Ron Artest: Is Chad Ochocinco to Blame for Diamond World Peace?

We can all thank Chad Ochocinco, formerly Chad Johnson, for the recent name-change trend.

“Thank you, Chad.”

Chad wasn’t the first person to change his name and he won’t be the last, but he brought the trend back to life.

We’ve seen changes such as Gregory White to Stylez G. Now he have Ron Artest to Metta World Peace.

Artest is clearly trying to take a worldwide stance with his name change. He’s not just trying to “make a name for himself,” but we could assume he made the change to continue rehabilitating his image from the Malice in the Palace.

He’s received more backlash than approval for his name change, but perhaps his daughter will get people on his side. Artest’s lovely eight-year-old girl would also like to change her last name, and Ron-Ron, excuse me, Metta is more than willing.

According to TMZ's staff:

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Ron Artest just recruited another ardent follower in his ongoing quest for World Peace—his daughter.

Ron's rep tells TMZ, 8-year-old Diamond Artest has told her dad she wants to take on the World Peace name—and with a name like Diamond, the resulting moniker might even be awesomer than her dad's.

Diamond hasn't decided when she wants to begin the legal process—but we're told Ron's ready and willing to sign on the dotted line whenever she's ready.

Ron's name change to Metta World Peace was supposed to become official last month—but the judge delayed the request...over Ron's outstanding traffic tickets.

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I really couldn’t care if Artest changed his name or his daughter’s name. Like when Chad did it, I think it’s all in good fun. It’s entertaining. Is it necessary? No, but it’s entertaining nonetheless.

I’m sure there will be some people who flip out on Ron for letting his daughter change her name, but it won’t affect anybody else.

Still, it all comes back to good ol’ Chad. I can’t help but think that Ron-Ron wouldn’t have done this if Chad didn’t change his name. Sure, Artest may have gotten the idea since coming to the Lakers since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did the same thing in 1971.

I’d be hard pressed to believe that over my Ochocinco theory.

The recent names changes must beg the question, who’s next?

Should Calvin Johnson change his middle name to “Megatron?”

Should Dwyane Wade simply become “The Flash?”

Maybe LeBron James should become “The King.”

Could you imagine leagues just full of monikers instead of real names? There would be nothing anybody could do, and the players could change their names back whenever they felt like it. It would be hilarious.

Just an idea…

Thanks, Chad.