Metta World Peace Suspended

Will the suspension of Metta World Peace hurt the Lakers?

Coming just two days after the fiasco between Los Angeles Lakers forward, Metta World Peace and Oklahoma City Thunder guard, James Harden, the NBA has decided to suspended World Peace for seven games.

The two were involved in a one sided “fight” where World Peace after a dunk began celebrating and unintentionally, as he described it threw an elbow, which knocked Harden to the floor.

After the game, World Peace would address the media about his elbow play.

“During that play I just dunked on (Kevin) Durant and (Serge) Ibaka and I got really emotional and excited and it was unfortunate that James had to get hit with an unintentional elbow,” World Peace told reporters. “I hope he’s OK. The Thunder, they’re playing for a championship this year, so I hope that he’s OK and I apologize to the Thunder and to James Harden.”

World Peace would go onto add saying, “You know, it was such a great game and it was unfortunate so much emotion was going on at that time. … That’s it for today.”

Now, two days after throwing an unintentional elbow at Harden, World Peace said on his website (www.ronartest.com) in a statement responding to the seven game suspension, given to him by the NBA saying, “I apologize to the Oklahoma City Thunder fans and the OKC organization. I look forward to getting back on the floor with my teammates and competing for the Lakers fans.”

As for Harden he would post on his twitter account saying that he felt good.

Im solid. Feeling good. Appreciate y’all for checking on me!!

— James Harden (@JHarden13) April 24, 2012

Though despite, Harden’s health being in a good state, NBA Commissioner, David Stern said in a statement that these types of issues need to be taken very seriously.

“The concussion suffered by James Harden demonstrates the danger posed by violent acts of this kind, particularly when they are directed at the head area,” Stern said in a statement. “We remain committed to taking necessary measures to protect the safety of NBA players, including the imposition of appropriate penalties for players with a history of on-court altercations.”

As for the Lakers, they too accepted the seven game suspension as general manager, Mitch Kupchak too released a statement saying:

“Metta has for the most part been a model citizen both on and off the court since joining the Lakers. Still, his most recent lapse in judgment is not to be condoned or accepted. His actions could have seriously injured another player, and his absence during this suspension will hurt our team as well. While we accept the league’s decision, we will be supportive of Metta and try to help him be more professional on the court.”

In other news, as a result to the Los Angeles Clippers losing to the Atlanta Hawks, 109-102 the Lakers, will clinch the number three seed and will face either the Denver Nuggets or the Dallas Mavericks.

As for World Peace, his suspension will start Thursday against the Sacramento Kings in the Lakers season finale.

“It’s hard to get into a guy’s head and know exactly what happened in that situation,” Bryant told reporters. “I haven’t really spoken to him about it. You’ve really got to ask him.”

Battle of Los Angeles: Lakers vs. Clippers Part One

Lakers vs. Clippers

Since moving to Los Angeles in 1985, the Los Angeles Clippers have only had a better record than the Los Angeles Lakers just three times. In 1992-93, 41-41 compared to the Lakers 39-43, in 2004-05, 37-45 compared to the Lakers 34-48, and in 2005-06, 47-35 compared to the Lakers 45-37. Other than that the Lakers have just out played the Clippers proving that Los Angeles was and is their city. Since moving to Los Angeles the Lakers have won eight championships, 12 conference titles, and 13 division titles and on Thursday December 8^thit looked like they were going to do all three of those once again.

News broke in the evening time over all different media outlets that the Lakers had acquired guard Chris Paul from the New Orleans Hornets in a three team trade. The deal was the Lakers were receiving Chris Paul, the Houston Rockets were receiving Lakers forward Pau Gasol, and the Hornets were receiving Rockets guard Kevin Martin, Rockets forward Luis Scola, Lakers forward Lamar Odom, and a Houston Rockets first round draft pick.

Predictions started saying that the Lakers were going to win the west, that the Lakers were going to repeat, and that the Lakers were once again the best. However these predictions, new faces in new places, and new look teams would come to an end as news would later break that commissioner David Stern would veto the trade.

Analysts, reporters, fans, and even players were livid about Stern’s decision to veto the trade so much that Chris Paul threatened to sue the NBA. Though after reality set in and hours passed of Chris Paul not going to the Lakers and this trade no longer going through, teams and owners started talking again. However this time it wasn’t the Lakers as they decided to pull out after forward Lamar Odom demanded a trade and because the league was asking too much for Paul.

So as a result to the veto Odom would get his demand and would be sent to the Dallas Mavericks for $8.9 million in trade exception, as well as a protected first-round pick. The reason for the trade was that Odom felt “disgusted” that Lakers were trading him to begin in the first place.

Then about a week later after trading for Chris Paul appeared to be dead due to Stern’s high asking cost, the Los Angeles Clippers and the New Orleans Hornets would agree to terms to send Paul to the Clippers. The deal would send Paul and two future second round picks to the Clippers in exchange to guard Eric Gordon forward Al-Farouq Aminu, center Chris Kaman, and Minnesota’s unprotected first round pick.

With the acquisition of Paul this seemed like the final step to the recipe of success to beating the Lakers and being the kings of Los Angeles. It all started right after the lockout ended when the Clippers signed forward Caron Butler to a three year deal, then matched the Golden State Warriors offer to re-sign forward DeAndre Jordan, and then of course traded Gordon, Aminu, Kaman and Minnesota’s unprotected first round pick to the Hornets for Paul.

Those transactions put the Clippers back on the map as far as one of the NBA’s top competitors but it especially put them in an unfamiliar place, a place that they have only been three times; a chance to be better than the Los Angeles Lakers.

Come back on Saturday to see the breakdown between the Clippers and the Lakers of the Battle of Los Angeles Part Two. 

It’s Official Lebron James is Going To the NFL: Now It’s Just A Matter of Where

Where will James go?

During the NBA Lockout Miami Heat forward Lebron James has been playing football with his former high school team, St. Vincent-St. Mary. James has been practicing with the team in full pads which as a result has gained the attention of the media and has started a question, is Lebron James going to switch sports and play football?

On Tuesday, October 4^th after finishing up a practice with his former high school team James tweeted, “Just got done practicing with the St.V Varsity football team, full pads and all.. Felt great being back on the field. Should I?”

“Should I?” A question that James was hinting towards; should he play football. The tweet immediately spread by users re-tweeting and responding to James tweet as everyone was shocked that this “football thing” was going this far.

Fast forward to Monday; David Stern addressed the media that the NBA was canceling the first two weeks of the NBA season due to the owners and players not coming to an agreement. “I’m sorry to report…that the first two weeks of the season have been canceled,” Stern told reporters outside the New York hotel in which the sides met. “We depart on good terms with negotiators. We just have a gulf that separates us.”

Stern would also go onto add, “We remain very, very far apart on virtually all issues.”

James would respond to the news by tweeting, “I wanna sincerely say sorry to all the fans! It’s a sad day for all of us, especially u guys! There’s no US w/o You. loveuguys.”

Though that wouldn’t be all for number six as the following day James would ask ESPN’s John Clayton, “When is the deadline for a team to sign a free agent?”

So does this mean that Lebron James is considering playing football this season in the NFL? It seems that way indeed, strike one: Lebron James practices with his former high school football team in full pads, strike two: James asks the fans if he should play football, strike three: James asks ESPN’s John Clayton when the free agent deadline is. Those three strikes are all leading up to what could possibly be another decision; to play or not to play? That is the question.

Now let’s just say that James decides to play, where would he go?

Buffalo Bills: Why not? They’re hot and on fire and the addition of Lebron James to their football team couldn’t hurt them at all, it would only help them. Now say that James doesn’t live up to the hype and can’t play, then their back in the same situation that they were in before except with a bigger fan base.

Miami Dolphins: Wouldn’t that be something, Lebron James takes his talents to South Beach again. James could really fit into their offense and at 0-4 what’s the worse that could happen?

Cleveland Browns: A coming home party? How would Cleveland react is the big question…would they let him back or would they boo? However James would make a nice fit in Cleveland at either the receiver or even a tight end position.

Chicago Bears: The city of Chicago took part in a transition like this before when Michael Jordan left basketball to play for the Chicago White Sox, so why not again? Let’s face it when your running back is your leading your receiver you know that you’re in trouble.

Devin Hester, isn’t going to work out maybe he’ll break a long one here or there but he’s a return specialist not a receiver. Then too Jonny Knox; he’s not bad but he shouldn’t be a number one receiver on any team. Then to Roy Williams; reunited with Mike Martz and expected to have the season of his career, well six receptions, 81 yards, and zero touchdowns doesn’t sound that great to me.

San Francisco 49ers: On the west coast, in California, which has Lebron James written all over it. The 49ers need a receiver because who knows when Braylon Edwards is coming back, Josh Morgan has a broken a leg, Michael Crabtree is basically getting paid for free and that’s about it. So lace them up big fella because San Fran is just a phone call away.

Seattle Seahawks:

Pete Carroll and Lebron James are doing more than just tweeting, they’re actually talking and what their talking about, is James suiting up in Seattle. With two good receivers as their starters it wouldn’t seem to make any sense to bring in Lebron James, but it does; it makes perfect sense. Not only will he bring some talent, but he’s going to bring media, fans, and more.

Other teams: Dallas Cowboys- Jerry Jones is all about signing big name players that bring attention to his football team and with that being James’s favorite team, the two sides might just work something out.

Tennessee Titans- It could happen, while it’s very low, it could happen. Another injury or two and James could just slide his way in there.

Houston Texans, Oakland Raiders, Atlanta Falcons.

Now James wouldn’t be the first player to make the move from basketball to football as there has been players to do so such as Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates. However the only problem is, James has been away from the game of football for about eight years and just ask anyone that’s a long time so it’s very questionable if he would be any good. However that’s why James has been preparing for the move, by practicing with his former high school.

As of right now James hasn’t signed with a team or talked with any yet, because he’s trying to find an agent which he’s doing right now. Give it about another two weeks and if the lockout is still in tack which it should be, you will be seeing James in a football jersey.