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Lakers forward Metta World Peace spent Friday in Washington D.C. talking with members of Congress about the Mental Health in Schools Act, which would provide funding for more therapy services in schools. The former Ron Artest also did the same thing two years ago. "We need to build confidence in kids and have a stronger support system for them," World Peace said. "It'll make them stronger with education." Los Angeles Daily News

Los Angeles Lakers, Metta World Peace 

Let’s finish off with you. What does the future hold for Metta World Peace in terms of basketball? Metta World Peace: I want to be a Los Angeles Laker for life. I want the purple and gold forever. I won a Championship there. We haven’t been in the best situation the last couple seasons, but I want to be part of the solution. I want to help them fight out of this foxhole, and get back to what we do, take back what is ours. I want to stay right here. I take this losing personally. SLAM

Los Angeles Lakers, Metta World Peace 

Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni believes the punishments stem more from World Peace's reputation. World Peace has a well-documented behavior history, most notably drawing an 86-game suspension after he - then known as Ron Artest - rushed into the stands after a fan threw a drink at him in an infamous brawl eight years ago in Auburn Hills, Mich. World Peace also drew a seven-game suspension last season after throwing an elbow at former Oklahoma City guard James Harden. "I'm sure that goes into it," D'Antoni said. "They look at the play and look who did it with past experiences." Los Angeles Daily News

Los Angeles Lakers, Mike D'Antoni, Metta World Peace 

Marc Stein: NBA just announced Metta World Peace is suspended one game w/out pay for grabbing Detroit's Brandon Knight around neck & striking him in jaw Twitter @ESPNSteinLine

Los Angeles Lakers, Metta World Peace 

Marc Stein: That means Metta World Peace is suspended for tonight's game in Brooklyn. One-game suspension costs him almost $66,000 in salary Twitter @ESPNSteinLine

Los Angeles Lakers, Metta World Peace 

Metta World Peace provides a long-winded explanation for flagrant foul on Brandon Knight "He's a small guy," World Peace said. "He was trying his hardest to keep me off him. He worked hard, man. That kid, I don't know where he's from, I don't know what school he went to, because he was guarding me and I was crashing the boards. He's a tough kid, man. He tried to keep me off the glass and he did a good job. That's all I can say. He's a tough kid, very great. He's a tough point guard or shooting guard or whatever he is." Sulia

Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Lakers, Brandon Knight, Metta World Peace 

Next stop is Detroit on the Lakers’ seven-game trip, and Metta World Peace was trying to meet up with guy who threw cup at him back when he was Ron Artest and the “Malice in the Palace” was a national controversy in 2004, John Green. “He’s cool,” World Peace said Friday night. “He’s good people.” It turns out their schedules aren’t working out, but World Peace said they’ve met once previously and get along well. “I’ve spoken to him quite a few times,” World Peace said. Orange County Register

Los Angeles Lakers, Metta World Peace 

"I came to L.A. for this," World Peace told ESPNLA 710 Radio's "Max & Marcellus Show" on Thursday. "I could have went to Memphis or New Orleans where the media market is low and you're not going to get as crucified. "I came here for this. You don't come to L.A. not to want to be crucified when you lose. You come to L.A. for that pressure and that's why we're here. You got to really enjoy it. This is a beautiful time, like I kept telling my teammates. We can't be in a better situation. We can write world history. This is world history that we can write and we have the chance to do it." ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Metta World Peace 

"Nothing's changed as far as the way I'm thinking," World Peace said. "I still believe 100 percent that we're the best team. I think the team that we have is very unique. I don't know if there's ever been a team put together like this, first off. Even those old Bulls teams, obviously you had Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman, but on this team there's like six All-Stars. So, that's not an easy task to coach. "Coach (Mike) Brown tried early on and it's hard to get everybody's egos on one page. So, that's a difficult job. Obviously, when Bernie (Bickerstaff) took over, Bernie just said, 'You guys, go figure it out.' And then when coach (Mike) D'Antoni came in, he had a little bit more structure but he's grabbing, he's getting ahold of it right now as we speak. So, it's not an easy thing to do, to coach these really good players." ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Metta World Peace 

Metta World Peace and LMNO Prods. are teaming up to bring you that hidden camera show for athletes that you never asked for. The production company is the driving force behind I Get That a Lot for CBS. They've partnered with Metta World Peace's Artest Media group to create a show that will feature all sorts of pranks and hijinks involving professional athletes and the folks in their inner circles. Philadelphia Inquirer

Los Angeles Lakers, Showbusiness, Metta World Peace 

At least one person is excited about his future with the Lakers. Metta World Peace could become a free agent in July by declining a player option for $7.7 million next season. He doesn't plan on it. "I want to stay here the rest of my career," he said, and "get past this adversity. I want to finish as a Laker." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Metta World Peace 

After dipping to a career-low average of 7.7 points last season, World Peace bounced up to 13.5 this season. He had 12 against Chicago on four-for-11 shooting. "Some people forget what type of player I am. I could be averaging 20-plus points, to tell you the truth, you know?" he said. "Coach [Mike] Brown really wanted me to just play defense so I wasn't scoring the ball as much. He wanted me to take on just a defensive mind-set. He said embrace it. So I did. "It doesn't help me because these general managers these days, they try to negotiate and look at numbers when they know that you helped them win. They look at numbers at the end of the day. Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Metta World Peace 

KC Johnson: Day Bulls traded Artest to Pacers, he ripped his framed photo out of drywall at practice facility. "They won't be needing this anymore." Twitter @KCJHoop

Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Lakers, Trade, Metta World Peace 

Eric Koreen: MWP: “You guys will all write a story tomorrow and say, ‘Hey, the Lakers are positive!” Twitter @ekoreen

Los Angeles Lakers, Metta World Peace 

Chivalry is not dead in the NBA, at least as far as Metta World Peace is concerned. Perhaps excited by Sunday night's return of "Downton Abbey" or practicing for yet another Lifetime Movie role, World Peace went into the stands following a play in Sunday's 113-93 win over Cleveland to kiss a female fan's hand. USA Today Sports

Los Angeles Lakers, Metta World Peace 

Kamenetzky Brothers: Learned today @MettaWorldPeace wants to be a coach. Twitter @KamBrothers

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Metta World Peace 

Metta World Peace: Congrats to the Republicans and Democrats for finally reaching a Deal. #FiscalCliffSwag Twitter @MettaWorldPeace

Los Angeles Lakers, Metta World Peace 

Metta World Peace: RIP Scott Sterling... So sorry to hear the news Mr.Sterling.. Twitter @MettaWorldPeace

Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Donald Sterling, Metta World Peace 

Dave McMenamin: Metta rookie hazing: "Yo, Sacre, get me a towel. Drop everything that's important to you at the moment and get me a towel" Twitter @mcten

Los Angeles Lakers, Metta World Peace, Robert Sacre 

Dave McMenamin: Metta on the Clippers: "I was playing against the Clippers this whole summer. I don’t need to watch. I saw the focus they had this summer." Twitter @mcten

Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Metta World Peace