Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas, under investigation for having unloaded guns in his arena locker room, turned 28 years old today. His birthday present wasn’t one of the better ones, however.
National Basketball Association Commissioner David Stern issued the following statement today:
 |
“The possession of firearms by an NBA player in an NBA arena is a matter of the utmost concern to us. I initially thought it prudent to refrain from taking immediate action because of the pendency of a criminal investigation involving the office of the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia and the Metropolitan Police Department, and the consideration of this matter by a grand jury sitting in the District of Columbia. For the same reason, I directed the Wizards to refrain from taking any action. Wizards personnel continue to be interviewed by law enforcement authorities, some are scheduled for appearance before the grand jury and the investigation is proceeding with the intensity that one would expect for such a serious incident.
“Although it is clear that the actions of Mr. Arenas will ultimately result in a substantial suspension, and perhaps worse, his ongoing conduct has led me to conclude that he is not currently fit to take the court in an NBA game. Accordingly, I am suspending Mr. Arenas indefinitely, without pay, effective immediately pending the completion of the investigation by the NBA.”
Shortly after the above statement was issued, the Wizards had this to say:
“We fully endorse the decision of the NBA to indefinitely suspend Gilbert Arenas. Strictly legal issues aside, Gilbert’s recent behavior and statements, including his actions and statements last night in Philadelphia, are unacceptable. Some of our other players appeared to find Gilbert’s behavior in Philadelphia amusing. This is also unacceptable. Under Abe Pollin’s leadership, our organization never tolerated such behavior, and we have no intention of ever doing so.”
More on NBA suspending Gilbert Arenas
According to CBS Sports, “the swift and potentially severe punishment came less than 24 hours after Arenas mocked the criminal and NBA investigation of his possession of firearms in the Wizards’ locker room on Dec. 21 by spraying his teammates with fake gunfire in the pre-game huddle in Philadelphia Tuesday night. That brazen act, and Arenas’ latest comments after the game that he didn’t do anything wrong by bringing guns to work, prompted Stern to act.”
Mike Jones (formerly of the Washington Times) said this on his blog: “Stern showed how mean by pulling the plug on Arenas’ comedy act, although the legal process has yet to fully play out. Each game Arenas misses will cost the guard $147,208.”
According to the New York Times, “In the days since the incident became public, Arenas frequently used his Twitter account to mock journalists who reported the story, to address unrelated topics and to relate obscene jokes. Arenas defended his posts by claiming that he used humor as a way to deflect personal pain. Then, during warmups before a Tuesday evening game against the Philadelphia 76ers, he used his thumb and index fingers to pretend to shoot his teammates, who laughed at the display. “They said: ‘Do it. Do it. Do it,’ ” Arenas told reporters afterward. “You wonder why I can’t be serious.”
Comment below, or read fan reactions and share your opinion in this forum topic.
Thats what he gets Im happy with this. He a good player that made a stupid choice and I am glad to hear that the NBA is taking this action
The seriousness of his actions cannot be taken disproportionately from his intent. As it seems clear he did bring the guns into the locker room, which apparently breaks a rule, investigate the seriousness of his intent and punish him accordingly. To frame Gilbert as one of the baddest guys in the NBA is somewhat hysterical. Additionally, to all those who are offended by his lack of seriousness when answering questions relating to the situation, ask yourself what it really is he needs to feel sorry about. If he pretended to be sorry or maybe expressed his new found Christian beliefs would that really make you all feel better?
What did Arenas say and do in Philly?
Somewhere former NBA Deputy Commission, Simon Gourdine, is shaking his head. No one seems to remember when the NBA was considered “too black” and drug infested for mass appeal. Current players have reneged on their obligation to be ambassadors of the sport that Dr. J, Bird, Magic, Jordan helped build.
what? nothing to be sorry about? man you have a conscience problem…
Clearly Mr. Stern left the door open for completely banning Mr. Arenas from every playing basketball again (in the NBA.) Sending a STRONG message in my opinion, is the ONLY acceptable outcome.
Gilbert broke the law, he should be sorry for that and show regret. Laughing and joking at authority figures gives us a glimpse into the ‘manhood’ of this child. I hope he goes to jail and others can learn from his mistakes, since he seems to have no intention of learning from them himself.
This is a response to “Person”‘s comment:
Are you for real? Do you think that there are occassions where it would be okay to bring guns to the arena? Do you think Gilbert is doing a good job of representing his team, the nba, his family etc. when he mocks the investigation and acts like a cocky prick when being interviewed (not to mention bringing in the guns in the first place)? It is serious. He is a role model whether he wants to be one or not. Comes with his 111 million contract or whatever it is. If he wasn’t a role model and somebody who society cares about, he wouldn’t make the amount of money he does, contract and endorsements (he makes money off of kids right, they buy his shirts and merchandise you know). Would it be alright if teachers snuck guns into school and then sprayed water on the principal and on concerned parents as a flip joke when they found out. Do you really think that just because he did not intend to kill anyone, he should not be punished and people are just overreacting? By the by, you managed to insult both people who are and are not Christian. I am not Christian, but I do think it is important to have solid standards of conduct for players (LIKE THERE IS FOR ALMOST EVERYONE ELSE IN EVERY JOB) and I highly doubt that the idea of “Not bringing 3 of your pieces to f’n work” is a Christian belief. I whole heartedly endorse a zero tolerance policy on punk asses. Arenas should be banned for life. Screw him. I love the sport too much to let it continually get spoiled by grown men acting like punks/hoods/gangstas.
I cant believe how immature gil is. Its as if the fed investigation wasnt enough… He had to pull that stunt in philly… Why would you even do stupid pregame stuff when youre a losing team? Man good luck to the players assoc.
Gil just spat on their faces. Shout out to my bro joseph anthony!
Intent cannot supersede actions. If I drive recklessly intending only to get home before my child’s bedtime and accidentally hit someone, I have committed a crime. I have made a serious error in judgment and I should be treated accordingly. Whether or not I intended to hit someone is beside the point. Arenas compounded his error in judgment by acting completely inappropriately and showing a total lack of respect for league and team rules, and for the fans of the game. Perhaps the fact that he is a star player may mitigate people’s views (Wizard fans’ views?) about the degree of his punishment deserved. If he were a journeyman player, and a lengthy suspension would not unduly affect the team’s success, would people be more inclined to treat him more harshly?
Arenas’ behaviour is embarrassing, and his actions at the game completely invalidate his earlier statement to the press. Agent Zero may want to consider a career in comedy or as a mercenary. His actions have no place in the NBA.
That’s what he gets for not knowing how to appreciate 111 million dollars. Even his dad knows that Gil has been an idiot. I just hope he learns from this and gets reinstated somehow.
Arenas should of known better. He will get jail time out of this.
Dumb guy … bad results.
What an idiot. Great player. Probably a nice guy. But what a friggin moron!
I know what Gilbert Arenas did was not right but why would anyone think this young man should be unemployed and never allowed to play basket-ball again. I know that he made a mistake but why would any sane person want this young man to never work again at what we know he can do. Even murderers and rapist are given another chance but we don’t want him to have another chance for having a gun in the locker room. Why are we so jealous and envious of certain people, I wonder. I think it is a travesty the way everyone has acted regarding what he has done. It wont help him if he is never allowed to work again for bringing a gun into the locker room. It is was not for outraged people he would have been given a normal suspension, fined and put back to work. What have you done. oh, I know you have never done anything wrong in your life. Well, neither did the ones that accused the woman of adultery and was told that you without sin cast the first stone.
If David Stern, has any desire to change the downward trajectory of revenue for the NBA, as well as improve upon it’s highly shady image, he will ban Gilbert Arenas for life. Not only for the fact that he brought numerous guns into the locker room, but due also to the fact that he basically taunted the concept that he had done wrong by his antics before that last game.
His apology was weak and insincere, as evidenced by said antics. Who knows if the guns were even unloaded to begin with? Seriously though, why would anyone believe anything Gilbert Arenas says at this point?
I’m done with the NBA for a number of reasons, and this is just the last slurpee.