It's 2012 and the NBA Season

Is that Peace? Or Mr. World Peace, Ron? 

Well, I guess, it's what we expected from the NBA. After a summer lockout that stretched into the fall, the NBA season got off to a rocky start. And based on the results seen so far, one thing is clear: the players weren't exactly running laps or staying in shape.

Since the season-opening weekend, yes, on Christmas Day, we have seen some pretty good, and mostly, some pretty awful basketball.  It certainly takes some time to get back into game shape of course, but we've seen a Celtics team have a total of 49 points heading into the fourth quarter, star players missing games due to "injuries." 

But at least we have World Peace!  

That's right, the artist formerly known as Ron Artest has had a personal born-again moment with the Lakers. Not longer the instigator for the "Malace in the Palace" as a troubled Detroit Piston.  No longer a Los Angeles Laker who basically bent the rims of the Boston Garden during the NBA Finals a few years back ... except when the game, series, O'Brien Trophy was on the line and came through in the clutch. 

No, Mr. Artest will only answer by the calling of Mr. Meta World Peace. Yup, it's official. Just look at the team jersey.  Just listen to Marvelous Marv Albert on TNT call out the play-by-play: 

"Here's Kobe, to Peace, back to Kobe, now over to World Peace ... .... and it's goooood!" 

Ugh. The NBA is back. 

Go Thunder