Former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader Bonnie-Jill Laflin is cheering for vegetables in her new PETA ad. As an NBA scout, Laflin knows a thing or two about fitness. And she scouted out the best fitness plan—a healthy vegetarian diet.

Score your own photo-ready physique with a delicious, cruelty-free plant-based diet. 

 
Written by Michelle Sherrow

Ron Artest has been sporting his heart of gold for quite some time thanks to his efforts to assist with PETA's lifesaving spay and neuter campaign. Now he's going to be sporting NBA gold on his finger after a spectacular win in last night's Finals game!

Owing to Ron's calm and cool demeanor (and, according to him, his psychiatrist!)—plus numerous steals and a crucial three-pointer late in the game—the LA Lakers clinched the NBA championship and proved that Ron is a force to be reckoned with on the court.

Congratulations, Ron!

Written by Karin Bennett

The NBA finals are upon us, and Los Angeles Lakers small forward Ron Artest is up to his old tricks—playing lock-down defense on Paul Pierce of the Boston Celtics and bringing his patented passion and energy to a Lakers team that acquired him in the off-season for just that reason.

Artest may be vying for his first championship ring, but he's already got one accolade in the bag—PETA's Defensive Player of the Year award for defending dogs and cats against the animal overpopulation crisis. Through this eye-catching ad, the tough-as-nails Artest urges his fans to "have the balls" to spay or neuter their dogs:

This busy athlete also took the time to shoot a public service announcement for PETA, asking people to make a difference for animals by getting involved.

We wish Ron-Ron the best of luck in bringing home the title this year! Around the country, fingers (and paws) are crossed in thanks for his full-court-press for animals.

Written by Jennifer O'Connor

What is fur-hating Phoenix Suns forward Amar'e Stoudemire's recipe for end-of-season-success? A four-day vegan fast, which he says will "purify my body, and get my body in top shape …."

I'm sure that the former NBA Rookie of the Year's foray into animal-free cuisine will improve his physical and mental wellness by leaps and bounds. And who knows, maybe he'll make a permanent switch to a vegan diet.

After all, once you learn how factory-farmed animals endure painful mutilations, extreme crowding, and hellish journeys to slaughterhouses to become artery-clogging, doob promoting hot dogs and cheeseburgers, your mind and body do feel lighter and brighter when you go vegan. Don't just take our word for it—see for yourself.

Written by Karin Bennett

Three-time NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas is proof that one man can double-team fur industry cruelty. First, he bared it all in his "Ink, Not Mink" ad, and today he hosted PETA's fur-coat giveaway in Washington, D.C., where donated coats were handed out to the homeless:

Only those who can't afford to buy coats to keep them warm have any excuse to wear fur. Do you have any skins that you'd like to shed from your wardrobe? Donate them to PETA, and your old fashion faux pas could help a person in need or become bedding for an orphaned animal.

Written by Logan Scherer

As we promised yesterday, we've got exclusive photos from the unveiling of Los Angeles Lakers forward Ron Artest's new spay-and-neuter billboard in L.A. The first 20 attendees at the unveiling scored big-time, receiving coupons for free spay or neuter surgeries:

Check out more pictures.

With Spay Day less than a week away, the debut of Artest's ad couldn't have come at a better time. "These animals are literally dying for a good home," he said. "Spaying and neutering your companion animals is the way to bring an end to the overpopulation crisis."

Now that's a slam dunk!

Written by Logan Scherer

Ron Artest is the compassionate king of any court he steps on. Just in time for Spay Day on February 23, the NBA All-Star and Los Angeles Lakers forward will reveal his new spay-and-neuter billboard tomorrow in Los Angeles at 8238 Beverly Blvd. (near Sweetzer Avenue). The first 20 people to arrive will receive coupons for free spay or neuter surgeries provided by the Sam Simon Foundation—a Los Angeles–area organization that runs a mobile clinic providing free spay and neuter surgeries and low-cost veterinary services.

Check back tomorrow for exclusive photos from the event. See you then!

Written by Logan Scherer

Quick—who was the first NBA player to win championships with three different teams? If you said John Salley, then ... you read the title of this post. Bravo. But you know what else John Salley is? ... right. A vegetarian. That was in the title too. You know, you really could help me sell this bit a little. Anyway ...

John Salley—who earned his nickname, "The Spider," from his long-limbed defensive prowess—is the latest celebrity to star in PETA's vegetarian testimonial series. Today, the PSA will be launched at the John Muir Middle School in Los Angeles, California, where John is giving a talk to hundreds of students about his vegetarian lifestyle and PETA is providing free veggie burgers for one and all. Turtle Mountain also provided the school with 500 soy ice cream sandwiches for the event! Check out the PSA below:

When we filmed the ad a while back, I got the chance to sit down with John and pick his brain a bit. We got the important stuff out of the way when he told me that he grew up a Celtics fan—I always knew I liked the guy. He first went veg in 1991, after his fifth year in the league (he was a Detroit Piston at the time, but please don't hold that against him). John says that after making the switch, he lost 10 pounds and was still stronger than anyone else on the team (Laimbeer, I'm looking at you). From there, he went on to win powered-by-tofu NBA championships with the Bulls in '96 and with the Lakers in '00, adding those rings to the two he already won with the effing Pistons. Check out the full Q&A below:

Seventeen years later, John's still going strong, hosting The Best Damn Sports Show Period on FOX, pursuing an acting career, and oh yeah, helping to save animals with PETA. So the next time someone asks you, "Aren't vegetarians worried about not having enough vitamin Q?" or whatever, just say, "Actually, we're more worried about not having enough fingers for all our RINGS, yo!"

Here are some photos from the launch event:

Posted by Dan Shannon