ARTEST'S LICENSE IS TOO MUCH.

Byline: JOE STEVENS

Many media outlets this week, including omnipotent ESPN, likened Ron Artest to Dennis Rodman. Artest initiated two shouting matches with Pat Riley, gave the Miami crowd the finger - in stereo - and subsequently was suspended four games for his madness.

Rodman, the tattooed and pierced hype machine, also was prone to outrageous behavior and suspensions. But there's one major thing that makes Artest different.

``With Ron, it's not an act,'' said Elton Brand, who has known Artest since he was 13 years old. ``That's how he is.''

Simply put, Artest is out of control. He will have missed seven games this season because of suspensions, and he commits constant missteps when the cameras are off. This isn't about competitive intensity, no matter how much Indiana Pacers coach Isiah Thomas might try to spin it in that direction.

This is about decency.

When Artest twice confronted Riley and gave the crowd the bird, it was indecent. When Artest violently broke a TV camera in New York and was suspended for three games, it was indecent.

But Thomas has come to his player's defense, and to those affected by his words, and has clouded what is right and wrong.

Let's rewind to Artest's youth.

``Ron-Ron,'' as he was called then and now, grew up in Queensbridge, N.Y., and became a playground legend even before adolescence.

Once the youth-hoop brigade in New York discovered him, he quickly was shuffled to the city's best teams. He played prep ball in the hardest league, the Catholic League, with powerhouse LaSalle High. He played his AAU ball on a famed Riverside Church team that also featured the Clippers' Brand and Lamar Odom.

If you think Artest is immature as a 23-year-old with three kids of his own, you should have seen him as a teenager, coddled by adults awestruck by his ability.

``He was worse back then,'' Brand said. ``If he's changed, he's probably gotten more under control. But that's just how he is. He doesn't want to hurt anybody.''

Artest always has been a hothead. Once in AAU ball, Odom jumped ship from Riverside Church to the rival Long Island Panthers. When Artest next played Odom, Ron-Ron had a personal vendetta, playing an extremely physical style that bordered on inappropriate.

After two years at St. John's, Artest wasn't exactly a model citizen. But he avoided trouble enough to get drafted 16th overall by the Chicago Bulls in 1999.

If Artest didn't have his mean streaks, he probably still would be with the Bulls. Sources in Chicago say he was too high maintenance there, and the organization collectively breathed a sigh of relief when he was traded with Brad Miller for Jalen Rose last February.

``That's not a question for me,'' Bulls coach Bill Cartwright said when asked about coaching Artest. ``That's a question for Isiah. (Artest) is not our issue.''

Others, who spoke about Artest on the condition of anonymity, said they were shocked he hadn't been suspended more often. One source said there was a game with the Bulls in Charlotte in which he threw his water bottle on the court in anger and should have been kicked out and suspended.

Luckily for Artest, none of the officials saw the move, and no cameras caught it.

Even in Los Angeles he's had two incidents that have gone unreported. During warmups with the Bulls against the Clippers last season, he got angry when he was given the ``wrong'' ball after making a shot. He threw the ball midway up the Staples Center stands.

When the Pacers beat the Clippers in December, he yanked a headset out of an outlet at the scorer's table and spiked it to the ground. An upset Staples technician declared, ``He's gonna pay for that!''

Throwing a ball in the stands and breaking a headset might not be suspension-worthy, especially when they're not caught on videotape. But because he violently broke a camera in media-saturated New York, he had to sit out three games.

What, breaking a monitor is nearly as bad as giving the finger to paying fans?

The league, Thomas and NBA vice president Stu Jackson have to figure out how to get Artest under control and make his punishments more consistent. Thomas needs to stop spinning Artest's tale and admit his player is not just an intense defender.

The latest spin, by the way, is that just like Thomas' Detroit Pistons, ``The Bad Boys,'' Artest is getting that Bad Boy image because he's intense, physical and defensive-oriented.

Come on.

Maybe absurd spin is perfect for an absurd league. Go ahead and call Artest's latest suspension ``absolutely crazy,'' Reggie Miller.

Keep on defending poor misunderstood Ron-Ron, Isiah.

Let's encourage Artest to keep giving fans the finger.

The NBA: Love it Live.

--All-Star snubs: Artest wasn't selected to the All-Star team by Eastern Conference coaches. But his omission isn't nearly as puzzling as Brad Miller's addition to the team.

Every year there are snubs. Utah's Karl Malone and Dallas' Michael Finley also didn't make it this season, while Miller, Cleveland's Zydraunas Ilgauskas and Phoenix's Shawn Marion did.

The problem is that coaches choose by position, not merit. It is a process that allowed Miller to make the team while numerous guards and forwards were passed by.

The solution is easy: Vote by listing the seven reserves in each conference, regardless of position. If it so happens no centers make the list, so be it. Power forwards such as Jermaine O'Neal or Tim Duncan can play center.

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