao Ming, 2008's great moment in cultural exchange!