Ron Artest Facing Mental Health Struggles

Metta World Peace, the Los Angeles Lakers' star formerly known as Ron Artest, was ejected from a game last night against the Oklahoma City Thunder for what referees determined was a flagrant foul. After a fast break and dunk that brought the Lakers one point ahead of the Thunder in a close match, World Peace (as he is known) pounded his chest and then, with considerable force, elbowed James Harden of the Thunder.

The NBA is reviewing his further punishment, though media speculation suggests that it will be a five-game suspension.

As Los Angeles Times reporter, Brian Leigh explains, this wouldn't be a big deal if World Peace didn't have a history of violence:

By all accounts (except maybe the woman he allegedly assaulted), Ron Artest isn't what you would classify as a bad person. He's criminally misunderstood, sure, but he isn't someone who laces up his shoes with the intent to do harm. What he has proven, however, is that when he gets too amped up on adrenaline, he becomes a danger to the people in his physical proximity.

Unfortunately for Ron, his job happens to require that he amp himself up on adrenaline, and fling his body into other people. Thus—all accusations about his morality aside—as long as he's allowed to play in the NBA, he will always be a danger to those around him.

In 2004, World Peace was suspended for an entire season after attacking a fan and inciting a brawl during a dispute with an opposing teammate.

Since that time and until last night, he'd been on his best (on court) behavior. In fact, following the Lakers' world championship in 2010, World Peace took the unusual step of thanking his psychiatrist, calling her "crucial."

It wasn't the first time he spoke out about his own mental health issues -- or even lent support for the cause. Though he hasn't revealed a specific diagnosis, he has testified before Congress about mental health awareness and talks about the subject at schools. "We have a big problem right here in America with mental health, from little boys not understanding what it takes to be a good dad or be a good older brother or a role model -- to violence," he has said.

It's no surprise that many athletes, just like anyone else, might have mental health issues. But it's refreshing to hear them talk about it -- and another step toward reducing the stigma of getting help. Here are a few others who have opened up about their psychological struggles.

Metta World Peace may face multi-game suspension for cheap shot

Metta World Peace was subdued and contrite in the Los Angeles Lakers' locker room, apologizing to Oklahoma City's James Harden for throwing the elbow that sent them both to the locker room in the second quarter.

They both missed a beauty of a game that could echo into the postseason for two division leaders.

Kobe Bryant scored six of his 26 points in the second overtime alongside an unorthodox Lakers lineup, and Los Angeles rallied from an 18-point deficit in the second half for a 114-106 victory over the Thunder on Sunday.

Pau Gasol had 20 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists for the Lakers, who made an impressive comeback in their regular-season home finale against off-target Thunder stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, who combined to miss 42 of their 56 shots. Los Angeles' rally stunned the Thunder and set an early tone for their possible second-round playoff matchup.

"It's not so much that we beat Oklahoma, but how we did it," said Bryant, who shook off his own woeful shooting game with two key 3-pointers late in regulation. "In the playoffs, particularly if you don't have home-court advantage, you're going to have games like this. We have to have the poise and the confidence to just keep chipping away."

Yet everything after halftime was colored by the drama and violence that occurred 1:37 before the break.

World Peace had just dunked over Durant and Serge Ibaka on a fast break and was headed back upcourt when he ran into Harden. While pounding his chest with his right arm, World Peace raised his left elbow over Harden's shoulder and cleanly hit Harden in the back of the skull.

Harden dropped to the court and stayed down for about a minute before heading to the locker room. Ibaka and other Thunder players challenged World Peace, but were kept apart, and World Peace was ejected after officials reviewed the tape.

"I got real emotional and excited, and it was unfortunate that James had to get hit with the unintentional elbow," said World Peace, who had scored 12 points and played solid defense on Durant. "I hope he's OK. Oklahoma, they're playing for a championship this year. I apologize to the Thunder and James Harden. It was just unfortunate."

The Lakers rallied with seldom-used Devin Ebanks and Jordan Hill alongside Bryant, Gasol and backup point guard Steve Blake, who hit three key 3-pointers. Ebanks had eight points and two key defensive plays in the final minute, while Hill had 14 points and a career high-tying 15 rebounds.

"Being down double digits against a very good team, we could have folded easily," Lakers coach Mike Brown said. "This might have been our best team win of the year."

Bryant struggled through the first three quarters of his first home game since April 6 before coming alive down the stretch during Los Angeles' rally. Bryant then hit the tiebreaking fall-away jumper with 52 seconds left in the second overtime, followed by two free throws as the Lakers hung on.

Even with Harden unavailable to provide his usual offensive boost, the Thunder could only blame themselves for a 4-for-19 fourth quarter with four turnovers, followed by a 5-for-17 effort in the two overtime periods.

"I believe in Kevin, I believe in Russell, I believe in what our guys do," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. "Some nights they're not going to fall for you, but if the execution is good and the shots are good, you have to live with the results."

World Peace was making major contributions to the Lakers on both ends of the court before his ejection for yet another unpredictable outburst in the erstwhile Ron Artest's long history of misbehavior.

For NIT Championship Stanford will play today March 29th 2012

The sophomore point guard had 15 points and six assists in Thursday's 75-51 rout of Minnesota to earn most outstanding player honors, energizing the Cardinal just as the coaches had hoped when they took him out of the starting lineup in mid-February.
The victory brought Stanford's season full circle. Back in November, the Cardinal let a late lead slip away in the final of the NIT Season Tip-Off at Madison Square Garden against a Syracuse team that would earn a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.

"We were here before in the preseason and we fell short," Dawkins said. "And so we talked about this experience as how much have we grown: You know, to show we have grown, we'd have to win this tournament.

"And our kids, I think they rallied around that."

The Golden Gophers aren't exactly the Orange, but when Stanford took the lead this time, the Cardinal never looked back.

Stanford forced two turnovers to open the second half to take a 10-point lead and stayed up by double figures the rest of the way. The Golden Gophers turned it over 22 times.

In front of a sparse crowd at the Garden, the atmosphere on the court had some sizzle. Minnesota's Elliott Eliason and Stanford's Dwight Powell had to be separated after getting tangled up on a held ball late in the first half, and the two exchanged words again in the second. Powell was later called for a contact technical foul when the Gophers' Rodney Williams hit the floor face first after being whistled for fouling the Cardinal forward.

Williams stayed on the court for several minutes before walking off under his own power and returned to the game soon thereafter.

It was the fourth foul on Williams, who at that juncture had scored 12 of Minnesota's 30 points. Williams finished with 12 to lead the Gophers.