http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Ron-Artest-raffled-off-his-ring-raised-more-tha?urn=nba-300686

Mon Dec 27 12:00pm EST
Ron Artest raffled off his ring, raised more than $500k

By Eric Freeman

Few NBA players have been as committed to charity over the past year than Ron Artest(notes). The former bad boy and current goofball, most recently seen bounding into the Miami Heat bench during Saturday's game, has devoted much of his time to raising money for mental health awareness, specifically to get more mental health workers in schools so kids can get help they might not otherwise be able to afford.

This weekend, Artest engaged in his biggest charitable act to date when he announced the winner of the raffle for the championship ring he won last season with the Lakers. As it turns out, Artest helped raise a hefty sum with this move. From the Associated Press:

Artest announced the winner of the charity raffle for his ring late Saturday night at a club across the street from Staples Center, where the Lakers were trounced by the Miami Heat 96-80 in the NBA's Christmas showcase.

The ring was won by Raymond Mikkael, a father of four from Hawthorne, Calif.

"It's a good feeling, because it got a lot of publicity, and that's cool," Artest said before taking on LeBron James. "I'm glad we can start over now and do some more work with charities."

Artest came up with the idea to give away his first NBA title ring after putting a spotlight on mental health by thanking his psychiatrist after Game 7 of the Lakers' triumph over Boston last June. While some laughed at another stunt by one of the NBA's biggest characters, Artest's candid declaration sparked an interest in normalizing mental health care, which snowballed into this unique charitable gift. [...]

Although he doesn't yet know the final figures, Artest's raffle has raised well over $500,000 for his Xcel University charity, which will work with high-risk youth on mental health issues. Artest said he already wrote his first $50,000 check from the proceeds to the charity.

This is classic Artest: In a moment when most athletes would talk about how great it feels to help people, Artest is talking about the additional importance of publicity for this cause. He never says exactly what you'd expect, but everything he says comes from the heart. He doesn't mess around.

Artest has already received a ton of praise for his work with mental health charities, but it's all been well-deserved. Like most medical problems, mental health issues are best dealt with when treated as early as possible. Artest sought help only recently and now wants those less fortunate than him to get the same kind of attention. It's extremely generous for him to use his celebrity this way, even if he's acted over the top at times. In this case, Ron-Ron's shamelessness is welcomed.

Charles Barkley famously once said that athletes shouldn't be role models, but Artest obviously thinks that's a load of bunk. Almost everyone needs a successful example to follow to overcome an obstacle, and Artest can be that person for basketball fans (especially young ones) coping with their own mental health issues. He's become a hero not just for the kids his charity will directly help, but anyone currently struggling with depression and related ailments. Thankfully, it doesn't look like he's going to stop any time soon.

Maybe he got the right meds and therapy.

Problem is he is not playing with the same fire.

Good for him, good for his charity that benefit from his work.

Lebron one day might still get it.

TheGame wrote:That nice, but he should have kept the ring. Just give money. The ring is something you give to your children.

i don't think the money is as much the point as it is the publicity this generated for the cause he's trying to raise money for... simply donating money to this charity doesn't raise even remotely as much public awareness of mental illness as raffling off his ring does... i thought this is a completely honorable & generous gesture on Artest's part, he obviously has his heart in the right place here... i don't know of any other athlete that would have done what he did.

TMS wrote:

GustavBahler wrote:Ron understands that while he may no longer have his championship ring, they can never take away that he is a champion. I admire him for wanting to help people who have suffered the effects of mental illness like he has and did something much more thoughtful than just writing a check.

agreed... the thing that impresses me is that Ron makes it completely about the cause he's trying to raise money for w/this gesture... when Lebron tries to raise money for charity, it's still all about him... he's completely self-centered... Ron is the exact opposite... he could care less about personal aggrandizement, he just wants to help kids get the help they need that he couldn't get when he was their age & is willing to give up the most cherished trophy that any player in his sport could ever have.

I disagree. Ron Artest said he suffered from mental issues which is why he is so passionate about the topic.

I think Lebron would be passionate about male pattern baldness.