LA Basketball Star Artest Files Papers to Change Name to ‘Metta World Peace’
- Posted on June 24, 2011 at 8:56am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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Los Angeles Lakers forward Ron Artest is apparently sick of his name. He wants something new. Something different. He wants to change his name to “Metta World Peace.” Really.
Artest’s attorney filed a petition in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday seeking the change. The 31-year-old NBA star was born Ronald William Artest Jr.
In the court documents, Artest cites personal reasons for wanting to make the change. The LA Times has the papers, and we’ve included a sampling below:
“My understanding is ‘Metta’ will be his first name and ‘World Peace’ will be his last,” Lakers spokesman John Black told the Times. He added that Artest has not filed the necessary paperwork with the NBA to change the name on the back of his jersey.
An Aug. 26 court date was set to consider the name-change petition.
Artest’s career has been filled with ups and downs. He helped the Lakers win the NBA championship a year ago and in April he received an award for outstanding service and dedication to the community.
He has testified before Congress to support mental health legislation.
Artest may be best known for triggering the most notorious brawl in NBA history when he jumped into the stands and attacked a fan while playing for the Indiana Pacers in November 2004. He was suspended for the rest of that season.
Artest wouldn’t be the first NBA player to make a change to an unusual name.
Lloyd Bernard Free, who played in the league from 1975-88, had his first name legally changed to World in 1981. A friend had given him the nickname because of his 44-inch vertical leaps and 360-degree dunks.
In the NFL, Cincinnati Bengals star Chad Johnson legally changed his last name to Ochocinco in August 2008. The name means “eight five” in Spanish. However, he did announce earlier this year that he plans on changing it back.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Comments (78)
Hockeydadfla
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 12:21pmhow about
Metta Brick Layer
Metta Check Please
Metta Who Cares
Metta Love you Mom and Dad
and the totally original
Metta Number 37
Report Post »Falcon11
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 12:07pmHey Metta. You’ve gotta quit smoking that crack.
Report Post »jim
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 11:26amHe needs to get back on his meds.
Report Post »girving
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 11:22amHow about Metta Makeashot
Report Post »NoMarxist
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 10:30amI’m wondering who is worse, Ron Artest or all the HATERS here on the Blaze?
Report Post »JeanieinFl
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 2:47pmRon artest ,
Report Post »cktheman
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 10:28am2. You can’t polish a turd
You sure can – Mythbusters did it using a Japanese dirt polishing technique called Dorodango.
Seriously, it worked.
Report Post »semihardrock
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 10:26amTHIS HAS NO RELATION TO THE HEAD OF THE NBA DANIEL STERN BEING JEWISH…DOES IT?
If denied he will shout out Anti-Semitism remarks…..FOR SURE!
This is the SAME GUY who ran up into the stands a few years back and ATTACKED a some fans and started THROWING PUNCHES! How soon we forget! WHAT A HERO!
Report Post »JJ Coolay
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 10:32amDaniel Stern… the guy in Home Alone?
Report Post »LukeAppling
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 10:23amWas Artest practicing World Peace when he beat the fans in Detroit? Ron Artest is sick much like Rodman and should be watched before he harms himself or others.
Report Post »TEIN
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 10:15amWhat a dishonor and disrespect to his parents and family!!!! Especially his father…
Report Post »Backatya
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 10:02amJust can’t wait until this catches on. Can you imagine how creative this will get? Who was Kunta Kinte? Wasn’t he that point guard for the Pistons back in the day?.
Those people all look alike ……. they should change their names. How about a commercial name? Then you could charge for advertising!
Report Post »JJ Coolay
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 10:30amOchocinco ring a bell?
Report Post »JJ Coolay
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 10:31amNice… I’m going to change my name to Adidas Nike—-a double shot of income! :)
Report Post »landmark
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 9:43amClose the NBA!!!
Report Post »landmark
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 9:43amWho really cares!!
Report Post »southernpatriot
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 9:37amTwo sayings come to mind:
Report Post »1. You can’t fix stupid
2. You can’t polish a turd
BubbaCoop
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 9:36amNo mention of Kareem Abdul Jabbar
Report Post »warner
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 9:34amI have one word…. “IDIOT!”
Report Post »Mandors
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 9:29amShould have changed it to dumb @ss.
Report Post »BehindBlueEyes
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 9:27amThis guy is a fake and a fraud. He’s got to be a liberal.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 9:55amHe’s probably not a liberal or a conservative, he’s a self worshiping, self contained world view unto himself. He lives in the universe of “ME”. America sets these guys up financially to be able to do just that, because he can put a round ball through a 10 foot hoop. Curious, isn’t it?
Report Post »AwakenedGiant
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 10:57amHe is from Queens, NY that means he is a liberal.
Report Post »I will say this, at least he didn’t choose a Muslim name
My son played with him, he is actually a very nice kid, just mixed up, fame and fortune will do that
starman70
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 9:17amThat will be a tongue twister for the play by play announcers, especially radio, as they try of announce the game during fast action.
Report Post »texasfarmer
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 9:11amI really don’t know what to say. Yea I do but the auto censor would work overtime.
Report Post »Buttercup
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 9:05amI’m sure his parents and all the family will be very pleased by the name change. Nothing like family pride!
Report Post »JJ Coolay
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 10:28amHe has no idea what the concept even means.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 9:05amWell then, maybe I’ll change my name to Ron Artest, and apply for a few credit cards. Why let those millions go to waste? :-)
Report Post »nomercy63
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 9:03amOOPS another crazy black man changing his name!!!!! World peace lol???? You play basketball you dope!!!!!
Report Post »let us prey
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 9:01amWonder if he yelled world peace when he jumped into the stands.
Report Post »Brasil2520
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 8:59amWhy is this news ?
Report Post »SamIamTwo
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 9:10amfiller fodder.
Report Post »TomFerrari
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 9:47amIts just a fluff piece – like the fuzzy kitten on the last 5 seconds of local news.
Needed some filler content – in a stress-filled day, it’s nice to see something light-hearted and humorous now and then.
Report Post »Brasil2520
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 9:47amHaving a whites only Basketball League, now that would be news, yes I miss the 1950′s
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WKE_SkmFfU
Report Post »JJ Coolay
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 10:27amBrasil, your racist comments are funny.
Report Post »Brasil2520
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 10:42amThanks JJ, I appreciate your support
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 8:58amOkay, once again this is a crazy story; let him change his name to what he wishes, it is his right to make the effort…he may not get it, yet he has the right to make the effort in accordance with the law.
Report Post »hersey10
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 9:13amWho does he think he is “World B. Free” ?
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 9:15amJust because you say it doesn’t make it so, and just because you change your name doesn’t make it happen. Is he standing with Israel for world peace? If not, he’s a sham.
Report Post »ozchambers
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 9:22amHe should change it to megatarded.
Report Post »lovenfl3
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 9:36amThat’s what Ron Artest needs….more attention. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNaZeZBGD2c
Report Post »Sound The Trumpet In Zion
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 9:37am“Artest may be best known for triggering the most notorious brawl in NBA history when he jumped into the stands and attacked a fan”
Report Post »Yeah change his name to World Peace, what a crock and BS. I see too that he is one of these jerkoffs that because he is a sports star thinks that he’s an expert on anything and everything includign mental health. More CROCK and more BS!!!
Sound The Trumpet In Zion
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 9:42amActually I would have to say that he’s probably got as much intelligence as the South End of a North Bound Jacka**.
Report Post »HillBillySam1
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 9:43amAfter watching the Lakers play some this year, I think he should change his name to “Metta Play Some Defense And Hit A Shot Every Once In A While, You Knucklehead……Sheesh!!!!”……..that would be my suggestion…..but I guess you can’t fit that on the back of a jersey……
Report Post »TomFerrari
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 9:47amLet’s come up with some OTHER NAMES:
I’ll start:
Metta Moron
Report Post »Dustyluv
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 9:54amMetta meathead
Report Post »Meyvn
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 10:13amMetta stoopid.
Report Post »the wireworker
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 10:17amMetta Mo Meself Andi
Report Post »drattastic
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 10:23amCorrect me if I‘m wrong but isn’t this the guy who frequently looses his mind and goes off ,didn’t he once go into the stands to inflict violence on fans ? Coo coo for Cocopuffs comes to mind. Poor guy has mental problems.
Report Post »JJ Coolay
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 10:26amRonald William Artest Jr. = Idiot
Report Post »HADEN0UGH
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 11:09amMetta Musil
Report Post »avenger
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 8:51pmoh well..it is better than ahbadul-baldribleahmeddi- ********..keep an eye on him if he leaves the country…
Report Post »Rightsofman
Posted on June 26, 2011 at 3:38pmMy how quaint. He must be a really good person. Sheesh!
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