The downside of Ron Artest leaving Sacramento is that one of the great fund raisers for the animals in the greater Sacramento area is leaving town. Granted, Ron stumped for PETA while we are gathering funds for the SPCA, but helping animals is helping animals, and now we have to collectively fill the Ron Artest void.

As I've mentioned before, I always feel a little guilty about asking for fundage. I imagine that at least some of you work for the great state of California, and thanks to our legislature and governor, working for the state is a lot like working for a CBA team when Isiah Thomas was running things - put in your time and hope you get paid...and you probably don't want to leave any valuables at the office over the weekend.

But thanks to the generosity of those that have found the means, we are within $328 of our goal with three months to go. I was going to make my donation in honor of how many times Ron will make us squirm about the trade over the next two weeks, but my loan application was denied. So I move to my default plan - $10 per "e" in Donte Greene's name.

Now it's your turn. Pick a player that fits your budget and respect the "e." Kevin Martin works for those on a budget, Shelden Williams if you can afford a little more. Brad Miller would be a value, but you have to tack on for the suspension.

So drop an "e" note or two, and make life better for four legged friends. Ron would have wanted it that way.

Perhaps my last post under the heading of "Ron-Ron," unless I choose to opt in later and then immediately regret it...

• I will miss Ron vs. Brandon Roy.
• I will not miss Ron vs. Reggie Theus or Utah Jazz fans.
• I will always be indebted to Ron for his play when he arrived here in 2006.
• I will always be amazed that Ron created such a stir here while playing only 167 regular season games.
• I'm glad Ron was here.
• I'm glad that he's gone.
• I loved/hated Ron's tenacity.
• I loved/hated the fact that Ron's audio thought process was unfiltered and unprocessed.
• Beno Udrih feels just like you do when that noisy neighbor moves out.
• Kevin Martin and Francisco Garcia will be better players for having played with Ron Artest.
• Kevin Martin and Francisco Garcia will be better players for no longer playing with Ron Artest.
• The low post is once again a concern.
• The extra pass is no longer a concern.
• Ron Artest will receive a loud, positive ovation when he first returns here.
• Bobby Jackson's first ovation will be louder and longer.
• Houston just joined New Orleans as my favorite Western Conference teams (other than the Kings).
• If Houston doesn't win it all this year, their off season won't be much fun...and Rick Adelman will ride into the sunset.
• We're going to feel awfully left out next year when all of those Ron-Ron to ________ rumors start up.
• I loooooved Ron Artest.
• I loooooathed Ron Artest.
• Buckle up, Houston. It's going to be a bumpy ride. But if you like thrill rides, you'll love Ron Artest.
• Say a prayer that Donte Greene for Ron Artest is one day mentioned in the same breath as Jermaine O'Neal for Dale Davis.
• Kevin Martin, line 1 holding for you. Your destiny is calling.

Good luck and Godspeed, Ron Artest. You always gave us what you perceived as your best. I'll root for you at times on the court, but I'll root for you always in life.

This is what happens when your pet hangs with E-Muss.

We enter July and we continue in our efforts to raise hundreds of dollars for the SPCA. My donation this month is in honor of our newest Kings and their jersey numbers - Jason Thompson (34), Sean Singletary (7) and Patrick Ewing, Jr. (0). This is a far better deal than using their college jersey totals, which would have come to $78. That's a savings of $37, so what are you waiting for? Act now! This low price can't last forever.

I know that I'm asking a lot here. Gas prices, milk prices, everything is just getting to be outrageous. One of the nice things about StR is that it has not been impacted by these price increases. It's still free (and well worth it!). Don't sweat it if you can't donate, as times are tough. We're fortunate that our dogs gladly agreed to sacrifice their Christmas presents this year so that we could make our donation. Actually, Sasha was all for it. But Jade (seen below) is still trying to get into the spirit of things.

 Ho-Freakin'-Ho!

I was thinking about the Beno Udrih situation yeserday and it struck me - never has so much been made over a potential MLE signing. And that's justified, given the fact that Sean Singletary is our most experienced PG (once he signs) because he has been in the Kings' practice facility once. Nevertheless, it is ridiculous unfortunate a testament to where we are right now in the rebuilding process that we have to go bargain shopping for a short term solution for perhaps the most important position on the floor.

When I peruse the list of unrestricted free agents, my loins do not exactly well up in excitement (visualize, everybody!). It is a veritable "who's not who" of NBA journeymen. But I think that is where our next floor leader may come from, as we do not want to overpay by bidding on a restricted free agent. For example, I like a guy like Louis Williams from Philly, but they have already tendered him a qualifying offer. My fear is that the only offer that won't be matched by the 76ers would be one that is far too expensive. I would prefer seeing Garcia and Singletary at the point this year than paying too much money for a guy. And point guards are at a premium this year, so expect the best of the free agent bunch to get overpaid.

Also, for our purposes here let's figure that we are not going to be trading for guys like Felton, Lowry or Hinrich. Not that it won't happen, just that it most likely won't happen.

OK, let's take the lids off of these buffet entrees and see what we have to choose from:

• Darrell Armstrong
• Carlos Arroyo
• Earl Boykins
• Anthony Carter
• Dan Dickau
• Keyon Dooling
• Chris Duhon
• Eddie House
• Lindsey Hunter
• Anthony Johnson
• Shaun Livingston
• Tyronn Lue
• Jannero Pargo
• Sebastian Telfair
• Beno Udrih
• Jason Williams

Mmm, mmm. Who's hungry?

Now, let's systematically eliminate some of these guys and really get down to brass tacks. Armstrong is 40, Boykins is 5-5 and thinks he's worth more money than he really is, Dickau only scores points against us, Dooling and House both average 4 assists per 40 minutes, Hunter is 37, and Telfair is smaller than the gun he packs.

So, we're down to Arroyo, Carter, Duhon, Johnson, Livingston, Lue, Pargo, Udrih and Williams.

My bet is that someone is going to offer Beno a five year MLE and we won't. I also think that someone (Clippers or Knicks) will offer Duhon more money than we would want to pay him. New Orleans will resign Pargo (that's part of the reason that they sold their #27 draft pick).

At this point I'm also going to eliminate Shaun Livingston. I wouldn't mind taking a $1-2 million flier on Livingston for the next couple of years, but we are talking about signing an opening night point guard. Livingston has 60 career starts under his belt, has not played in over a year, and there is no proof that he can still be an NBA point guard. Had there been any proof the Clippers would have at least tendered him a qualifying offer, as they will need to spend at least that much money securing another PG.

Next to go is Jason Williams. Sorry J-Will, but your inability to play anything even resembling defense will be more than Reggie Theus can handle.

Alrighty then. Our search has been narrowed to four candidates. Wow, this is a lot like "Hell's Kitchen." No one can cook but someone has to win. Let's continue. Our remaining choices are Carlos Arroyo, Anthony Carter, Anthony Johnson and Tyronn Lue.

For what it's worth, Carter and Johnson will both be 34 at the beginning of the season. Johnson knows the Kings system. The Kings waived Lue (he'll be 32) as a favor last year, something that Lue and his agent would hold in high regard should the Kings be interested in signing him as a starter. Arroyo, at age 29 looks like the best overall fit. What I don't know about Arroyo is how he would feel about signing a short term contract with a rebuilding team, nor do I have any idea as to whether or not he would consider going back to Puerto Rico to play. But, because ignorance is bliss (and in my case standard operating procedure), I've made my decision and I'm sticking with him.

Please join me in welcoming your newest Sacramento King and opening night point guard - Carlos Arroyo.