Should Metta World Peace Be Suspended?

by SodaHead Sports Posted 2012/04/23 17:00:00

Related Topics: Sports, elbow, Metta World Peace, Ron Artest, james harden, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, Basketball, Oklahoma City Thunder, Ufc, Money, Television, Model, Games, Art, History, Situation

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526 votes
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	Yes	422 votes	80%
	No	104 votes	20%

While you're reading this, keep in mind, Metta World Peace could be disciplined very, very shortly. Peace, better known as the often-crazy basketball player Ron Artest, is back in the news again. This time, it's not for great defensive plays, clutch shots or even something funny he said that ended up on the Internet. This is a serious situation and one that could -- and perhaps should -- cost him a lot of money and basketball games.

During Sunday's game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Oklahoma City Thunder, Artest made a dunk and then celebrated with arguably the dirtiest play in recent NBA history. Artest made a celebrating gesture like he was pumping his arm saying "YES!" and then proceeded to elbow OKC player James Harden right in the head, nearly knocking him out and concussing him on national television. Replays showed one hell of an elbow. But unfortunately for Artest, he's not playing mixed martial arts. He's playing basketball.

Between getting banned for a season after brawling with fans seven years ago to his crazy comments to just plain flagrant fouls, Artest is no saint. He may not be all there and he's acknowledged that before, but that doesn't mean he shouldn't be punished. Based on his track record, Artest may not just miss some playoff games for his third-seeded Lakers. Don't be surprised if he misses the entire playoffs as his punishment. Maybe that will finally send a message to the man who claims peace and was anything but a role model on Sunday.

+15

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Apache 2012/04/23 19:45:22 (edited)

Yes

+10
After Malice at the Palace and now this, Ron Artest shouldn't be allowed near any NBA games forever.

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More polls by SodaHead Sports

silentart 2012/04/24 21:46:21

No

Suspended is akind wrong, he should be fined hefty and be benched 10 days or 15 days.

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T to silentart 2012/04/25 22:09:03

Isn't being benched what a suspension is?

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HotPuhtaytuhs 2012/04/24 21:41:37

Yes

+1
Hes had enough chances to act right. He shouldn't be allowed on the court again.

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mike j 2012/04/24 21:17:07

Yes

+1
He needs to be suspended , and the League needs to make a Rule , that after this season in completed , any further assaults by a Player results in immediate suspension, then a complete and fair hearing by the League and upon finding that an intentional assault occured , the Player is terminated from the League for life. Thuggery is not sports , it is street gang and that is out with the Professionals . But the players involved , the tapes , the witnesses and all will appear before the League panel and the facts layed out before termination.

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Redbull6 2012/04/24 21:10:02

Yes

+3
Suspended, Hell! He SHOULD have been ARRESTED for acting like a childish THUG!

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boneman1 2012/04/24 20:56:07

Yes

+2
It wouldn't have been so bad if he'd thrown an elbow during play, but to hack somebody while their back is turned after a play is ridiculous. This isn't the first time he's had a problem with violent behavior, so I wouldn't have any problem seeing him out the rest of this year and next year.

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Atilla 2012/04/24 20:50:06

Yes

+1
The SOB should have been banned from the NBA for life. He is just your typical NBA thug. I would rather watch paint dry than watch a bakyball game.

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fudge35 2012/04/24 20:40:47

Yes

+2
A years suspension would be fair.

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Stan Weinstein 2012/04/24 20:14:11

Yes

+1
After watching the video it's very obvious that this was an intentional attack. He should be permanently kicked out of basketball before he permanently hurts someone. He needs to go to anger management classes. But, we all know that this will not happen. He'll get the customary 'slap on the wrist' so he can go on to really injure someone again.

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Oreo 2012/04/24 19:33:20

No

personally it really did look like an accident to me but i guess who knows. it was a VERY hard hit but he was pumped that he dunked over IBAKA AND DURANTULA!

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Stix 2012/04/24 19:12:34

No

+3
He should not be suppended...they already tried that with this thug...he should be banned from professional basketball forever this time...

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Betty 2012/04/24 18:07:03

Yes

+1
Let's see, when he was with the Sacramento Kings, there were issues of animal neglect, spousal abuse, and that doesn't begin to address issuses he had with his team. He may have changed his name; but he certainly hasn't changed his attitude or actions.

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BigKwell 2012/04/24 17:48:47

Yes

+1
That incident when he was with the Pacers should've been any indication of his lack of character.

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Marshal... to BigKwell 2012/04/25 01:23:43

+3
I just watch the malice in the palace and I don't blame Artest for beating up the Fans. If someone threw a big gulp in your face wouldn't you try to beat the crap out of them. Ben Wallace started the whole incident but Artest gets blamed for it. What people fail to realize is that the Pistons fans started to riot and it was basically 5 against a few hundred. It's a shame that no one blames the Piston fans or Ben Wallace and Artest takes the blame for the entire thing. There were fans that even ran on the court trying to fight. Even the police tried to run on the court and spray pepper spray in the face of Artest while he was trying to protect himself from the mob. It's is a complete disgrace for the Pistons and Karma has gotten the last laugh against the Piston fans.

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Marshal... to Marshal... 2012/04/25 01:25:14

+3
Anyone that disagrees needs to go back and watch it from start to finish.

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the wizz 2012/04/24 17:47:23

Yes

+2
His ass should be fired and banned from the MBA !!!!

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mikeyavelli 2012/04/24 17:35:50

No

not suspended, expelled from basketball. maybe cage fighting for metta world peace.

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heirsoftheking 2012/04/24 17:25:26 (edited)

Yes

+1
Go further and give "Mr. Metta World Peace" this:

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Talmadge Monroe 2012/04/24 17:18:13

Yes

+3
Shoulda kicked his sorry ass out of the NBA a long time ago...

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Stanley 2012/04/24 17:15:42

Yes

+2
If a player in any sport causes injury to another player through any action which would be considered a foul, that player should be banned from the sport for a period of time at least equal to the time it takes for the injured player to return to a full pre-injury level of performance. If the injured player sustains a career ending injury then the player causing the injury (if cause drew a foul) should be permanently banned from the subject sport and any other team sport.

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CP Thornhill 2012/04/24 17:10:55

Yes

+2
Maybe he just has a very , very high testosterone level. That's all. Poor thing.

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pete 2012/04/24 17:09:41

Yes

+4
Banned from the NBA is a better word.

He has a proven anger management track record. He loses control too quickly and lets not forget this is a big, powerful guy who can really hurt someone.

He should take up basket weaving and get out of basketball.

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TJ 2012/04/24 17:06:05

Yes

+2
What a MORON, and he should be suspended even longer for the disingenuous apology that he gave as well....GROW UP!

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JOMO 2012/04/24 16:52:42

Yes

+1
I could be wrong on this one..., but looking at the positioning of the two players.., there is no way he did not know the other player was where he was. And though basketball is not officially a contact sport, without a doubt it should be recognized as such.

Haven said that, there is enough violence in sports by default without individuals bringing personal episodes of it. In this particular case Metta World Peace not only directly impacted another players career, he threatened that players health. And the statement he made with his selfish act proclaimed to the world that the game and the sport he was given the privilege to participate in is not as important as he is...JOMO

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jackpine savage 2012/04/24 16:47:30

Yes

+2
THROW THE GUY OUT FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR..REEVALUATE HIM FOR NXT YEAR...HE IS DANGEROUS TO SPORTSMEN.

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heirsof... to jackpin... 2012/04/24 17:32:21

+1
Speaking of evaluate, give him a psychiatric evaluation, too.

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cents-less 2012/04/24 16:47:08

Yes

+3
ban him

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Human4Dignity 2012/04/24 16:44:07 (edited)

Yes

+3
It's easy to take a cheap shot at someone when playing a game that clearly indicates prohibiting violence.

If he likes head shots so much, ban him from basket ball and send him to boxing. His career will end abruptly.

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jackpin... to Human4D... 2012/04/25 03:27:55

+1
RON ARTEST ASSAULTED HARDEN, SHOULD BE FINED AND NO PLAY FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON AND PAY HARDEN $250,000 FOR ENDANDERMENT OF HIS LIFE

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Human4D... to jackpin... 2012/04/25 04:07:22

Using caplocks does not indicate shouting, it just makes you look stupid.

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Tominator 2012/04/24 16:29:03

Yes

+3
IF Harden is as hurt as it's being reported Metta WTF should be out for the year, end of story. If Harden is ok then 10 games w/o pay will do it.

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prentice.pullins 2012/04/24 16:26:20

Yes

+2
Its was kinda funny... He was in celebrating mode. The lakers don't play game... I think he should join UFC. That was a good elbow

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Superman 2012/04/24 16:23:32

Yes

+2
Banned. I'm usually a forgiving guy after regular punishment. But Artest seems unhinged. You can't have someone that dangerous on the court.

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Marshal... to Superman 2012/04/25 01:56:28

+3
Although you maybe right, the league should remains consistent. There are dirtier players in the league. One is Dwyane Wade. This guy body slammed Rondo and dislocated his arm, Broke Kobe's nose, Fore armed Hamilton to the floor. He basically kicks guys in the nuts or stomach during his jumpers but the fouls are never called.

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Superman to Marshal... 2012/04/25 13:48:18

I'm no fan of Wades either. Dudes a little punk player which may be why he wanted to team up with LeBron.

I think my issue with Artest is that when interviewed he didn't really say it was an accident but that he didn't know who it was he hit. Coulda been a ref, coulda been an opposing player, coulda been a fellow Laker. When you add that to going into the stands during the Malice and we're not just talking about a dirty weasel. We're talking about a dangerous psychotic.

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Marshal... to Superman 2012/04/25 21:08:54

I think banned is over reacting. He didn't start Malice in the Palace, Ben Wallace started the whole think. The fan threw a big gulp drink in his face while Artest laid on his back. That drunken fan needed his butt kicked. Some how Artest is blamed for the whole thing.

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Superman to Marshal... 2012/04/26 17:45:13

No, he didn't start the Malice. He did however start the players going into the stands portion of the fight by going crazy and going into the stands. The right thing to do would have been to back off and to get security and the cops to get the guy. You don't go into the stands half cocked and terrorize some random guy (he went after the wrong guy). Athletes through history on occasion have unfortunately had to deal with that sort of fan crap. The sane ones don't go into the stands.

Artest is not right in the head.

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ID51 2012/04/24 16:17:33

Yes

+1
unsportsman-like conduct...

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ed 2012/04/24 16:12:49

Yes

+1
Send a message to all 'hit men' in any sport that there are penalties for abusive behavior and attach a fine to it also!

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APLWONK 2012/04/24 16:10:03

Yes

+1
Suspended, terminated, fined, and made to pay for the victims' medical bills. He should also face criminal prosecution. What he did was outrageous and no more a "celebration" than if he did a head-stand on the center court. He knew EXACTLY what he was doing! Get rid of him and send him to prison where he belongs.

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