Metta World Peace Is Here To Smash All You Knew About Ron Artest

Photoshop by Payton Wales

By Payton Wales

Change is good. It may be cliche to say, but the thing with cliches is they are called that for a reason. In this case, the cliche, like most, holds plenty of truth.
 
Now, the change is coming for a player many once considered the black eye of the league. A player that, for almost his entire NBA career, has quietly but visibly battled his personal demons, and recently chose to open up to the world about his demons, bringing to light a subject many in the media and general public chose to ignore. Brushing them off as ploys to get attention or, even worse, the rantings of a lunatic, someone whose sanity would discredit the validity of the issues he had brought to light.

For Ron Artest, this is the case. His list of quirky behavior, starting all the way back to his first years as a pro in Chicago, is a long one. His campaign to work at Circuit City in his down time as a rookie, his outbursts on the court, his elaborate hair and, of course, the massive brawl in Detroit where, if truth be told, Artest was more protagonist than the antagonist he is now portrayed.

But that's how the media portrays Artest, and that is how the public receives him. Crazy, off his rocker and foolish. And, oddly enough, that is just how he perceives most fans, ignorant to think he should be held to some lofty, politically-correct standard that they put on our athletes, foolish because they chose not only to look at the highly-publicized negatives but failed to scratch away at the surface to see the positive accomplished by that same person.



Everyone questioned his sanity when he thanked his therapist after winning the championship. One of the last things expected to be heard from any male, and probably female, pro athlete, let alone a certified tough guy like Artest. But there he was, baring his soul to the world. The response, "told you he was crazy." For the record, Artest suffered with depression and anxiety disorders his entire life. The fact that he can admit it in today's society is a credit to his character.

Of course when Artest announced at the beginning of the 2010-11 season he would be donating more than half of his season's salary to various children's mental health organizations as well as auctioning his NBA championship ring for the same cause, people did all but institutionalize Artest.

So when Artest went to the county clerk in L.A. June 23 to put in an application to change his name, people were bound to have something to say.

Metta World Peace would be the new monkier and one the public would scrutinize well before it understood it.

Once news of the name broke, all the same accusations came up. He is crazy; he just wants attention, typical athlete narcissism. Except that's not what the last few years have been about at all. His actions throughout the last year have been about everyone but Metta World Peace.

Bringing to light a subject as taboo in sports society as depression and anxiety wasn't for his benefit. He didn't auction off his ring or donate several million dollars for attention. He did it so those who are less fortunate than he will get attention, receive help and maybe even respect.

Maybe the goal of world peace is unobtainable, but it is a beautiful thought and a beautiful goal. Maybe it doesn't have to be world peace in the literal sense. Maybe Metta World Peace is just trying to encourage everyone to find the peace within themselves. Maybe he is just trying to encourage thought.

Maybe Peace has it right. Maybe society is all twisted up and at war inside. The obsession with violence, hate, drama and destruction is seemingly unprecedented. We celebrate and follow musicians with names that depict violence, sex, murderers, weapons, money and historical crime lords. We love to watch reality TV, a constant reminder there are others out there more damaged than ourselves. Not to mention most of the movies out now celebrate death and gore as if it should be common place in everyday life.

Maybe it does make sense then to label Metta World Peace crazy. To try and mock someone  who represents the opposite of what so many love and enjoy in this day and age. How dare he stand for something good and positive after so many years stumbling around as our champion of tomfoolery and violence, a court jester now trying to be a knight.

Maybe Metta has had it right the whole time. Maybe everyone else is crazy, maybe everyone else is slightly unhinged. After all who among us would give up millions and a championship ring for nothing in return but the knowledge that you made a difference? Would everyone not consider that person crazy?

The perception may be Metta World Peace is crazy, but to the people he has helped, inspired and given hope to, he will forever be the opposite. For them, Metta World Peace is exactly what his name means.

Besides maybe, just maybe, you have to be a little crazy to be exceptional and give the world something great.