World Peace ejected after elbow to James Harden

VF21

VF21

Super Moderator Emeritus
SME
#1
#1
Whoa. Not good. I don't know what's worse - Metta saying it was just part of a celebration or the fact that he was cheered by a good part of the Staples crowd. Holy crap.

And the crowd boos when the Flagrant 2 is announced and gives World Peace a standing ovation as he leaves the court. Nothing but class with those Staples fans.
 
Last edited:
VF21

VF21

Super Moderator Emeritus
SME
#2
#2
Follow-up: It makes me very sad to see Magic Johnson at the half-time break, talking as a proud former Laker and yet feeling embarrassed and upset about Bynum's treatment of Barea last season and then this totally indefensible act by World Peace. As one of the other commentators said, "That wasn't Metta World Peace. That was vintage Ron Artest."
 
VF21

VF21

Super Moderator Emeritus
SME
#3
#3
Harden was reportedly cleared to return to the game after being thoroughly examined for a possible concussion, but he talked to the courtside reporter - whose name escapes me - and when she asked him if his head hurt, he said, "A little bit." At that point, he was escorted back in to the Thunder locker room.

I certainly hope Harden is okay. And I think it would be only fair that if he does have to sit out any games, that Artest/World Peace be required to sit out the same number of games.

EDIT: After further evaluation, it appears that Harden is "suffering concussion-like symptoms." He will not be returning to the game.
 
Last edited:
John Galt

John Galt

Starter
#9
#9
I always stuck up for Artest when he was a King. I feel now after watching that footage, that I was wrong about him all along. I think he is a psycho. I know I know I know... news flash right?? But I will own it that I was always a supporter of his, till now. ugh.. that was terrible and it isn't really fair to the guys who have to take the court against him, not knowing when he will blow up.
 
VF21

VF21

Super Moderator Emeritus
SME
#13
#13
John Galt said:
I always stuck up for Artest when he was a King. I feel now after watching that footage, that I was wrong about him all along. I think he is a psycho. I know I know I know... news flash right?? But I will own it that I was always a supporter of his, till now. ugh.. that was terrible and it isn't really fair to the guys who have to take the court against him, not knowing when he will blow up.
Click to expand...
What's sad is that Ron has come a long way and done just about everything he could to untarnish his reputation. I think what he did today was instinctual and, unfortunately, you never know when it will reappear. That's one of the "discussions" you and I had back in the day about him coming to the Kings. It was my biggest fear.
 
Mr. S£im Citrus

Mr. S£im Citrus

Doryphore of KingsFans.com
Staff member
#16
#16
I probably shouldn't find it funny, but the juxtaposition of a guy getting ejected for elbowing a guy in the head, and subsequently putting up his dukes looking for a fight, walking off the court with "World Peace" stenciled into the back of his jersey, made me spit out my drink laughing.
 
Dime Dropper

Dime Dropper

All-Star
#17
#17
Mr. S£im Citrus said:
I probably shouldn't find it funny, but the juxtaposition of a guy getting ejected for elbowing a guy in the head, and subsequently putting up his dukes looking for a fight, walking off the court with "World Peace" stenciled into the back of his jersey, made me spit out my drink laughing.
Click to expand...

You're right, that's pretty funny. Shows how much of a loose cannon he actually is, though.


As for the elbow itself, usually in cases like this I'm expecting something much softer than the hype would indicate. That elbow, however, was extremely hard and completely uncalled for. You can see the force that he puts into it and the impact taken by Harden. There is no place for that in the sport, just completely uncalled for. I hope he gets a lengthy ban, it's well deserved.


And yes, Lakers fans are complete idiots. But that's not exactly news to anyone.
 
A

Arkitect

Starter
#19
#19
We all know RonRon has a screw loose. You can't elbow a defenseless guy in the the head. Especially when you are Artest sized. You can seriously hurt/kill someone that way. That is the first time I can remember him doing something that blatant to an opposing player. I am all for a little chipiness, but that is definitely crossing the line.
 
PurpleHaze

PurpleHaze

All-Star
#20
#20
Arkitect said:
We all know RonRon has a screw loose. You can't elbow a defenseless guy in the the head. Especially when you are Artest sized. You can seriously hurt/kill someone that way. That is the first time I can remember him doing something that blatant to an opposing player. I am all for a little chipiness, but that is definitely crossing the line.
Click to expand...
I didn't see the game live but after looking several times at replay I think it was intentional or at least horribly irresponsible. Considering Artest's out-of-control thugish history I'd say longer than one or two game suspension besides a big fine is in order. Hopefully, Harden will be fine - but obviously such a violently inflicted concussion is very serious and can be life-altering.
 
John Galt

John Galt

Starter
#21
#21
ban for life. It's just that you don't know if the next time he will punch a guy in the throat and kill him. I remember in an interview a few years ago (I think it was actually after an altercation with Kobe) Ron said "I used to play in a park where a guy had a lead pipe shoved in his chest and died on the court... I'm used to playing rough.

he needs to be gone for good from the NBA.
 
Mr. S£im Citrus

Mr. S£im Citrus

Doryphore of KingsFans.com
Staff member
#22
#22
John Galt said:
ban for life. It's just that you don't know if the next time he will punch a guy in the throat and kill him. I remember in an interview a few years ago (I think it was actually after an altercation with Kobe) Ron said "I used to play in a park where a guy had a lead pipe shoved in his chest and died on the court... I'm used to playing rough.

he needs to be gone for good from the NBA.
Click to expand...
I remember hearing that during a segment on Rome's show (Well, it was either him or Cowherd... talk about the lesser of two evils...). I thought that he should have been suspended for life, for the good of the league, and for his own good, as well.
 
VF21

VF21

Super Moderator Emeritus
SME
#25
#25
I haven't been to a Laker board in ages but I had to see what they were saying. While there are - of course - a very few people defending RonRon and/or blaming Harden for walking into him, the majority of fans are angry, frustrated and fed up.

There are a number of posts in this vein, although most aren't ready to kick the team to the curb:

He's gone for the rest of the season/postseason. That was stupid, and was something that would never have happened of we had a coach with even the slightest ability to control the players. Stupid play, and probably Ron's last as a Laker. What an idiot.

It was intentional. He looked right at him and redirected his elbow. Embarrassing to be a laker fan the past 2 years. Between him and Bynum teams are afraid to play us alright. Afraid of what cheap shot our guys might lay on them. Eff this team.
Click to expand...
 
kennadog

kennadog

Dog On It!
#26
#26
Absolutely disgusting. If that happened any where else, Artest would be arrested for assault and battery. (He doesn't deserve to be called World Peace.)

Personally, I think that should be grounds for a life ban from the league. There is just no excuse and it was clearly intentional.

I really hope Harden is okay.
 
Vlade4GM

Vlade4GM

All-Star
#27
#27
Oh yes Ron, how dare anyone get near you when you are basking in your glory. He'll never change, his whole nice guy act, is just that, an act. He'll always be unstable, I'm ashamed that he ever wore a Kings uniform.
 
UK_King

UK_King

Starter
#28
#28
A ban from the league?! Well i suppose if you're doing it on a totting up process you might have a point.

It was a vicious elbow, but in the grand scheme of things it's no different to throwing a punch, think how many times Shaq would have been banned from the league.

If i was comish i would have him banned for the rest of this season. (playoffs)
 
VF21

VF21

Super Moderator Emeritus
SME
#29
#29
UK_King said:
A ban from the league?! Well i suppose if you're doing it on a totting up process you might have a point.

It was a vicious elbow, but in the grand scheme of things it's no different to throwing a punch, think how many times Shaq would have been banned from the league.

If i was comish i would have him banned for the rest of this season. (playoffs)
Click to expand...
I mean no disrespect whatsoever with this question, but are you aware of Ron Artest's history and conduct on and off the court? This is not a one-time incident and it's an indication that he is never going to change. What do you want to do? Wait until he actually kills someone?

Sorry, UK_King, but Artest has been given every chance in the world and still, when push comes to shove, his first response is violence followed by an assumption that violence will be done to him in return, something totally unsupported by the facts. And even then, he tried to explain it all away to the officials as just an accident, something that anyone who has seen the clip simply cannot buy into. And his comment on Twitter was damage control - or the other side of his brain trying to make up for what had happened.

Ron Artest is damaged goods. A part of me feels sorry for him because I don't think he intentionally and with malice aforethought intended to hurt James Harden, but the end result was the same. Harden crumpled to the floor and could have been very seriously injured. Blows to the side of the head and the temple area are nothing to fool with. People can and have died from them.

Artest cannot be allowed to continue to play because the next time - and I guarantee there will be a next time - we might be talking about a fatality. It is a risk that no NBA team or the league can or should possibly take.
 
VF21

VF21

Super Moderator Emeritus
SME
#30
#30
The Five's final segment today was about Ron Artest. The song they used for the lead-in was Ozzy's "Crazy Train" as they showed clips of Artest's prior bad acts. When a sports event ends up on a show primarily devoted to political commentary, things have gotten totally beyond redemption.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.