Good Ron? Bad Ron? Obi-Ron? Just wait for next Episode

There is a constant battle within Artest, a battle between the good Ron and the bad Ron. The bad Ron seems to be winning though the good Ron, on occasion, digs in his heels for a fight, which explains Artest doing so much good on this African trip.

You constantly wonder and hold your breath for the time when the bad Ron, Mr. Episode, will again emerge. You know he will come screaming out of the shadows. It is only a matter of time.

"Like I tell kids when I speak to them," Artest said, "if you make a mistake, don't be so hard on yourself. Some people make one mistake, some people make 20 mistakes. I'm probably the guy who makes 20 mistakes."

Yes, yes you are.

Even as Artest was helping to do something splendid for potentially a great many people, trouble followed him, all the way to Africa. This week the NBA announced Artest would be suspended the first seven games of next season as punishment for a no contest plea to misdemeanor domestic violence charges. The announcement came while Artest was in Africa (where he was still scheduled to be throughout this week).

"The only thing I was really upset about was I was out here," Artest said, "trying to do something good and I had to hear about that news. It was frustrating. But the NBA has a job to do. You just move on."

Asked if he would appeal the suspension, Artest said: "We'll see what Billy Hunter (executive director of the players association) and my agent want to do. I'll leave it up to them."

Artest mentioned something that was unintelligible -- this time real phone static was to blame -- and then Artest said: "I'm just being me. People get to see every aspect of Ron Artest's life. Some is good, some is bad, a lot of mistakes. But I'm myself."

"This trip puts things in perspective," he added. "I'm just trying to do something positive with my life."

Artest and the NBA players did just that. No question.

What happens next with Artest? Which Artest will win? The one who desires to put the bad times behind him or the devil on the shoulder who makes Artest do it?

We'll have to wait for the next Episode to find out.