Ron Artest (Metta World Peace): New Name, New Purpose

Is this the defining moment of Artest's career?

Millions of people will always remember that look, the look of terror on the face of a fan about to be clubbed by the fist of a professional athlete. The grainy freeze-frame was publicized in newspapers across the country and eventually, the cover of Sports Illustrated. Ron Artest became the symbol of everything that was wrong in the sports world: anger, violence, and lack of self-control.

Many NBA players come from tough backgrounds, tough circumstances; Ron Artest is one of those players. Growing up in the Queensbridge housing projects in Queens, New York, he once witnessed a murder during a game of pick-up basketball. Artest touched upon the memory during a 2009 interview in the Houston Chronicle:

"I remember when I used to play back home in the neighborhood there were always games [of a physical nature]. I remember one time, one of my friends, he was playing basketball and they were winning the game. It was so competitive, they broke off a piece of leg from a table and they threw it and it went right through his heart and he died right on the court.

"So I'm accustomed playing basketball really rough. When I came into the league, I was used to fighting on the court. That's how I grew up playing basketball."

So it wasn't wholly surprising that Artest was at the heart of what will forever be remembered as the "Malice at the Palace," one of the darkest moments in recent NBA history. On the heels of a record 86 game suspension and a disappointing season in which the team fell short of the ultimate prize, Artest requested a trade, jettisoning the Indiana Pacers and the demons he created in his time there.

And yet, in the time since the incident, a sea change has taken place in the once-unstable demeanor of Artest, and many don't see how truly deep it runs. While he has managed to avoid repeating the mistakes he made on that fateful night in the Palace at Auburn Hills, his on-court persona has changed little. He's still the same tenacious defender, locking arms, using his hands, and getting in his man's face and head; he still has that crazy "you don't know what I'm going to do next" look in his eyes; his choice of hairstyles and hair colors conjures up images of Dennis Rodman; he still acts like, is interested in the same things as, and talks at the same rate as a young teenager.

What you did see, though, was Ron-Ron's transformation during his time with the Lakers. Under the tutelage of a zen master and the guidance of a psychiatrist, Artest was able to quiet the voices in his head and channel his focus on basketball. As the media questioned his lack of scoring output, Artest was quietly adapting to a team-first mindset: maintaining his characteristic grinding defense and improving his shot selection as a part of the triangle offense.

Artest being unpredictable on Jimmy Kimmel Live

Whether it was the circuitous route he took to get there or simply the thrill of victory, the Lakers' defeat of the Celtics in the 2010 NBA Finals acted as a release valve for an entire career's worth of stress for Artest. Throughout that years' playoffs, he had been a model of consistency, stepping up when needed, getting a hand in on every play, and hitting big shots (buzzer beaters, Finals-clinching daggers). It was only when the Doris Burke attempted to conduct a post-Game 7 interview with Artest that we really got a glimpse of what kind of progress that he'd made. It was evident when he cut loose for perhaps one of the most unusual post-game press conferences ever given, and when he sold his championship ring for $650,000, giving the proceeds to various mental health organizations. At the end of the 2010-2011 season, Artest received the NBA's citizenship award for his involvement in increasing mental health awareness.

Now, inspired by Chad Ochocinco, Artest filed a petition to have his name changed to Metta World Peace. In a recent interview on ESPN's Pardon The Interruption, Artest opened up about the reasons behind the name change and winning the citizenship award:

"I'm on that same path, of doing positive [things] and just having positive energy...[The citizenship award] is the best award you can get...This award is something I've always wanted, even when I was going through all that stuff...I thought, it would take some time to get to that point. It was like one of the best days of my life.

On the name change:

"It's positive energy...It's not like I'm trying to be Gandhi...it's about education, it's about the youth connecting with the youth around the globe. Overseas, Americans aren't even liked that much...that's my main goal, along with all the charities and visions that I have. It's about giving the youth something to look forward to, especially the youth that are lost..."

Artest has come a long way. He is, by no means, a saint or role model, nor is he going to solve the world's problems. He just wants to prove to everyone that he's a good guy. After the 2010 NBA Finals, commentator Mike Breen noted:

"He is not the perfect player, he's not the perfect person, but anybody who knows him well will swear by his loyalty and what a big heart he has. And he has come all the way from that Palace brawl in Auburn Hills, to an NBA Championship with the Los Angeles Lakers." 

He has apologized to the Pacers teammates that he "bailed on" in a move that effectively broke up a title contending team. He owned up to his past issues. He thanked those who helped him along the way.

Metta World Peace is starting the process of redemption. The Finals win exorcised his basketball demons...now he's working on the personal ones.


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Dean Karoliszyn is the Coeditor-in-Chief and cofounder of Jabroni Free Sports.