Metta World Peace and the Flying Elbow

Metta World Peace, formerly known as Ron Artest, who has never lived down his part in the infamous 2004 Indiana Pacers-Detroit Pistons brawl, got into more hot water on April 22.  World Peace, who now plays for the Los Angeles Lakers, got a little too exuberant in his celebration of a slam dunk in the Lakers’ 114-106 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.  He smashed his elbow into Oklahoma City’s James Harden, causing Harden to leave the game.  World Peace was tossed out of the game and will no doubt be fined and suspended.  He later apologized saying it was unintentional.

 Anybody else see the irony in someone named World Peace clobbering another player like that?

Harden, perhaps the most valuable sixth man in the NBA this season, will not return to action until he satisfies the league’s standards in its new concussion policy.  Both teams are division leaders , and could be missing key reserves as the playoffs start.