Metta World Peace Cool with "Malice" Instigator
"The Malice in the Palace" will forever live on as one of the most infamous moments in the history of the NBA. The fan-and-player brawl all began when a Detroit Pistons fan hit Indiana Pacers forward Ron Artest with a cup of beer.
According to Kevin Ding of The Orange Country Register, Artest—now known as Metta World Peace—remains friendly with the man he had previously fought with.
The Los Angeles Lakers' next stop on their seven-game road trip is Detroit. As a result, the devastating moment known as "The Malice in the Palace" became a topic of conversation once again.
Ding reports that World Peace was hardly combative when tasked with answering questions about the instance that we'd all like to forget.
"“He’s cool,” World Peace said Friday night. “He’s good people.”
“I’ve spoken to him quite a few times,” World Peace said.
"
I guess it's safe to believe in happy endings.
Considering the league has worked so hard to eliminate any video of the violent incident, it's refreshing to hear that MWP and his counterpart are on good terms. After all, both men will live on in NBA infamy for their actions.
At least they'll be peaceful in doing so.
For those who need a full recap of the events, the Pacers and Pistons were nearly involved in a bench-clearing brawl due to a flagrant foul in 2004. Artest responded by taunting the Pistons, thus laying down across the announcer's table.
Pistons fans took none too kindly to this act, as one man in attendance threw his cup full of beer at Artest.
MWP responded by running into the crowd and entering a physical altercation with fans in attendance. Multiple players became involved, and the fighting spanned from the court to the stands.
Fortunately, World Peace and the fan who started it all have put the times behind them.
