Rumor: NBA thug Ron Artest is making a basketbrawl game.

Source: An interview with MTV News

The official story: Attempts to contact Artest's agency went unanswered.

What we heard: If you didn't know the name Ron Artest before November 19 of 2004, you sure knew him after. The temperamental talent for the NBA's Indiana Pacers and former Defensive Player of the Year is known as much for tightening the screws on ball handlers as he is for missing a few screws. The small forward was handed the NBA's biggest suspension for an incident not involving betting or drugs, but for leaping into the stands and introducing his fist to some Detroit fans' faces in "The Malice in the Palace," an incident some sports writers referred to as "the NBA's 9/11." His extended vacation left Artest time to pursue his other interests, including embarking on a rap career, spending time with his family, and making video games. [cue screeching tires]

Yup. Artest told MTV.com that he's working on a new game that combines two things he's known for: basketball and fighting. However, according to the interview, the game won't let players fight on the court. Nooo, that wouldn't be classy. Players who have a beef with each other can take their scuffles to a boxing ring to avoid getting suspended by the league. Artest plans to unveil the game in early 2006, but he didn't mention any platforms, developers, or anything else, for that matter. The game will feature "playground" legends, and it won't be NBA-sanctioned.

Ron Artest says a lot of crazy things, but he follows up on them. He once said he was producing an R&B album. He did. He promised to release his own rap album, which comes out in the next few months. Is Artest making a boxing/basketball game? We'll say yes, if only for the fear of him running into our offices and beating the pulp out of us. Remember Sony's ill-fated Road to Sunday, which combined football with pit fighting? Such potential genre clashes just don't work. If Artest's game makes it all the way to retail, I'll fight Ben Wallace myself.

Bogus or not bogus?: A hesitant not bogus on its conceptualization, but a hearty bogus on its realization. You go, Ron.