Sometimes real life is funnier than anything a writer or comedian could come up with.
Metta Sandiford-Artest (A.K.A. Metta World Peace, A.K.A. Ron Artest) won an NBA Championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2010. He should be known for that, but he’s instead known for his many name changes, and his ugly showing early on in his career when he punched a fan in the stands during the infamous “Malice at The Palace.”
I won’t go into a full-blown history lesson (especially since I included the video below) on the “Malice at The Palace” that took place in 2004. All you need to know is that Ron Artest (now known as Metta Sandiford-Artest) went into the crowd and punched someone in attendance, and was hit with an 86-game suspension after the fact (the longest suspension in the history of the NBA).
And now, that same man is offering to give advice to a modern day professional player that is struggling with violent outbursts in the NBA. Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green was recently suspended indefinitely after he punched another player “accidentally” during a game.
Here’s that “accident” he was referring to:
Earlier this season, Green was issued a five game suspension for putting an opponent in a chokehold, and last year, he sucker punched one of his own teammates during a practice. There’s been enough violent history with Draymond to warrant his “indefinite” suspension, and the NBA is hoping to get him the help he needs for his issues.
Could that help come in the form of someone who has been in Draymond’s shoes? On paper, that doesn’t seem like the best idea, but Metta Sandiford-Artest decided to reach out via TMZ Sports anyways:
“I hope I’m able to reach out to (Draymond). I hope he’s able to reach out to me and chat a little bit, because he’s a winner.
He might not be one of the greatest players, maybe in his mind he is, but he is one of the greatest winners. That’s for sure. He is an elite winner. He has an opportunity to do television after, whatever he wants to do.”
The invitation to talk is a nice gesture, but it just seems weird coming from Sandiford-Artest, does it not?
A man who jumped into the stands and fought a fan at an NBA game is hoping that a player that punches other players is going to reach out. What are they going to talk about? Their punching techniques?
Sandiford-Artest went on to say:
“I don’t know if he needs my help, but definitely can’t wait to chat with him. Players like him, players like myself, players like Dennis Rodman. We wanna see more players like that in the league, players that play with passion but control it.”
That’s the key. Having passion and playing with it, but also controlling it. Only time will tell how things work out for Draymond Green, and how long he’s suspended for his latest outbreak. Maybe Sandiford-Artest just wants to show him the video below of the “Malice in The Palace” just to say “hey, make sure you don’t do this.”
Check it out:
