Ron Artest First to Be Eliminated from ‘Dancing With the Stars’

“DWTS” judges did not look too kindly on Metta World Peace’s awkward, stiff dance moves and voted him off the show after just one performance. From the LA Times: “After the highs of a performance show comes the inevitable first elimination of the season. And on this Tuesday night, that distinct dishonor went not to a reality TV mainstay, nor an international model and actress, as yours truly had suspected. No, the first star to be booted out of the Season 13 galaxy of ‘Dancing With the Stars’ — the person with the lowest total judges’ points and viewer votes — was … none other than the basketball player formerly known as Ron Artest, Metta World Peace, and his partner Peta Murgatroyd. Heavens to Murgatroyd. Guess when you’re encased in a realm as sparkly and dazzling as the mirror-balled land that is ‘DWTS,’ there’s no giving World Peace a chance. Alas, the ballroom lost a little bit of its luster Tuesday night. Sure, the L.A. Laker had the lowest judges’ points. And just based on his stiff cha cha, there was no way Metta was going to win the mirror-ball trophy. But this guy was buckets o’ entertaining, and I, for one, am sad to see this basketball player go. Like host Tom Bergeron, I’m mourning the season’s worth of antics and rapping that Metta would no doubt have brought to the ballroom. Had the NBA champ fallen victim to bad official-name-change timing? Perhaps people didn’t know who to vote for: Ron Artest, or Metta World Peace. I also think Metta’s decision to highlight his hair blond for performance night made him all but unrecognizable to his fans (he looked more like himself after he dyed his hair back Tuesday).”