Metta World Peace Suspension: Why Add to the Punishment?

Perhaps you saw a certain Los Angeles Laker elbow James Harden into concussive oblivion. It was bad, we can all agree on that point. And here is where the one-upsmanship begins. Once society deems an act terrible, people get louder and louder in its opposition. Nobody wants to be seen as condoning the Very Bad Thing.

Five games! No, 10 games! The season! Banned from basketball! Criminal!

It is hard to be a rationalist in this conversational space. Since the event was one that compelled all of us to be an NBA minister of punishment, I'll contribute to the meme and offer a three-game suspension. That's one more game than Kevin Love got for stomping on Luis Scola's face.

Perhaps you think a five-to-10 game ban is what works in this instance, and I won't disagree. The "how many games" decision is fairly subjective.

But the "criminal" label is one I recoil at. I also can't support how others wish to take Artest's livelihood. What is the point of this draconian path? What would it realistically accomplish? If you think that it will have an impact on others' heated, impulsive moments, then perhaps you're giving impulsive people too much credit. 

Of course, Metta World Peace has a history as Ron Artest. This certainly informs the rush to harsh judgment. But the Palace brawl happened in 2005—it seems a bit strange to act like a horrendous pattern that must be thwarted.

I just ask for something extreme, something that will not happen given the circumstances: I advocate that Peace be punished like any other elbow-thrower would be.