Metta laments 2004 brawl: 'Sometimes I wish I could rewind my career'
Metta Sandiford-Artest was feeling wistful on Wednesday, as the 17-year veteran reflected on his involvement in the most infamous brawl in NBA history: "Malice at the Palace."
I really admire these @nba ballers. Sometimes I wish I could rewind my career to 5 secs before I jumped in the crowd and slow down time 5x , jump in the bus , and fly to Indiana . :)
— Metta World Peace (@MettaWorld37) October 7, 2020
It’s much more gratifying to have a complete pro sports career than an incomplete one
In the final seconds of a tense game between the Indiana Pacers and the Detroit Pistons in November 2004, Pacers star Sandiford-Artest - then known as Ron Artest - ratcheted up emotions with a hard foul on Pistons center Ben Wallace. After a minor fracas between the Pacers and Pistons, Sandiford-Artest retreated to the sideline.
However, while lying on the scorer's table, a Pistons fan threw a drink on Sandiford-Artest, causing the temperamental wing to charge the stands. There, he attacked a fan he mistook for the man who threw the drink, causing players from both teams and spectators to devolve into absolute bedlam:
Of the nine players who received discipline from the league for their part in the incident, Sandiford-Artest's was the steepest: The reigning Defensive Player of the Year was suspended for the rest of the season, losing nearly $5 million in salary, and faced further legal consequences, including community service and anger management therapy.
While the past was clearly on Sandiford-Artest's mind, he also weighed in on the ongoing NBA Finals, predicting his former team would ultimately take the title.
"Looking like (Lakers) in 5," he tweeted. "But we will wait and see. (Miami Heat) has some fearless players."