Two days after Metta World Peace’s ferocious elbow landed behind James Harden’s ear, leaving him writhing in pain on the Staples Center Floor with a concussion, the NBA is expected to render a decision today on World Peace’s fate.
When asked about the play, World Peace told the LA Times, “ … I got real emotional, real excited. It’s unfortunate that James had to get hit with an unintentional elbow. I hope he’s OK. The Thunder. they’re playing for a championship this year. I really hope he’s OK and I apologize to the Thunder and to James Harden. It was such a great game. It was unfortunate so much emotion was going on at that time.”
The miscue by World Peace, whether intentional or not, will surely garner a suspension from the league office. What remains to be seen is exactly how long NBA Commissioner David Stern will force him to sit out.
As we all know, this isn’t the first time World Peace has faced suspension. In his 13 seasons in the NBA he has been suspended a mind boggling 12 times. His 86-game suspension for running into the stands in 2004 and attacking fans in a game against the Pistons is the longest in league history. In addition, World Peace has been suspended five times due to flagrant fouls, and three times for making contact with an opponent’s head.
With such a laundry list of hard fouls and dirty plays, you can’t help but wonder if Commissioner Stern is growing tired of World Peace’s act. Since the incident in Auburn Hills, Stern has tried his best to eliminate anything that will damage a league he has turned into one of the most profitable in the world.
A decision from the commissioner is expected today. Don’t be surprised if World Peace is asked to sit out at least the entire first round of the playoffs when they begin on Thursday.