"Next on TNT, following the NBA Playoffs, the sequel to Clint Eastwood's Western hit film "Unforgiven", starring Ron Artest with co-stars Terrell Owens, Miguel Tejada and Kevin Garnett, directed by Pat Riley and co-written by Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter, it's "Ungrateful".

Come to think of it, that wouldn't be a half bad comedy.  Because comedy and headaches are about all that Pacers' forward Ron Artest is good at.  'Ungrateful' is the best I can come up with to describe Artest.  On Saturday, he had the nerve to, in an interview with The Indianapolis Star, basically demand a trade, calling it good for the team.  Ron Artest, like Pat Riley, does very little with "the team" in mind. 

He certainly didn't when he went into the stands last November.  He didn't when he was promoting himself and his record company in the midst of a Pacers season where the expectations were nothing less than a championship.  And he certainly isn't now.  This is about Ron Artest thinking of nothing else except, well, Ron Artest.

After that night in Detroit 13 months ago, the Pacers stood by him; they nurtured him and waited for him to get help.  They believed in Artest and gave him the support that no one--including his college coach Mike Jarvis--gave.

Artest claimed he changed.  He'd let go of some things.  He went on TV shows and radio shows and declared his intentions were to lead the Indiana Pacers to an NBA Championship because it was what he could give back to them and the Pacer fans for supporting him.  Now, he's spitting on Larry Brown and Donnie Walsh's shoes--and rubbing Coach Rick Carlisle's face in it.

Artest told The Indianapolis Star that he thought he "caused a lot of problems" for the Pacers.  Really, I hadn't noticed anything specific, except that blown 2004-2005 season, the team chemistry problems and self-absorption.  But please, Ron-Ron, go on-on...

He said he was "demanding of the ball", but that it wasn't his "fault" he sees so many mismatches every time down the floor. 

On Monday, the Pacers said they will oblige Artest's request and seek to trade him in the next week to ten days.  And that's fine.

Players request/demand trades all the time--they don't like the fans, they don't like the city's media treatment, they don't like the GM or the coach or where the franchise is headed.  And to tell the truth, I used to not have a problem with it, and here's why:  When this trend started ten to fifteen years ago, there weren't many trades going on, so it was a big deal.  Seeing a superstar like Charles Barkley change cities was a huge thing.  And in not all, but most, circumstances, it was good for both teams.  

Here's another reason I used to like it: Why should a pro athlete be forced to stay with the team that drafted them?  They can pick their college, but they can't pick their professional team?  I'm not knocking the draft process.  I'm just saying if, under the right circumstances, you're spent some time with a team and the opportunity to go somewhere else, such as your old hometown team or your favorite childhood team, comes up, then make the trade.

But the process, the original context of the trade has been completely undermined in today's professional Sports World.  Athletes don't live in reality, or they'd know they can't demand a trade. 

Do players not realize how ridiculous they sound?  Apparently T.O. never got the fact he looked silly to everyone because he was the one who signed the contract with the Eagles a year ago--it was his special contract!  Suddenly, eight months later, it wasn't enough. 

Miguel Tejada of the Baltimore Orioles just did a similar thing (though he's back-tracking on his trade demand).  He signed with a mediocre team that stunk for years in a tough division like the AL East where they play head to head against the Yankees and the Red Sox.  The Orioles actually led the division until mid-June and were still around by mid-July.  But it's not enough--Tejada wants them to be competitive (guess that he forgot how good the O's were early on, maybe from too many foul balls to the head.  Or maybe it just depends on what your definition of "competitive" is. 

Regular people can't demand a trade, can they?  What do you think would happen if we all went in to our bosses' tomorrow morning, told them we didn't like their management style and wanted to be traded to the competition, so our talents could be better used? 

First, those bosses would laugh hysterically for probably a good hour, then fire us with a straight face on their way out the door to lunch.  Or try to imagine if you were suspended for eight months (half of which you were paid for) from work for assault or something, the company kept you on, you returned to work and after six weeks asked to be released so you could pursue another job?  Again, hysterical laughing and fired.

At this level, as we always hear, Pro Sports is a business first.  The Pacers would fire Artest, but they can't.  They might get rid of Artest as fast as possible, but they can't get equal value for him--they're the ones that lose in this situation.  The Pacers have the second best record in the Eastern Conference and their best all-around player just threw the coach, the management and his teammates under the bus.

It shouldn't surprise us, though.  It happens all the time, more so each year. Terrell Owens and his "situation" with the Eagles, Manny Ramirez for every year since 2003 with the Red Sox, in the past with Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady.  They bite the hands that feed them, the people who support them, in order to do something for themselves. 

In every other aspect of life, regular people can't do that.  Mothers and Fathers sacrifice for their children, Husbands and Wives for each other, Family and Friends.  Even at work, you sacrifice things for other people.  But for the people who make the most money in this country, there are no consequences.    Here's hoping Artest gets traded to NBA purgatory, someplace like Atlanta, Toronto or a place where he'd fit in perfectly: the Portland "Jail"-Blazers.  Any way you slice it, Ron-Ron is a Gone-Gone.