Metta World Peace: Stupid Outburst Will Destroy Rebuilt Reputation

Metta World Peace has a new name, but was his elbow evidence that he's still the same old Ron Artest?

I don't think so.

While the action was incredibly stupid, in my opinion, it is the perfect example of getting much more than you bargained for.

Did he intend to elbow James Harden? Absolutely, but I do not think he intended on connecting with his head. As crazy as that sounds, we must remember, we're talking about MWP.

The chances that he thought this thing through are about as likely as his chances of avoiding suspension for the incident.

He got caught up in the moment. He got carried away, but I don't think the intent matched the aftermath. 

Unfortunately for him, most people won't care to look at it in as much of an open-minded fashion as I do. Most will be fixated on the image of World Peace raring back and landing a Jon "Bones" Jones elbow on the side of Harden's jaw.

With those images embedded in many fans' minds, Peace effectively erased all of the positive behavior he's displayed since 2007.

He had not received any team or league-administered punishment in five years before this past May, when he was hit with a one-game suspension for an incident with J.J. Barea.

Here is a list of the suspensions Peace has been hit with in his career, per Rachel Shuster and Michael Falgoust of USA Today:

"

Jan. 29, 2003: With the Pacers, four games for confronting and making physical contact with Miami Heat coach Pat Riley, for taunting the Miami bench, for committing a flagrant foul-2 on Caron Butler (pushing him into the stands) and making an obscene gesture toward fans.

March 9, 2003: With the Pacers, one game for exceeding the maximum allowable flagrant foul points in a season.

March 13, 2003: With the Pacers, one game for again exceeding the maximum allowable flagrant foul points in a season.

March 20, 2003: With the Pacers, two games for again exceeding the maximum allowable flagrant foul points in a season.

March 19, 2004: With the Pacers, one game for hitting the Portland Trail Blazers' Derek Anderson in the head with a forearm.

April 19, 2004: With the Pacers, one game for leaving the immediate vicinity of his team's bench during an altercation.

Nov. 21, 2004: With the Pacers, 73 games (and 13 games during the team's playoff run) for his role in an in-game incident between Indiana and the Detroit Pistons.

April 24, 2006: With the Kings, one game for making contact with the head of San Antonio Spur Manu Ginobili with his forearm.

July 14, 2007: With the Kings, seven games for pleading "nolo contendre" to infliction of injury on a spouse.

May 5, 2011: With the Lakers, one game for swinging his arm and striking the face of the Dallas Mavericks' J.J. Barea.

"

The Barea incident was nothing, most won't even make reference to it. But the elbow from hell got everyone's attention.

It's really a shame, because I still believe World Peace isn't a bad guy. He's a bit of a loose cannon, and it's disappointing that he hasn't matured enough to be past this type of thing.

Though I don't think he's a monster, it's impossible to defend what he did. He must, and he will be suspended. For how long still remains to be seen.

If he's done for the year and the playoffs, I can't say that I'd cry foul. World Peace may be misunderstood, but we all must pay for actions.

With one elbow, Peace wiped away what took him half a decade to build. It's really pretty sad.

In the end, no one can say the league hasn't given Peace a chance.

Follow @BrianMazique