National Basketball Association

Artest offers Tiger encouragement

Published Dec. 17, 2009 2:56 p.m. ET

foxsports

Lakers forward Ron Artest gave Tiger Woods his support Tuesday, explaining in a blog post that he has made similar mistakes as the superstar golfer.

In a post Tuesday, Artest said, ``I can tell you're a standup guy'' while acknowledging his own infidelities. He wrote about having a baby with another woman after having two with his girlfriend, now his wife. Artest also called Woods ``the perfect role model for me and my sons for longer than anyone I have known.''

Speaking before the Lakers' game against the Bulls on Tuesday night, Artest said Woods was there at a time when ``I wasn't a role model for my sons.''

Woods' image has been in a free fall since he crashed his car into a tree Nov. 27, setting off a public airing of his infidelities and marital problems.

Artest made headlines when he told a magazine he would get drunk during games while with Chicago and that he bought alcohol at a liquor store down the street from the United Center and slipped it into his locker.

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