Stephen Jackson, David Stern, and Kanye West; Since When is it Against the Rules to be Outspoken?

As if on cue, Ron Artest ups the ante on crazy this morning, and weighs with an impromptu serenade to the internets, where he offers his take on the Kanye West fiasco.

And... Umm... I can’t believe that happened. But Ron-Ron, this is why we love you.

Think about it: Stern’s stature within the professional sports community is similar to Kanye’s place in music--a legacy that’s still being written, but with a track record that’s beyond reproach, and unrelenting arrogance that somehow goes unpunished. Then, of course, there’s Captain Jack, one of the most impetuous players in the NBA, and someone who, everyone’s reasonably sure, is at least 85% insane. Mold those two characters together, and you get Kanye, who President Obama called a “jackass” after his latest exploits.

Jackass or not, Kanye’s a fascinating character study that encompasses much of what makes NBA players perplexing: impossibly talented, but destined to live on his own, insane planet of perceived slights, paranoia, and outlandish outbursts. We’ll get to the Stern side of his character later on.