Metta World Peace to change name to 'The Panda's Friend'
Metta World Peace is going to China and, of course, he's changing his name.
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Metta World Peace is going to China, and he won't be known as Metta World Peace there. Nope, the new Sichuan Blue Whales' new small forward won't be called Ron Artest, either. He intends to change his name to …
(Drumroll)
The Panda's Friend.
China Daily initially reported he'd be going by Panda Friend:
New high-profile import playing for Chinese basketball Association club Sichuan Blue Whales is known as Ron Artest but intends to change his name to "Panda Friend" in honor of his move to China.
World Peace, who is known in China as "Ci Shiping", a literal translation of "Metta World Peace," now plans to name himself after China's giant panda, a precious animal based in Southwest China's Sichuan province, where his new team is also based.
Despite retweeting fans calling him Panda Friend, he says it's The Panda's Friend. There was also all of this:
First thing I am doing when I get to china will be visiting Pandas with my daughter @BabyGirl_Sade
— mettaworldpeace.com (@MettaWorldPeace) July 31, 2014
I have more creativity coming in china. Im only there for 4months, so I will make sure its fun and successful before I head back to America.
— mettaworldpeace.com (@MettaWorldPeace) August 7, 2014
Wait until you guys see my first game;) you think the name is buzzing... Wow!!! Lol. Please stay tuned!!!
— mettaworldpeace.com (@MettaWorldPeace) August 7, 2014
No word yet on how Washington Wizards guard Bradley "Big Panda" Beal feels about this.
