Ron Artest’s ring raffle is a remarkable gesture for charity

Ron Artest’s decision to raffle off his championship ring and donate the proceeds to mental health charities is a remarkable gesture that has received too little attention.…

While athletes’ auctions more often benefit only the sellers, this one draws attention to a cause near and dear to the Lakers forward.…

“It’s not about how much money I can raise,” Artest told Larry King on Wednesday night, announcing that the winner would be announced Dec. 25. “It’s more about the message.” …

Raffle tickets are available at RonArtest.com.…

By the way, the championship rings awarded to the Lakers players Tuesday night feature a three-dimensional sculpture of the recipient’s face, making each ring unique.…

LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and the Miami Heat are going to need some time.…

So too Kobe Bryant and his surgically repaired knee.…

From “idiot” three years ago to “greatest owner in the history of team sports,” Jerry Buss has made a miraculous three-year transformation, at least according to Bryant.…

The Pau Gasol trade helped speed the metamorphosis.…

Memo to critics panning LeBron James’ new “What should I do?” Nike ad as self-absorbed: What did you expect? …

James lands at No. 17 and Bryant at No. 45 in AskMen.com’s list of the top 49 most influential men of 2010, a list that also includes Landon Donovan of the Galaxy at No. 35.…

Jon Stewart, host of “The Daily Show,” tops the list.…

Joe Buck and Tim McCarver, working their 13th World Series together, still have a ways to go to catch Jim Nantz and Billy Packer, who called the Final Four 18 times. …

Titled “The Pursuit of Leadership: Women in a Man’s World,” a management course for graduate students at UCLA this winter will be taught by returning instructor J.D. McCourt.…

Dodgers fans know her as Jamie.…

Since 1988, when Kirk Gibson & Co. turned back the heavily favored Oakland Athletics, 22 teams other than the Dodgers have reached the World Series.…

Eli Manning & the New York Giants, perhaps the NFC’s best team, might not rank among the top five in the AFC.…

Coach Raheem Morris of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 3-13 a year ago but 4-2 this year after Sunday’s win over the St. Louis Rams: “We’re the best team in the NFC. Yeah, I said it.” …

Yes, but why? …

Kellen Moore and Boise State have won their last 21 games and outscored their last four opponents, 212-34, but still haven’t climbed above No. 3 in the BCS standings.…

The EagleBank Bowl, born only two years ago and won by Akeem Ayers and UCLA last December, is no more.…

As of Tuesday, it’s now the Military Bowl or, its more formal title, the Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman.…

But the tradition lives on.…

According to a Sporting News Today ranking of the nation’s top 100 college football prospects, four have committed to USC, led by Crenshaw High running back De’Anthony Thomas.…

None has committed to UCLA.…

Blake Griffin and the Clippers opened the season Wednesday night as 80-1 longshots to win the NBA championship, according to odds posted at BetUS.com.…

Griffin went off as a 2-1 choice as rookie of the year, with John Wall of the Washington Wizards the favorite at 3-2.…

Teemu Selanne of the Ducks, after moving past Bobby Hull into 15th place on the NHL’s all-time goal-scoring list Tuesday night at Dallas: “Good things happen when you play long.” …

Kelly Slater, the Michael Jordan of professional surfing, is on the verge of winning his 10th world championship.…

No one else has won more than five.…

Tiger Woods’ 5 1/2-year run atop the world golf rankings will finally end Monday, with Lee Westwood of England or Martin Kaymer of Germany ascending to No. 1.…

Diana Nyad, 61, has postponed her planned 103-mile swim from Cuba to Florida because the water turned too cold during numerous delays caused by visa issues and weather.…

Noting that a man who ran onto the field during a baseball playoff game was described as angry, talking gibberish and ranting and raving, Brad Dickson of the Omaha World-Herald writes, “Because of these qualifications, he’s been named to host a sports talk radio show.”

jerome.crowe@latimes.com