In the year 2012, suspended athletes give their most interesting interviews about their suspension to guys like Conan O'Brien, not normal sports reporters. Well, at least that's what happened with Los Angeles Lakers forward Metta World Peace, who was hit with a seven-game suspension for elbowing James Harden. In his most extended words to date on the situation, World Peace explained why he still hasn't talked to Harden.
World Peace's rationalization? He'll have to play Harden's Oklahoma City Thunder sometime down the road.
"I called some third parties, and they told me he was OK. But not him, because I might have to play him in the playoffs, so I don't want to talk to him," World Peace said.
Seems a little archaic, but by his own admission, World Peace is a "retro player," so I guess it makes sense in his head. He also said that he "deserved" the suspension, but not the seven-game suspension (huh?), and later chastised former players for expressing outrage at his elbow when they were physical players back in their day.
Here's video of part of the segment, and here's a more complete transcription by Eye on Basketball.