Ron Artest Should Use Court Delay to Reconsider Name Change

Ron Artest knows who he is, what he means to his family and to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Artest knows the journey he has taken to this point in his life and his NBA career.  Further, he recognizes how he has gone from jumping into the stands to punch a fan at the Palace of Auburn Hills when he was with the Indiana Pacers to shouting thanks to his psychiatrist after the Lakers won the 2010 NBA Finals.

Artest doesn't need to change his name to Metta World Peace to demonstrate his transformation.

Hopefully, the Lakers forward takes a hint from the court delay issued on his name change request.

The quandary surrounding Artest's name change boils down to three points.

Artest's Requested New Name Is Simply an Avatar.

Ordinary people change their names for deep-seated personal reasons.  Some people, both ordinary and famous, including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Muhammed Ali, changed their names for religious reasons.

Others, such as the late basketball player World B. Free and Chad Ochocinco, changed their names for some pithy idealistic or promotional purpose.

Artest's requested name change falls into this category.  Artest does not show religious reason for his name change.  Otherwise, he might have renamed himself Augustine or Prince of Peace.  Also, Artest is not seeking refuge or favor from Code Pink, the feminist peace activist group.

In a way, Artest is making his name change to symbolize a personal transition.  Again, this is unnecessary because he has shown his transition in his play for the Lakers, as well as his domestic standing.

While Artest has said that he requests the name change for personal reasons, he seems to be changing his name in a pithy appeal for world peace.

If Artest wishes to make an appeal for world peace, he should pin a Pax Mundo button on his Lakers jersey, put a peace sign on one of his biceps and quote the martyred Catholic Archbishop of El Salvador Oscar Romero in post-game press conferences and interviews.

The Lakers don't need one more shiny product on the team.  Artest should not make the jump.

Artest Should Act Now to Prevent Sanctimony.

If Artest continues his effort to change his name, the back of his Lakers jersey would read either "World Peace" or "Peace" whenever the NBA and the players association gets serious and ends the lockout.

Some might argue that if Artest changed his name and showed his Lakers jersey with the word "peace" on it, then more people would have peace on their minds.  Also, some might say that it would greatly promote the idea of peace.

Actually, real promotion of peace comes from writers, politicians and leaders of all types who are dedicated to peace.

A number 15 Lakers jersey with the word "peace" on it would only be a word on the court, like any other word in any arena in which he plays.  People are bombarded with so many images and messages that they can hardly commit to another idea unless someone drills it in their minds.

Furthermore, one can see the eye-rolling moments to come.

New Lakers coach Mike Brown would be confused about the change in his roster, causing him to tell reporters, "When I was hired as the Lakers coach, I didn't know that I had Peace in my future."

After a game in which LeBron James blows a game-winning play, losing the ball to Artest, he sighs, "I didn't see that Peace was before me."

When discussing trades that the Miami Heat should make at the deadline, a commentator might quote Romero, saying, "If you want justice, fight for Peace."

The sanctimony that Artest would create would be sickening.

Artest Should Be Himself and Be Real.

Already, Artest has discovered that being a good person, a good basketball player, and a good role model to his children does not take much effort.

Since his name change has been delayed, it should come to Artest as an omen—or a moment of sudden peace.

The Lakers might be gain great peace from not having a player named Metta World Peace.

Artest should stick with his current name.