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Ron Artest
Metta World Peace will miss the next seven games as he serves a suspension for elbowing James Harden in Sunday's game against the Thunder. Is the punishment World Peace received a fair one?
Fair punishment?
For the 13th time in his 13-year career, Metta World Peace will serve out a league suspension. Is this seven-game reprimand just?
- DJJorel: "As a Lakers fan, I think this is fair...but I wouldn't have been too mad at 10+....."
- devlondenson: "That's not nearly enough games. This dude is a habitual offender. He should have been suspended for the rest of the season and half of next season "
- gseyfer: "Stern knows they won't get through the first round, so 7 games is enough."
- legacyreaper32: "The Lakers should take care to ensure the first round lasts at least 6 games. Personally, I hope and can't wait for a Lakers vs. Thunders series. It should be an epic series!!"
- L_hop: "so it may not even impact a series against the thunder while the blow may impact harden for the entire playoffs? lame"
- Chute99: "Perfect just in time for the likely Lakers/Thunder series in the second round. Even more ratings for the series. Think the NBA had this in mind when they doled out the suspension?"
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Metta World Peace will miss the next seven games as he serves a suspension for elbowing James Harden in Sunday's game against the Thunder. Is playing without World Peace a big loss for the Lakers?
- legacyreaper32: "The Lakers should take care to ensure the first round lasts at least 6 games. Personally, I hope and can't wait for a Lakers vs. Thunders series. It should be an epic series!!""
- Yourteamsuck: "The Lakers won't play even play 7 more games "
- gseyfer: "Stern knows they won't get through the first round, so 7 games is enough."
- L_hop: "so it may not even impact a series against the thunder while the blow may impact harden for the entire playoffs? lame"
- krabs14 still strong: "Stern has made it clear ... that the NBA will punish so long as we don't stop teams we want to see in the finals from competing. ""
- Chute99: "Perfect just in time for the likely Lakers/Thunder series in the second round. Even more ratings for the series. Think the NBA had this in mind when they doled out the suspension?"
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Lost among the chaos that resulted from Metta World Peace's violent elbow of James Harden was the fact Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant are neck-and-neck for the scoring title -- they're within four hundredths of a point of one another with only three games left between the two of them. To put it lightly, this is pretty important to (at the very least) Kobe, and we can't imagine that he'll go at anything less than 100 percent in his last game against the Kings. That being said, Durant may be more concerned about Harden's availability, as he's day-to-day with a concussion from World Peace's strike.
Who ends up on top?
The difference between Bryant and Durant's scoring averages this season is so slim that it could come down to a thousandth of a point.
Last shot?
Bryant has been the go-to gunner at the end of games for a number of years, but the younger Durant could take that crown from him this year.
Championship threats?
The Lakers beat the Thunder in their latest matchup, but it's anyone's guess as to how a theoretical playoff series would play out.
Lakers forward Metta World Peace was ejected from Sunday's game after landing an elbow to the head of Thunder guard James Harden during a post-dunk celebration. Is receiving a flagrant foul 2 and being sent to the locker room early the appropriate punishment, or is a suspension warranted?
- AndrewOKC: "Ron artest should be suspended for the entire playoffs there is no place for that kinda stuff"
- turbobas: "He should be kicked out of the league for good. The second brawl he almost started"
- vangundyfan12: "Artest was just trying to fist pump. Calm down people. They just happen to do it sideways in LA."
- HuPerfection: "I'M A THUNDER FAN, BUT ARTEST DID NOT INTENTIONALLY HIT HARDEN. HARDEN FLOPPED. LET'S GET REAL."
- btrain1991: "Why was Harden getting all up on World Peace when jumping around? Not saying what he did is ok, but it just makes you wonder."
- EvolutionaryMokeski: "Been watching the Lakers my whole life, and that's the most embarassing moment since Van Exel pushed the ref over the scorer's table. What a cowardly move."
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3. Who has done the best image rehab?
He hit the championship-clinching shot against the Celtics, and now Ron Artest is planning on giving some or all of this salary next season to charity in support of mental health awareness. Has anyone done much image rehab than Ron Artest. Well, maybe that guy playing quarterback in Philadelphia. Who you got?
- "This guy has had charities for years. His program has put thousands of kids into college from when he started his fund in Sacramento. He has never made a big splash about it, but now he has the LA stage and what better way to get people to donate than using it to the maximum potential. Props to RonRon." -- SN commenter aggiedart
If Michelle Beadle is wearing the yellow jersey after two days of "SportsNation" TV, co-host Colin Cowherd is second by only tenths of a second.
The race is on to your answers about the the biggest stories of the day.
Check out the show topics, cast your votes and watch on ESPN2 at 4 p.m. ET!.
Will Ron Artest win a championship with the Lakers?
If Phil Jackson could handle Dennis Rodman, Ron Artest should be no problem. But what if the newest Lakers star is not as good as Trevor Ariza?
Do teams like Utah have a fair shot at the BCS title game?
Complaints and congressional hearings abound for the college football postseason, but what about beefing up the schedule?
Would you rather watch LeBron dunking or being dunked on?
Let's go to the tape to see Xavier University sophomore Jordan Crawford dunking on LeBron James. Wait, maybe not. Nike reportedly confiscated the footage.
Would you donate $100 to your team's Roy Halladay fund?
There are plenty of pitching-hungry fans out there (just listen to the screaming by Mets followers). Time to break out the checkbooks.
Is second place a failure for Lance Armstrong?
It's obvious after the first few days of the Tour de France that Lance isn't conceding the race to teammate Alberto Contador or any other cyclist.
What is "SportsNation" TV and how do you make your voice heard on the broadcast? Read about the new ESPN show that features fan opinions with calls, tweets, polls, rankers and more.
At the end of the "SportsNation" TV show on Monday, Colin Cowherd told co-host Michelle Beadle the debut took so much energy he didn't know if he could do it again.
Guess who's back?
Check out the big stories of the day, cast your votes and watch on ESPN2 at 4 p.m. ET!.
If you had $900 million to spend, would you buy the Cubs?
The family of TD Ameritrade founder Joe Ricketts reportedly has a deal to buy the team and Wrigley from the Tribune Co. for $900 million.
Where will LeBron James play after 2009-10?
LeBron told Trevor Ariza he'd be in Cleveland after next season. Or he didn't. NBA free agency is a game of intrigue and rumors.
Awesome or weird?
What do you think of Ron Artest reportedly going to find Kobe Bryant in the shower to tell him he could help the Lakers?
Should the 76ers try to sign Allen Iverson?
A.I. averaged more than 30 points a game in four of his 10 full seasons in Philadelphia. His average has dropped, but he can still score.
Would you partake in the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona?
Thousands of people risk goring and trampling each year in Spain. Are you interested in a road trip?
And our final question ....
Mark Teixeira and Kevin Youkilis carry a built-in rivalry to the lineup card that will be filled out by Joe Maddon, manager of the third AL East team of note.
What is "SportsNation" TV and how do you make your voice heard on the broadcast? Read about the new ESPN show that features fan opinions with calls, tweets, polls, rankers and more.
In the immediate aftermath of the team's most recent championship, SportsNation was split as to whether or not the Lakers were favorites to repeat. But when the Cavaliers made their big move, literally, by adding Shaquille O'Neal to the mix, popular support swung in favor of LeBron James' team.
So what impact does Ron Artest have on things? Well, voters still think Artest would fit better alongside LeBron and Shaq, but it's no longer a contest for the top spot.
By a better than 2-to-1 margin, it's the Lakers for two.
And Artest's combustible past aside, voters not only think Dennis Rodman was more of a handful for Phil Jackson; they think a current member of the Lakers is more of a chore.
- It was a relatively quiet long weekend, although Hedo Turkoglu did his best to create some dramatic fireworks. SportsNation isn't buying that Toronto's Turkish community or Turkoglu's comfort level with the Eastern Conference had much to do with his apparent reversal after reaching a verbal agreement to sign with the Blazers. They also aren't convinced pairing Turkoglu with Chris Bosh makes the Raptors a playoff team.
- Vote: Jason Kidd's decision to stay and Rasheed Wallace's relocation
- Groups: LA Laker Haters | Celtic Pride CHAMPIONS! | Portland Trail Blazers Nation
“Great job hedo you went from playing for an elite team in the east to nearly playing for an up & coming portland squad to playing for a lottery team? The raptors will flirt with .500 at best and hedo can watch the playoffs from his cosmopolitan house enjoying the extra $$$ he has accepted for losing!
” -- bos411
“well i think the hedo deal was worth it for toranto yeah they have no shot at winning the whole thing but they are trying to put fans in the seats making the playoffs do that and hedo proved he is a playoff performer against the CAVS but when it comes down to it great pick up by the raptors
” -- blackmatt86
Just hours after the celebrated arrival of Shaquille O'Neal to Cleveland (where the big man proclaimed he'd "win a ring for the King"), Ron Artest one-upped the Big Aristotle and announced he would be signing a three-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers.
If his word is golden, it means that Artest and Kobe Bryant will be amicably (we think) sharing the same court. What does this mean to SportsNation? Well, before today, you had LeShaq and the Cleveland Cavaliers as your favorite to win the 2010 NBA finals. But perhaps things have changed? Cast your vote below.
- Where did Ron Artest rank against the other 2009 free agents? Find out »
“This is terrible. Ariza is a much better choice than Artest. Artest may be more skilled, but Ariza is a team player who can play well with Kobe (and not many can play well with Kobe). I really thought the Lakers had a chance to repeat, but with this move, I'm not sure at all anymore. Artest is actually a downgrade in many aspects.
” -- rfg56fd2
“Brilliant move by the Lakers. I was hoping this would happen. Man, the Rockets have completely imploded.
” -- bwpbruce
Frivolous spending is out. In tough economic times, there's no room in budgets for impulse buys and casual spending. Which leads to the question of whether players like Ben Gordon and Trevor Ariza are worthwhile investments or NBA free agency's version of the Snuggie?
NBA free agency is upon us, which may be more significant to many in the NBA as the one-year warning for a 2010 class that could include the likes of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki and Travis Diener (or Steve Nash; take your pick on that last one).
At least a class headlined by Ariza, Jason Kidd and potentially Carlos Boozer is more compelling than this year's middling draft class.
- What would your NBA free-agent shopping list look like?
- If you want to know how unexciting this year's free agents are, consider that we're all hanging on a Boozer decision. With a one-year option worth $12.7 million remaining with the Jazz, Boozer must decide between safe money and the open market. Hopefully he's not as conflicted as SportsNation.
- Chat Tuesday: Chad Ford drops by at 1 p.m. ET to talk about this year's free agents
- Fan groups: Utah Jazz fans | NBA Where amazing happens | NBA Fanz Only
“Iverson has plenty left. in the right system and in the right lineup, he's still a very productive player if not a star in the league still. the only concern that i'd even have is his health. he's got a lot of hard miles and injuries on that body of his, but I think he has it in him to go to a team and contribute a lot. I agree, however, that it's not a great time to be a free agent, and based on that, I don't know how much he'll get on his contract this summer. something tells me he's going to sign with a contender at a discount price.
” -- teniskoala
“PLEASE BOOZER!!!!!! OPT OUT!!!!! I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU RIDING OUR BENCH WITH A BRUISE NEXT SEASON.........
” -- gamenight5
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