Just Give Peace a Chance

June 23, 2011 5:17 PM

Metta World Peace

Ron Artest, the Lakers' forward, filed papers to change his name. "Metta" isn't a tribute to this site, but rather is a Buddhist virtue of kindness. Recently, he received the NBA's citizenship award for the 2010-11 season. Back in 2004, he was suspended for a brawl in the stands, but that was when he was playing for the Pacers.

posted by Ideefixe (17 comments total)

Metta.
posted by vidur at 5:20 PM on June 23, 2011 [2 favorites]

Trademark infringement!
posted by beagle at 5:21 PM on June 23, 2011

Previously.
posted by auto-correct at 5:23 PM on June 23, 2011

he already had a great name! He's not a player he's an artest, maaaan.
posted by 2bucksplus at 5:23 PM on June 23, 2011

My favorite bit of sports "news" today: Brewers Fan Tells Nyjer Morgan To Go Fly A Kite, So Nyjer Morgan Goes And Flies A Kite
posted by defenestration at 5:26 PM on June 23, 2011 [9 favorites]

he was suspended for a brawl in the stands, but that was when he was playing for the Pacers.

He's still not exactly a squeaky clean guy on the court (note the knee to Odom's junk in the process. Odd two-fer, that).
posted by Ufez Jones at 5:27 PM on June 23, 2011

Artest famously thanked his sports psychologist after winning the NBA championship last year. It's actually been a pretty amazing turnaround for him since the brawl (other than that clothesline^).
posted by auto-correct at 5:29 PM on June 23, 2011

Meta would be cooler. And more meta.
posted by clvrmnky at 5:34 PM on June 23, 2011 [1 favorite]

Talk about a misnomer. Better name would be World Klassasshouhle.
posted by jcworth at 5:39 PM on June 23, 2011

Artest famously thanked his sports psychologist after winning the NBA championship last year. It's actually been a pretty amazing turnaround for him since the brawl (other than that clothesline^).

Oh, I know and respect the efforts Artest has made to raise awareness of mental health issues in the world of sports, which is awesome. I just wouldn't want him on my team.

Fortunately, my team swept the fucking Lakers and won the Championship this year.
posted by Ufez Jones at 5:42 PM on June 23, 2011 [1 favorite]

defenestration: I favorited your post so hard I think I broke my left mouse button. That is hilariously awesome.
posted by MegoSteve at 5:42 PM on June 23, 2011 [1 favorite]

Go Metta! I'm grateful to the article for also telling me about Chad Ochocinco.
posted by dragonplayer at 5:51 PM on June 23, 2011

I love the idea of somebody with the name "World Peace" on his jersey.
posted by Joey Michaels at 5:59 PM on June 23, 2011 [1 favorite]

I love the idea of somebody with the name "World Peace" punching the fuck out of fans in the stands.

I don't really love it.
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 8:39 PM on June 23, 2011

Meta remains my (given) middle name. So there.
posted by emhutchinson at 11:47 PM on June 23, 2011

I'm happy he's doing better now. He was drafted by the Bulls, and there were a lot of odd stories about him (including the pretty widely attempt to work at Best Buy during his rookie year), but the one that sounded like, well, he might just go nuts and leap into the stands was during half-time of a blowout loss (there were many) he grabbed a ball and started firing chest passes off the walls, directly above other players' heads. Evidently it continued through the remainder of the half-time break, Artest hurling the ball off the walls, just barely missing his teammates, not saying a single word.

So, yeah, I'd like to thank that sports psychologist, too. Things could have gone so much worse for Artest.
posted by Ghidorah at 12:34 AM on June 24, 2011 [1 favorite]

I really respect him for his work for mental health awareness. A lot of people are too embarrassed to seek help, let alone to advertise it.
posted by callmejay at 9:35 AM on June 24, 2011