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The NBA champion formally known as Ron Artest

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As of today Ron Artest, NBA champion and Los Angeles Lakers forward, will now be known as Metta World Peace, a name he officially requested in June but was only granted permission to change officially today after approval from the Los Angeles County Superior Court.

After dealing with a with a couple of traffic tickets, a judge ruled that Artest could have his name changed.  This comes just in time for the new season of  “Dancing with the Stars,” where he will compete alongside Peta Murgatroyd.
Today’s ruling comes after a previously scheduled Aug. 26 hearing in a downtown courthouse was delayed  so Artest could clear up issues regarding outstanding traffic ticket warrants.   Artest has contemplated the name change for years, according to his publicist, Courtney Barnes.

Artest always knew he wanted his last name to be World Peace, “but it took many years of research and soul searching to find a first name that was both personally meaningful and inspirational,” Barnes said.

In the Buddhist tradition Metta means loving-kindness and friendliness toward others, Barnes said.

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