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Artest apologizes to Kings -- in e-mail form
By Sam Amick - samick@sacbee.com
Last Updated 12:01 am PDT Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C1
One week after expressing regret over his decision to not opt out of his contract this summer, small forward Ron Artest issued an apology to the Kings and vowed to move on from the situation.
"I do apologize for being mistakenly frustrated with the Kings," Artest wrote in an e-mail sent to The Bee and ESPN on Monday morning. "It was a mistake that I made and I will move on from."
Artest's emotional response stemmed from a conference call he had with his agent, Mark Stevens, and Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie on July 1.
According to numerous sources close to the team, Artest – who had until June 30 to exercise his early termination option and become a free agent – came in expecting to discuss a long-term, lucrative contract but was told the Kings were not prepared to have such talks.
Artest, who will earn $7.4 million this season and be an unrestricted free agent next summer, reiterated that he was told before the meeting that the Kings were interested in a long-term deal. The message, however, made it clear he was not in their long-term plans.
"I had wrong info about extension options and it could have cost me a new deal," Artest wrote. "I was informed that the Kings had me in their long-term plans, so that's why I decided to stay in contract. I just wanted to show loyalty.
"However, when I spoke to the Kings, that was not an option and I grew frustrated with my decision immediately."
Artest and Stevens have declined to discuss specifics of what took place leading up to the deadline. Stevens, who was not Artest's agent when he signed his current contract, said he still believes the right decision was made.
"Of course Ron would like a new contract, but like everything else, it's a process and we have to wait and go through the process," Stevens said. "If I had to do it again tomorrow, I probably would (not have Artest opt out). I mean I think (the Kings) have great owners, a great general manager, and at the end of the day they're going to do what's best for Ron and for the Kings."
Asked about Stevens in a subsequent e-mail, Artest said the recent saga wouldn't change their business relationship.
"We (are) coming up together," he wrote. "Mark is a very successful businessman."
About the writer:
- Read Sam Amick's Kings blog at www.sacbee.com/blogs.
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