When 50 Cent first signed with Eminem’s Shady records, along with his contract he received a watch which the rapper vowed to sell if things didn’t work out for him with music.  Needless to say 50 never sold that watch.  But fellow Queens native and brand new Los Angeles Lakers b-baller, Ron Artest recently subscribed to that same hood financial planning when he graciously donated his $45,000 diamond watch to a Chinese teenager, not to wear but rather to pawn to fund his education.

15-year-old Zheng Fengyu, an aspiring basketball player from a poor family in Wuhan, China was the recipient of the rare but generous gesture Wednesday during an “NBA Cares” missionary trip.  Artest’s fame grew in China last season while playing alongside Chinese national, Yao Ming, the Houston Rockets center.

“He is great. Never let me shoot easily,” Artest was quoted as saying. “Hope this can help realize his basketball dream.”

Overjoyed by the expensive give, Zheng, said:

“August 14th is my birthday, this is just the perfect gift for me.”

There’s an age-old saying “its the thought that counts.” But for Artest, its the lack of thinking that often bewilders.   I’m cool with the gift, there’s just something very weird about encoraging a teenager to pawn your watch to fund his education.  Its not like he’s going to put it on eBay.  Let’s just hope that money and watch go where they’re supposed to.  With all the media attention, something tells me he’d better hide it in a safe place and invest in some extra security because the haters have probably put a bullseye on his back.

Via Xinhuanet