WASHINGTON, Nov. 24 (UPI) -- Suspended Indiana Pacers forward Ron Artest is using the backlash of Friday's brawl to tout his new recording label, TruWarier.
Artest has already said he regrets he instigated a bench-clearing, fan-pounding rumble in the last minute of the Pacers game in Detroit, but now he has turned to plugging the release of his label's first CD, "Chapter III," by the R&B trio Allure, the Washington Post reported Wednesday.
"I just wanted to follow in the footsteps of these other labels," said Artest. "I like giving the fans good music. ... It's great. It's like a dream come true."
Artest is not the first NBA player to take a shot at success in the music industry. Shaquille O'Neal published four rap albums in the 1990s, one of which went platinum, and Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson did some recording but never released albums.
The suspended Pacer predicts he'll see greater success, noting that Allure's new CD is selling well.
Artest's suspension for the rest of the current NBA season is costing him $5 million and prosecutors have not ruled out criminal charges.
