Ron Artest showed how good a player he is by helping the Lakers win a championship. By putting his championship ring up for sale, Artest is showing how good a person he has become.
Instead of keeping the ring for personal pleasure, Artest has decided he'd rather use the ring to raise money for mental health counseling in schools, The Associated Press reports. While the details are still in the works, Artest plans to have fans buy raffle tickets for $1 to $3 for the chance to win the ring.
When Artest was 13, he went to counseling for a few months, but funding for the program ran out and he couldn't afford to continue therapy. This past year, Artest has been outspoken about mental health and publicly thanked his psychiatrist for easing his anxiety during this year's playoffs. He hopes that by being open about his condition, and by donating to schools, mental health will get the necessary attention.
"When I grew up, mental health was something that wasn't talked about,” Artest told the AP. “People were scared to say they were seeing a psychologist.”
Now, Artest wants young people to have the outlet they need for discussing their issues, something that could have helped him when he was a kid.
"It'll be a great way to help kids who don't know where they're going in their life at this point," he added.
Artest may be most known for his violent behavior, such as the infamous brawl in Detroit and his domestic abuse arrest . And while his mental struggles do not excuse the past behavior, he should be commended for getting control of his own life and taking the preemptive action to help children before any mental problems manifest the way they did for Artest. He even has helped Rep. Grace Napolitano advance the Mental Health in Schools Act in California.
Artest bravely tries to detach the stigma of mental illness, which in turn could help countless other athletes who struggle with similar problems due to rough upbringings. Imagine a sports world where instead of criticizing the wild behavior of players like Terrell Owens, people support those players to seek treatment.
Do you think Artest's recent actions refurbish his image? Will mental health receive the attention it needs? Share your opinions below.
