Showtime has announced that the Bleacher Report-produced Ron Artest documentary, titled, "Quiet Storm: The Ron Artest Story" will premiere on Friday, May 31 at 10pm ET. According to Deadline, the debut coincides with Mental Health Awareness Month.
The film includes interviews with the Queensbridge-native, as well as his family and friends, former teammates and rivals. The documentary will chronicle his childhood in NYC during the crack wars of the 1980s to his time at St. John's University and career in the NBA.
According to the AP's Brian Mahoney, the film also contains footage of the Malice at the Palace.
Stephen Espinoza, the President of Sports & Event Programming for Showtime Networks Inc., describes (H/T Deadline):
“Whether you know him as Ron Artest or Metta World Peace, he is one of the most intriguing personalities in sports. From Ron’s challenging upbringing in Queensbridge among some of the biggest burgeoning names in hip-hop through his transformation to Metta World Peace, Metta has been best known for his fierce competitiveness and unwavering loyalty.”
Those interviewed for "Quiet Storm: The Ron Artest Story" include Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, Elton Brand, Jermaine O’Neal, Bill Walton and Dr. Santhi Pariasamy. The film was directed by Johnny Sweet and written by Tom Friend.
Says Sweet (H/T Deadline):
“As a kid who grew up in New York City in the ’80s and ’90s. I remember watching Metta play at an early age. He embodied what New York basketball fans loved: a tough relentless two-way player. He was never more authentic than after his 2010 title clinching shot with the Lakers when he said, ‘I want to thank my psychiatrist.’ Whether he meant to have an impact or not, Ron saved lives that day simply by being honest and guileless.”