Ron Artest to Ball in England During NBA Lockout

Prepare for the “Metta World Peace” experience, British hoops fans. Ron-Ron tells the LA Times that he plans to skip across the pond to play pro basketball (and shoot a movie!) during the NBA’s lockout: “Artest also said he is going overseas to play during the lockout, but not where you might think. Instead of playing for one of the prestigious teams in southern Europe, he plans to play for either the Cheshire Jets or Glasgow Rocks of the British Basketball League. Um, dude, there’s a British Basketball League? ‘The teams aren’t good, but I’m going there to finish a movie, so why not?’ he said. This is, of course, the Lakers’ biggest problem with Artest. Some in the organization think that he lost focus after winning his championship ring, some think he became swallowed up in Hollywood’s chaos even as he was winning awards for his citizenship, and I hit him with that question again. ‘Too distracted? C’mon, man, I was prepared to be an All-Star, it just didn’t work out, but I was there, especially in the playoffs,’ he said. ‘People who ask that question should have seen me at the gym at 4 a.m.'”