Metta World Peace elbow to Harden

[624]

It's funny reading "World Peace ejected"

[thecircle]

You know you can easily damage someone long term for that type of hit or even kill someone. Artest is big and strong you guys who defend him have no clue how dangerouse this was. Classless by MWP and people who cheer/ support this move. Pathetic.

[Doctor MJ]

Absolute moronic move by Artest. He's been trying so hard to shake his bad rep, but with this one move, it's all for nothing. I'd be fine with his season being done. Suspension for the Playoffs. Banning is a stretch, but the NBA needs to send a message, especially with concussions becoming an issue. There is absolutely ZERO excuse or justification for this.

It completely sucks for Artest. He really is trying to be a good guy, but he's got a hair trigger. When I say they should consider banning him, it's not because I hate the guy or think he "deserves" it. It's simply because his "rights" are so low on the priority list compared to other things.

[sonicFLAME6]

Anyone saying this was unintentional is either blind or just plain mentally challenged.

Right, let's distinguish:

Unintentional: He didn't know Harden was there.
Intentional: He did know Harden was there

Unpremeditated: He didn't think it through before he did it.
Premeditated: He did think it through before he did it.

This is clearly Intentional but UNpremeditated. Not being premeditated helps you in a court of law, but that's not where we are. If I'm Stern, it's actually scary that it wasn't premeditated because it means that there's literally no point in giving a temporary punishment: It won't change anything. So you can either give a temporary punishment to save face, remove Artest permanently, or do nothing. The unreasonableness of the first choice, and the unacceptability of the last choice make the permanent ban something I seriously consider.

I understand if that doesn't seem fair to Artest, but remember, Stern's not in the "fair" business. The question is what makes it worthwhile to him to stay in the Artest business knowing that the NBA will be held partially responsible for any damage Artest causes given that they've ALREADY seen him do so much even before this incident.

Feel bad for Artest, but making millions in the NBA is not a right, it's a privilege.

But there was intent to cause damage, so you never know like you say. I wouldn't even be mad if gets suspended for the rest of the season and that's all she wrote for Metta. You just never know with lose cannons and it's not his first time to do something that vicious.
I'm saying 5 games max, but I wouldn't argue a heavier sentence.

[Grits n Gravy]

i would disagree with those calling for a lifetime ban...i would say 20-25 games which would end his season, punish him in his pocket and punish his team mates. if anyone can remember, the only thing thst stopped shaq seriously injuring brad miller wth a full wind up, hard as he could swing at the back of his head was that he is a gumby, **** fighter....if he connects, brad miller could be forced into retirement. besides the point but i don't think mwp should get a lifetime ban even though it was a disgusting, dirty play.

[Neutral 123]

A ban is unlikely, but comparing it to the Bynum incident, Bynum got 5 games, and it was reduced to 4 because of the shortened season. Given Artest's history he'll probably get more than that. I think this has to be at least 5-6 games.

[BBgun]

People are going crazy about it because it's Ron Artest.
Anyone else would get 2 games for this. Ron will most likely get more because of his bad rep.
But anyone mentioning lifetime or season or whatever is crazy.
Yes, it was an elbow to the head and it was intentional. But it's not like this is the first time someone got elbowed in the NBA. Nor is this the first time Harden took a dramatic dive and rolled on the ground clutching his head like that.

justice system doesnt work like that though. Repeat offenders get way harsher punishments. Think of the three strikes rule...in this case Artest did something which could have gotten him banned for life back in 04. This will not fly with Stern.

[ZB9]

if sticking your finger in someones ear brings a fine of 25k, then i wonder what an elbow to the temple brings

[Mobat]

it was unintentional

trololo?

I was trying to fulfill the quota of people saying it was unintentional for whatever reason

[Wooderson]

I didn't think he meant to do it. He was caught up in the moment.

There are plenty of players who have never even thought of doing something like that in the heat of the moment, because they have self-control. MWP (and Bynum for that matter) lacks that self-control.

This was well after the whistle too. Even though Bynum's was dirty and not a basketball player, at least it was between the whistles.

It's clear Artesticle can't control himself. He deserves to be tossed for hood.

[Tave]

As unintentional as driving your car on the sidewalk and not aiming at specific people.

[lodom7]

Nah, he shouldn't be banned.

He should be taken out back and have a bullet put in his head.

that solves the problem, elbowing a guy in the head while hyped up on adrenaline deserves death, harden brought it on himself

[aHealthy3]

that was bad and he should be suspended for the rest of the regular season at least. but it did kinda look like harden went up and was kinda mocking him right before he did it. still uncalled for.

[Doctor MJ]

You know you can easily damage someone long term for that type of hit or even kill someone. Artest is big and strong you guys who defend him have no clue how dangerouse this was. Classless by MWP and people who cheer/ support this move.

Yup, this is what's frustrating to me. If we get the message later today "Harden has fractured skull, out for the year", it becomes an absolute given that Artest needs to be suspended for the year, and you've ALREADY been suspended for the year once in your career, to me it's insane to consider doing that again. A year ban is a way of saying "Any further and you'd be banned." Artest just went further.

Were I Stern, only thing that save him is if I here some great arguments saying either that 1) Harden did something far worse than it looks to bring this on, or 2) The hit wasn't nearly as bad as it looked.

[ZB9]

was certainly worse than this elbow lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSyuUQZSFlU

[hisairness]

Why should Artest be banned for life? Oh, maybe because he is psychotic person, incapable of controlling his emotions and actions on the court, which can lead to him potentially endangering other players careers, something no GM or fan should even have to worry about when watching basketball. If you think that elbow was "soft" and no "big deal" think what could had happened if he connected few inches higher with the temple.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20091208072451AAUNsnT
Im personally fed up with his antics.

[mattyBoi]

Harden was being a little punk but Artest, of course, shouldn't have went that far. This is nothing compared to the old NBA, 3 game suspension and a fine.

[Doctor MJ]

that was bad and he should be suspended for the rest of the regular season at least. but it did kinda look like harden went up and was kinda mocking him right before he did it. still uncalled for.

Right, Harden's role in this has to be examined, but everyone has to remember that Artest was already on borrowed time.

[ElGee]

Anyone saying this was unintentional is either blind or just plain mentally challenged.

Right, let's distinguish:

Unintentional: He didn't know Harden was there.
Intentional: He did know Harden was there

Unpremeditated: He didn't think it through before he did it.
Premeditated: He did think it through before he did it.

This is clearly Intentional but UNpremeditated. Not being premeditated helps you in a court of law, but that's not where we are. If I'm Stern, it's actually scary that it wasn't premeditated because it means that there's literally no point in giving a temporary punishment: It won't change anything. So you can either give a temporary punishment to save face, remove Artest permanently, or do nothing. The unreasonableness of the first choice, and the unacceptability of the last choice make the permanent ban something I seriously consider.

I understand if that doesn't seem fair to Artest, but remember, Stern's not in the "fair" business. The question is what makes it worthwhile to him to stay in the Artest business knowing that the NBA will be held partially responsible for any damage Artest causes given that they've ALREADY seen him do so much even before this incident.

Feel bad for Artest, but making millions in the NBA is not a right, it's a privilege.

But there was intent to cause damage, so you never know like you say. I wouldn't even be mad if gets suspended for the rest of the season and that's all she wrote for Metta. You just never know with lose cannons and it's not his first time to do something that vicious.
I'm saying 5 games max, but I wouldn't argue a heavier sentence.

5 games minimum. And if I'm setting the Vegas line, I'm setting it a lot higher than that.

[droponov]

I had nothing against MWP his entire career until I saw that.

Are you serious? This guy has already destroyed a franchise for year and cost the league millions of dollars.

Artest is a good guy most of the time, but enough is enough.