Ron Artest eats an entire orange [Video]

There are only three news items that have stayed relevant throughout this NBA off-season.

--Contract negotiation meetings: They're kind of important because they determine when and if there is a 2011-12 season.

--Will a player go overseas? That matters to the player's salary and marketing brand and to the team's sudden concern over possible injury.

--And finally, anything Ron Artest does, which provides a nice distraction to the crickets constantly chirping.

The latest news item that's only newsworthy because there is an NBA lockout involves Artest's eating an entire orange including the skin after practicing for his upcoming appearance Sept. 19 on "Dancing With the Stars" (h/t to Pro Basketball Talk's Kurt Helin). But you probably won't have to wait an entire week for another dose of Artest's shenanigans. The public will find out Sept. 16 whether he actually paid his parking tickets and whether he can legally change his name to Metta World Peace.

For now, appreciate that even though Artest may be consumed with everything but basketball this off-season, at least he's getting his daily fruit intake.

Ron Artest says he'll pay parking tickets to become Metta World Peace

-- Mark Medina

Email the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com