Ron Artest, now known as Metta World Peace, is more than likely going to be suspended for slamming his elbow into Oklahoma City Thunder player James Harden. Artest, who currently plays for the Los Angeles Lakers, caused Harden to suffer a concussion.
And if it seems like we were just talking about concussions in sports yesterday, it is because we were. With Marian Hossa knocked out of the NHL playoffs due to a hard hit from a fellow player, now Harden might be missing time, potentially playoff time due to his concussion.
Artest’s hit was ruled a flagrant 2 foul. According to rules, it warrants a 1 or 2 game suspension. But due to his past reputation as not the best sportsman and with the memory of his known outbursts at the forefront, he might be looking at a longer suspension.
While it was thought that concussions were a big issue in the NHL and NFL, Artest’s actions show us that the NBA, which is also a contact sport, is not immune to the problem.
With both the Lakers and Thunder getting ready for the playoffs, the hit might be seen as even dirtier than originally seen. If Harden is out for the playoffs, it could potentially ruin the chances of the Thunder winning the NBA Title.
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