Ron Artest's Drinking: Laker Admits He Drank Hennessy During Halftime

Ron Artest drank cognac during halftime of Chicago Bulls games, the Lakers forward tells the Sporting News. According to Artest, "I used to drink Hennessy ... at halftime. I (kept it) in my locker. I'd just walk to the liquor store (near the stadium) and get it."

There are many more revelations in the interview, which appears in full in the magazine's December 7 issue. He defends his role in the infamous Malice at the Palace, a massive fight in which he brawled with fans and was suspended for the rest of the 2004-2005 season.

"It wasn't my fault. ... I don't see anything I could have done different. The only thing I could have done was have God pause time so I could have said, 'Oh, look, you're about to run in some stands, so stop.'"

Artest has seen some interesting moments as of late. In October, he released his song "Afghan Women," complete with video. He recently appeared on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" nearly naked, and there were reports that he was caught up in a welfare fraud investigation.

Check out the December 7 Sporting News for more info.

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Comments

[bascombe]

09:54 AM on 12/10/2009

why is this still posted?

[Witkacy]

12:19 PM on 12/03/2009

NJ Nets fan: "I used to drink Hennessy during games. But now I'm washing down my Oxys with Everclear. Go Nets!"

[DeviceDriver]

11:07 AM on 12/03/2009

Class act all the way.

[Betrayed]

03:19 AM on 12/03/2009

That's nothing.

I drink before, during, and after halftime!

[Schmaltzy the Golem]

01:55 AM on 12/03/2009

In equity waiver theater...we calls it "acting juice".

[Oleg1]

01:22 AM on 12/03/2009

I just ran into Paul Gasol at the Whole Foods. I didn't see him buying Hennessy I sneaked a peek and he was browsing the wine section tho'.
P.S. Can't stand Hennessy. I am Remy XO guy all the way.

[BowlingForRevenge]

01:25 AM on 12/03/2009

There's no "L" at the end of Pau.

[Oleg1]

01:28 AM on 12/03/2009

Point taken.

[Rob Rosenthal]

12:50 AM on 12/03/2009

Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vUhSYLRw14

[Rob Rosenthal]

12:48 AM on 12/03/2009

Half-time Hennessy? That's nothing. How about pitching a no-hitter while high on acid.
True story via well-done re-enactment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vUhSYLRw14&feature=player_embedded

[festry548]

06:31 AM on 12/03/2009

^ Good one.

[gfs5541]

11:38 PM on 12/02/2009

Ron Artest=Dennis Rodman Yay or Nay?

[BowlingForRevenge]

01:19 AM on 12/03/2009

Dennis was MUCH more talented on the court...so I'll have to say Nay.

[Witkacy]

12:19 PM on 12/03/2009

Nay - and Rodman has the rings to prove it.

[sdkgboe]

11:25 PM on 12/02/2009

now I understand why so many people pay $500 bucks to sit courtside at NBA games

[bascombe]

09:58 AM on 12/10/2009

so they can share the bottle?

[Sandmanj]

09:23 PM on 12/02/2009

Why are there so many really, really stupid, ignorant jackasses in the NBA?

[StormWarrior]

10:00 PM on 12/02/2009

inquiring minds want to know.

[ocalasatpro]

11:16 PM on 12/02/2009

Because, well, basketball doesn't appeal to surgeons in the "fun to play" sense. For them, terms like "baseline" and "threading the needle" mean very different things--lucky for all of us.

[eppursimuove]

09:14 PM on 12/02/2009

Both Artest and Kanye have run afoul with Hennessy. I gotta start drinking that stuff. What do they put in it? Crazy juice?

[satanlite]

08:46 PM on 12/02/2009

What a lovely role model.

[Wolf Larsen]

08:31 PM on 12/02/2009

The question is did you have any Hennessy when you made the Afghan woman video?

[Palemoon]

08:22 PM on 12/02/2009

Isn't this the same guy that I was asking what gang sign he was flashing in the other article the other day?