Who Is Metta World Peace?

Almost three weeks ago we watched the NBA's Sixth Man Player of the Year, James Harden, get clobbered with a vicious elbow that left him with a concussion. There was nothing good about that foul. It was definitely intentional and no one was surprised by the seven game suspension given to Metta World Peace.

Due to the countless replays the incident left many speechless. In the real world you'd ask yourself, what was the intent and motive behind that play? But in the world of sports, it's a flagrant foul 2, which results in immediate ejection and suspension.

Now, the Los Angeles Lakers are desperate to find a way to prevent their season from ending. So what's the solution? The same guy who pissed off millions of viewers with a heartless attack on Harden is the unsung hero in turning things around for the Lakers in game 7.

The message was clear, this is a must win! Kobe Bryant's comments after game 6 were harsh. 'The only person I can count on is Metta World Peace.' The Denver Nuggets fought back to tie the series 3-3, it's time to hit the panic button because without their top defender moving past this round is looking bleak.

Very interesting how one comment can turn an entire team around, Bryant's faith in World Peace led to a collective group effort from all in eliminating the Nuggets after a 96-87 win. Still a top defensive player in the league, World Peace proved that in his return. He scored 15 points and unleashed four 3-pointers to spark the energy and defense.

The Lakers advanced and will face the Oklahoma City Thunder in round 2 of the NBA Playoffs. The wait is over, the last time these two teams played against each other was April 22, 2012. Is it perfect timing or a coincidence? Nope. Everyone assumed both of these teams would meet again in the playoffs. This time the emotions, ego and competition will be at an all time high.

However, the recent win doesn't erase his colorful past. The unforgettable brawl that caused World Peace to miss 86 games, the longest for an on court incident in NBA History. The melee between his former team, the Indiana Pacers and the Detroit Pistons created a "bad boy" persona with a proceed with caution clause. The next five years were spent on the road with various NBA teams.

Then the sea parted, an opportunity to play along side Bryant and the Lakers became the golden ticket. Life got better because in the 2010 NBA Finals Metta World Peace won his first NBA Championship. He felt so in tune with the universe that he changed his name in the offseason from his birth name Ron Artest.

So, whose the guy that suits up everyday for battle on the court? The former "bad boy" Artest or revamped Metta World Peace. I'd say there is no change, just a player who uses bad judgement in the heat of the moment. On the floor he's going to give you 110 percent, the consequences may result in an incident that can make World Peace go from 1 to 10 in seconds. But in the world of sports, sometimes it's worth it.

 

Comments

[starksing]

06:15 PM on 05/19/2012

Maliaka, you could have done better. "Heartless attack" is less accurate than "reckless overreaction". MWP didn't know it was the smaller Harden who bumped him, so accusing him of a "heartless attack" is wrong & not descriptive of MWP who seems to lead with the heart as shown by his offers to forego his salary to keep a teammate and the coach on the Kings, his work on behalf of folks dealing with mental health issues & his auctioning of his championship ring & donating the proceeds. His problem on court is managing that thin line between being tough for his team & going too far. Maybe too much heart - or "passion" as he calls it - but, not heartlessness. To mischaracterize him may serve you well with the many people who saw only the hard elbow, since the easy path for the media is to stir up the public to expect violence & anger from him. The media's comments that implied that anger was behind the foul never made sense. MWP just dunked - for the 3rd time in the game! What did he have to be angry about when he was excited and pumped over the fast break and the subsequent dunk?
For you to say "there is no change" defies reality. Life is change! For you to spell "judgment" with an extra "e" and "who's" with no apostrophe, shows you could be more careful at work ... as MWP should have been before throwing that elbow.

[kd5yzo]

09:55 PM on 05/17/2012

i don't think it is worth it. for civilians, this would be battery and the police would be involved. sports is necessary in life but brutality in the name of sports is not necessary, it is despicable. nothing justifies what artest did to hayden. and shame on kobe for hinting at the necessity of artest to the team.

[2enet2enet]

02:47 PM on 05/15/2012

get over it and live in pease.