Ron Artest name change delayed due to ticket issue

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ron Artest’s bid to become Metta World Peace

has been delayed.

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A Los Angeles court commissioner delayed ruling on a name change

petition by the Lakers forward until Sept. 16.

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Superior Court spokeswoman Elizabeth Martinez says the court cited

Artest’s outstanding traffic warrants as the reason for the delay.

Additional information was not immediately available.

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Artest did not come to court Friday and his attorney Jill Rubin

declined to comment after hearing of the judge’s

decision.

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The 31-year-old Artest had been counting on the name change to go

through, announcing on Twitter Thursday night that he was planning

a celebratory barbecue.

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Artest requested the name change in June, stating in court filings

only that it was for personal reasons.

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