SbB has been following the will-he-or-won’t-he saga of Kings forward Ron Artest and his decision on whether or not to exercise his opt-out clause, noting that he won’t take a cut in pay just to get a title. Now, the interest for his services has ratcheted up enough to where the SACRAMENTO BEE’S Sam Amick is expecting him to test the waters.

Amick got Artest to respond to a Peter Vecsey column in the NEW YORK POST, with Vecsey claiming Artest would exercise that option.

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When it comes to getting a shot at an NBA championship, Ron Artest is willing to wait if the money ain’t right.

The current Sacramento Kings guard made an appearance on ESPN 710’s Steve Mason & John Ireland show on Tuesday to discuss his plans for the offseason.

And it turns out that teams hoping to lure Artest away from Arco will be a bit disappointed, and owners thinking that they can bring Ron in at a discount better think again. Read more…

• Remember when Lakers owner Jerry Buss couldn’t be bothered to come to Boston because of a poker tournament? WICKED CHOPS POKER now deals up photos of the good Doctor hitting the tables - under the watchful eye of a much younger, very interested spectator.

• 950 ESPN in Philadelphia bounces along word that Doug Christie wants Congress to investigate NBA officiating - if that’s okay with his wife.

• MR. IRRELEVANT concludes their broadcasting day, as “Blog Show” is heading off the airwaves.

• DC SPORTS BOG strikes a pose, as the 9-year-old daughter of Redskins lineman Kedric Golston is turning into quite the model child.

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We haven’t heard much from Doug Christie lately - he hasn’t been on an NBA roster since playing for the Los Angeles Clippers last season - until now.

(Cry me a river, Doug.)

Some players’ skills deteriorate over time, while others just burn out from the grind of playing 82 games every season. And then there’s Christie, who cries that he’s been blackballed because of stories going around about his relationship with his wife. Read more…

Tim Donaghy, the former NBA referee accused of betting on games he worked, came out with some accusations of his own, saying that the whole NBA officiating system is crooked.

The NEW YORK DAILY NEWS uncovers a court document filed by Donaghy’s lawyer claiming that league officials would “manipulate” refs to change the outcomes of of games. According to the document:

“League officials would tell referees that they should withhold calling technical fouls on certain star players because doing so hurt ticket sales and television ratings.”

Donaghy also claims that two refs working the 2002 playoffs were acting as “company men” in trying to extend a series to seven games. Could the fix have involved a certain big-name tenant of Staples Center? Read more…

• FAN IQ’s Critical Fanatic suggests the Sacramento Kings make the NBA Draft Lottery meaningful again by sending one lucky fan to the proceedings.

And make sure the Dance Team gets to come along, too.

• Darren Rovell of CNBC advises Chris Long on what number he should wear if he’s drafted by the Raiders.

• THE WORLD OF ISAAC needs their mouth washed out with soap, as they present The Dirtiest Name In Sports Tournament.

• BABES LOVE BASEBALL gets some good chuckles out of last night’s Red Sox-Yankees game.

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Attention breathless media members: If you want to know where Ron Artest plans to play next year, we suggest you start scouring Sac Kings online forums.

Sam Amick of the Bee reports today that Artest is reading Sacramento Kings message boards in an effort to determine if the fans want him back. Read more…

Now that baseball season has gotten underway, what’s a team-less Barry Bonds to do, as he waits to be called up for his court date? Well, why not take in a basketball game and shake hands with Kobe Bryant?

(“Oh God, he’s waving at me. Don’t turn around … don’t turn around …“)

Courtesy the dudes at ODENIZED, we check out a clip of the ex-#25 sharing pleasantries with the current #24 during Sunday night’s Lakers-Kings clash in Sacramento.

Video of the epic encounter after the jump.

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