Metta World Peace Gets Suspended for Seven Games: Fair or Foul?

Los Angeles Lakers defensive specialist Metta World Peace, aka Ron Artest, has been suspended for seven games by the NBA, due to his actions during Sunday's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. As we covered here on SodaHead Sports, Peace was celebrating after he scored on Sunday and pumped his fist so hard that he elbowed Thunder player James Harden in the head.

Harden was nearly knocked out unconscious and is currently day-to-day. He is expected to play in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. Yet as lucky as Harden is, in this day and age of closer examination with head injuries, the concussion he suffered at the hands (or elbow) of Peace could make him more vulnerable to brain damage should he end up concussed again later in life.

Remember: It's not like this was an accident or “part of the game.” This was a blatant shot to the head of an innocent and unsuspecting player. And whether there's beef between the two players or two teams is irrelevant because actions like that in basketball -- let alone any sport that's not combat-based like mixed martial arts or boxing -- is uncalled for. Metta World Peace will miss six playoff games during his suspension. So much for staying true to his new name.