Ron Artest To Legally Change Name

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Lakers forward Ron Artest wants to change his name to Metta World Peace.

Artest's attorney filed a petition in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday seeking the change. The 31-year-old NBA star was born Ronald William Artest Jr.

In the court documents, Artest cites personal reasons for wanting to make the change.

An Aug. 26 court date was set to consider the petition.

The petition filing was first reported by celebrity website TMZ.

Artest's career has been filled with ups and downs. He helped the Lakers win the NBA championship a year ago and in April he received an award for outstanding service and dedication to the community.

He has testified before Congress to support mental health legislation.

Artest may be best known for triggering the most notorious brawl in NBA history when he jumped into the stands and attacked a fan while playing for the Indiana Pacers in November 2004. He was suspended for the rest of that season.

Artest wouldn't be the first NBA player to make a change to an unusual name.

Lloyd Bernard Free, who played in the league from 1975-88, had his first name legally changed to World in 1981. A friend had given him the nickname because of his 44-inch vertical leaps and 360-degree dunks.

In the NFL, Cincinnati Bengals star Chad Johnson legally changed his last name to Ochocinco in August 2008. The name means "eight five" in Spanish.

Comments

[nightfly4257]

03:58 PM on 06/30/2011

I have lot respect for Artest! He is change man, so why not change his name. Yes he could have been more creative, but I think this has some meaning to the man and beside we can all pronounce it.

[Phemale]

09:52 PM on 06/26/2011

World B. Free

[Wide Stance]

07:24 PM on 06/25/2011

The Artest formerly known as "Ron".

[TheBear]

08:46 AM on 06/25/2011

well, this is a little different....but I still kinda like the guy....bringing attention to mental health issues while being open about his own issues couldn't have been easy as a professional athlete.... auctioning his ring for charity....I think he has good intentions which is more than I can say for too many in the limelight.

[Paul The Octopus]

11:45 PM on 06/24/2011

My real name is Paul The Octopus. When I was in middle school, the other kids made my life hell! I am forever scarred! :(

[CatfishJohn]

11:06 PM on 06/24/2011

Time to "up" the meds there ron

[brodog84]

09:07 PM on 06/24/2011

You know, Ron is a big fan of the Nobel Peace Prize.

[labuyu]

07:33 PM on 06/24/2011

He ought to change his name to Richard Cranium!

[pnut166]

07:28 PM on 06/24/2011

I`m actually a little disappointed. As nutty as Artest is, this is the best he could come up with ?

[arnibah]

07:27 PM on 06/24/2011

Arteat changing his name is a sign of what people the Messiah will come from.He is getting ready.

[Barancy Peloma]

06:19 PM on 06/24/2011

he can escape his old name if he wants but he can't escape the fact that he is bent upstairs.

[skooli]

05:52 PM on 06/24/2011

Whatta Weird Piece!!

[tewbaguy]

05:31 PM on 06/24/2011

Does that mean he'll stop clothes- lining Hose Barea and other players a fraction of his size? he should legally never be able to utter the word "peace" ever again.

[tqcobb]

05:24 PM on 06/24/2011

for some reason the silliness of this doesn't surprise me

[IMAUSABABE]

04:45 PM on 06/24/2011

AND THE BEAUTY CONTESTANT SAID ALL I WANT IS.......lol