Arenas Suspended Indefinitely

[adamwolff11]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4802267

[MikeAD]

I was just about to post this.


Awful, this contract just keeps getting worse and worse...

[beaner]

Stern said he "felt taunted" by Gilbert with all of his twitter stuff the past few days, and of course the picture of him in the pregame "huddle/dance" last night. I don't think he'll be back on the court this year for anyone, or ever for the Wizards.

[adamwolff11]

Stern said he "felt taunted" by Gilbert with all of his twitter stuff the past few days, and of course the picture of him in the pregame "huddle/dance" last night. I don't think he'll be back on the court this year for anyone, or ever for the Wizards.

Gilbert definitely seemed to fuel the fire. With everything he says and does, he just keeps shooting himself in the foot (pun intended). It seems he genuinely doesn't understand that he isn't making things better by severely downplaying the issue and then mocking the situation.

[beaner]

Gilbert definitely seemed to fuel the fire. With everything he says and does, he just keeps shooting himself in the foot (pun intended). It seems he genuinely doesn't understand that he isn't making things better by severely downplaying the issue and then mocking the situation.

Well said. Supposedly his closest friends were telling him to chill out with the Tweets and speaking to the media every day, but he didn't listen.

[adamwolff11]

Well said. Supposedly his closest friends were telling him to chill out with the Tweets and speaking to the media every day, but he didn't listen.

His tweets were pretty ridiculous..I'm a pretty big twitter guy, and I don't think I've ever seen anyone talk about the amount of nonsense that Gilbert did. Then, he would mix in some sort of serious talk into all of this off the wall stuff. It definitely doesn't look good to the media whenever you're telling jokes, and then in the same theoretical breath you're discussing your current pending legal situation. I would have expected him to be a bit more intelligent than that, but after what's happened over the last few weeks, it's hard to be surprised by anything.

Also, interesting article I found talking about the situation and the possibility of voiding his contract.


There is also a belief that the Wizards could "void" Arenas' contract, something they could do if he is indeed charged with a felony, something they would not be able to do if it's reduced to a misdemeanor.


There are moral and character provisions in the uniform players' contract that all players sign, however league sources said the Wizards would have a hard time getting support in this case because it is in essence a joke gone terribly wrong.

The Wizards' could fine him or suspend him, but that does not reduce the contract dollars paid out - they simply would go to charities chosen by the League and Players Association, not to Arenas.

Source: http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=14859

[BaltimoreTerp]

At least he's not getting paid.

I actually said last night that it would have been better for him had he just gone into a nightclub and shot himself in the leg. He's got local authorities and federal authorities and league authorities all coming after him now.

Even if he's telling the truth about it all being some "joke", he comes off like a moron. Hey Zero, go into a toy store, buy a couple "realistic" cap guns, and put those out! I know you went to Arizona and likely graduated with a degree in comparative partying, but this isn't rocket surgery.

[Dr. FLK]

I guess it's hard work being an idiot.

[Pedro Cerrano]

Please let this allow us to void his contract. Please let this allow us to void his contract. Please let this allow us to void his contract. Please let this allow us to void his contract. Please let this allow us to void his contract. Please let this allow us to void his contract. Please let this allow us to void his contract. Please let this allow us to void his contract. Please let this allow us to void his contract. Please let this allow us to void his contract. Please let this allow us to void his contract. Please let this allow us to void his contract. Please let this allow us to void his contract. Please let this allow us to void his contract. Please let this allow us to void his contract. Please let this allow us to void his contract. Please let this allow us to void his contract. Please let this allow us to void his contract. Please let this allow us to void his contract. Please let this allow us to void his contract.

[beaner]

Can you imagine they trade Jamison and or Butler for a few expirings (Z, McGrady...etc), and void Arenas. My goodness they can make a run at whoever they want..The sky's the limit.

[Pedro Cerrano]

Can you imagine they trade Jamison and or Butler for a few expirings (Z, McGrady...etc), and void Arenas. My goodness they can make a run at whoever they want..The sky's the limit.

They would definitely have enough cap space to bring in two big free agents next year. I read somewhere that in the NBA CBA if a player is convicted of a felony, his contract is voidable (makes sense).

I'll never root for Gil to be convicted of a felony but if I'm the Wizards, I have some of the best DC lawyers looking over this contract right now trying to find a way out.

[beaner]

They would definitely have enough cap space to bring in two big free agents next year. I read somewhere that in the NBA CBA if a player is convicted of a felony, his contract is voidable (makes sense).

I'll never root for Gil to be convicted of a felony but if I'm the Wizards, I have some of the best DC lawyers looking over this contract right now trying to find a way out.

I doubt it will be a felony with the guns not being loaded, but who knows with DC law. Most of the ESPN guys (Ford, Stein, Hollinger) say it will be tough to void, they keep bringing up Golden State and Sprewell, but clearly the Wizards want nothing to do with him. The team statement was pretty clear. They weren't happy with anyone after seeing that picture.

I read someone say that it's crazy that the Wizards/Bullets probably have the two worst contracts of recent memory with Arenas and Juwan Howard. Awesome!!

[beaner]

Steiny Mo says that other Wizards in "gun dance" or whatever will be fined...

http://twitter.com/STEIN_LINE_HQ

[Sports Guy]

Best thing that could happen to the Wizards is the NBA terminating Arenas' contract.

[Pedro Cerrano]

Best thing that could happen to the Wizards is the NBA terminating Arenas' contract.

Agreed, it's a huge albatross and will severely limit what they can and cannot do over the next 6 or so seasons. They will literally be stuck in neutral until they can get out from it.

[Dr. FLK]

Agreed, it's a huge albatross and will severely limit what they can and cannot do over the next 6 or so seasons. They will literally be stuck in neutral until they can get out from it.

Actually...they seem to be stuck in reverse.

[CrimsonTribe]

Am I the only one that thinks this is kind of ridiculous? Suspend him for bringing guns into the locker room. Suspend him for violating DC law. But don't suspend him because he jokes around about it. By the most recent accounts, he's not the one who did anything dangerous. He showed bad judgment and an out-of-whack sense of humor, but that's who he is. This suspending him because he's "taunting" David Stern, or the NBA, or whoever reeks of a bruised ego. He's Gilbert and, yes, he's an idiot, but he's a harmless idiot.

[DuffMan]

Am I the only one that thinks this is kind of ridiculous? Suspend him for bringing guns into the locker room. Suspend him for violating DC law. But don't suspend him because he jokes around about it. By the most recent accounts, he's not the one who did anything dangerous. He showed bad judgment and an out-of-whack sense of humor, but that's who he is. This suspending him because he's "taunting" David Stern, or the NBA, or whoever reeks of a bruised ego. He's Gilbert and, yes, he's an idiot, but he's a harmless idiot.

Not sure if you heard but there's a new report out saying his gun was loaded.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/morning-jolt/01/07/0107/index.html

[CrimsonTribe]

Not sure if you heard but there's a new report out saying his gun was loaded.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/morning-jolt/01/07/0107/index.html

Read it again. In response to Gilbert's joke, Crittendon loaded his own gun. So essentially, Gilbert plays a prank using bad judgment in that he's breaking both DC law and NBA rules (which he was already doing when he brought guns to the Verizon Center to keep them away from his kids in the first place) and the situation gets escalated because Crittendon has no sense of humor and is a potential psycho. I mean, who loads a gun and chambers a round in the locker room while singing? What the hell was he singing?

[Pedro Cerrano]

Agree with Crimson (Roll Tide, btw). I hate how egotistical David Stern is. Stating he is "not fit" to play in the NBA because he didn't show enough remorse (in your eyes) and suspending him for it is ridiculous. There are countless other reasons to suspend him.

[Dr. FLK]

Am I the only one that thinks this is kind of ridiculous? Suspend him for bringing guns into the locker room. Suspend him for violating DC law. But don't suspend him because he jokes around about it. By the most recent accounts, he's not the one who did anything dangerous. He showed bad judgment and an out-of-whack sense of humor, but that's who he is. This suspending him because he's "taunting" David Stern, or the NBA, or whoever reeks of a bruised ego. He's Gilbert and, yes, he's an idiot, but he's a harmless idiot.

They did NOT suspend him because he joked around about it. They suspended him NOW because he did. Stern said he was waiting until the legal process had panned out before deciding. He just decided earlier than anticipated because Gilbert is a Grade A moron.

And, he did do something dangerous...he brought unlicensed guns into his workplace. That's a whole lot more dangerous than following the law.

[Dr. FLK]

Agree with Crimson (Roll Tide, btw). I hate how egotistical David Stern is. Stating he is "not fit" to play in the NBA because he didn't show enough remorse (in your eyes) and suspending him for it is ridiculous. There are countless other reasons to suspend him.

He isn't fit to play in his league with the way he's acting...I certainly don't think his actions are good for the league image, which means it isn't good for $$...and that's pretty important. That - coupled with his actions - leads to a suspension. It's kind of silly to make it sound like he's only being suspended because he didn't show remorse. And, he did more than "not show remorse". He completely mocked the entire situation over and over and over again.

[DuffMan]

Read it again. In response to Gilbert's joke, Crittendon loaded his own gun. So essentially, Gilbert plays a prank using bad judgment in that he's breaking both DC law and NBA rules (which he was already doing when he brought guns to the Verizon Center to keep them away from his kids in the first place) and the situation gets escalated because Crittendon has no sense of humor and is a potential psycho. I mean, who loads a gun and chambers a round in the locker room while singing? What the hell was he singing?

I stand corrected and what Crittendon was just as bad and he should probably be suspended as well, but what Gilbert did wasn't a prank that was just stupid. I don't want to get into a big debate about guns, but I'm pretty sure they weren't meant to be used for "pranks".

[CrimsonTribe]

They did NOT suspend him because he joked around about it. They suspended him NOW because he did. Stern said he was waiting until the legal process had panned out before deciding. He just decided earlier than anticipated because Gilbert is a Grade A moron.

And, he did do something dangerous...he brought unlicensed guns into his workplace. That's a whole lot more dangerous than following the law.

I'm not saying that he wouldn't have been suspended otherwise, but he's getting the business now because he's joking around. Frankly, I'm no fan of guns at all (not meant to get political), but I don't see how Gilbert did anything too terrible. Because of the stigma of guns and the laws/rules he violated, it was a gross error in judgment, but I don't think it warrants being labeled a thug and being suspended indefinitely (which will likely last all year).

A lot of this can be traced back to the initial, erroneous report by Peter Vescey about the OK Corral standoff in the Wiz locker room. That painted Gilbert in a terrible light from the get-go and he can't recover from it. Gilbert has acknowledged that what he did was stupid, wrong, and against the rules. Why can't he make fun of himself and the situation without getting more punishment than he deserves? His actions were wrong, but they weren't over-the-top, terribly wrong.

[Dr. FLK]

Read it again. In response to Gilbert's joke, Crittendon loaded his own gun. So essentially, Gilbert plays a prank using bad judgment in that he's breaking both DC law and NBA rules (which he was already doing when he brought guns to the Verizon Center to keep them away from his kids in the first place) and the situation gets escalated because Crittendon has no sense of humor and is a potential psycho. I mean, who loads a gun and chambers a round in the locker room while singing? What the hell was he singing?

For real. I mean, how in the world is a guy with a $100+ million contract supposed to buy a thing like a gun locker for his home? I mean, what else could he possibly do to save his children besides take his guns TO WORK where they ARE NOT LEGAL? I mean come on peopoe, lets think of the children.

And for real, who doesn't have a sense of humor about guns? I would find it HILARIOUS if I walked up to my desk at work, and my coworker had littered my space with his guns. Can you imagine how funny that would be??

[Dr. FLK]

I'm not saying that he wouldn't have been suspended otherwise, but he's getting the business now because he's joking around. Frankly, I'm no fan of guns at all (not meant to get political), but I don't see how Gilbert did anything too terrible. Because of the stigma of guns and the laws/rules he violated, it was a gross error in judgment, but I don't think it warrants being labeled a thug and being suspended indefinitely (which will likely last all year).

A lot of this can be traced back to the initial, erroneous report by Peter Vescey about the OK Corral standoff in the Wiz locker room. That painted Gilbert in a terrible light from the get-go and he can't recover from it. Gilbert has acknowledged that what he did was stupid, wrong, and against the rules. Why can't he make fun of himself and the situation without getting more punishment than he deserves? His actions were wrong, but they weren't over-the-top, terribly wrong.

He broke gun laws. He broke NBA gun rules. (And this isn't his first gun violation either.) He then mocked the seriousness of the incident. He hurt the image of the league. He mocked the commissioner. That doesn't warrant indefinite suspension? What else did he need to do?

(And I believe he's being labeled an idiot more than a thug. But it's certainly possible that he's both)

[CrimsonTribe]

He broke gun laws. He broke NBA gun rules. (And this isn't his first gun violation either.) He then mocked the seriousness of the incident. He hurt the image of the league. He mocked the commissioner. That doesn't warrant indefinite suspension? What else did he need to do?

(And I believe he's being labeled an idiot more than a thug. But it's certainly possible that he's both)

I guess I just don't think the incident is that serious. Putting it in context, nothing he did was dangerous. The guns were unloaded. His sense of humor is out there, but that's hardly a crime. Suspend him 10 games for violating NBA rules. Suspend him longer if he gets convicted of a felony. But to indefinitely suspend him for essentially the remainder of the year because you don't like his attitude is a bit much IMO.

[Dr. FLK]

I guess I just don't think the incident is that serious. Putting it in context, nothing he did was dangerous. The guns were unloaded. His sense of humor is out there, but that's hardly a crime. Suspend him 10 games for violating NBA rules. Suspend him longer if he gets convicted of a felony. But to indefinitely suspend him for essentially the remainder of the year because you don't like his attitude is a bit much IMO.

What you're missing (I think) is that it IS a crime. Go bring some guns to your work and let me know how it works out. Who knows, maybe your boss would laugh and laugh at your sense of humor. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have a job anymore - loaded or not.

[CrimsonTribe]

What you're missing (I think) is that it IS a crime. Go bring some guns to your work and let me know how it works out. Who knows, maybe your boss would laugh and laugh at your sense of humor. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have a job anymore - loaded or not.

I noted that he broke the rules/law and was just noting that having a whacked out sense of humor is not a crime. I think it's fine to suspend him for breaking the rules/law, but I think they are piling on because he's making light of the situation. That I don't agree with.

Also, I live in Alabama. I can get a permit to carry a gun on my hip in about a week. The woman who had my job before me used to carry a loaded pistol in her purse. It was common knowledge. I frequently listen to co-workers at lunch talk about their new firearms purchases. It all makes me somewhat uncomfortable, trust me.

[Dr. FLK]

I noted that he broke the rules/law and was just noting that having a whacked out sense of humor is not a crime. I think it's fine to suspend him for breaking the rules/law, but I think they are piling on because he's making light of the situation. That I don't agree with.


Gil's behavior is bad for business, plain and simple. The league has an image problem already, and Gil didn't help. And...when you're preparing for a trial, it's a bad idea to mock the judge and jury, isn't it? It just might backfire.

[Nigel Tufnel]

I stand corrected and what Crittendon was just as bad and he should probably be suspended as well, but what Gilbert did wasn't a prank that was just stupid. I don't want to get into a big debate about guns, but I'm pretty sure they weren't meant to be used for "pranks".

I actually think what Crittendon did was about 1,000 times worse. It's just that nobody's heard of him and he doesn't have the worst contract in the NBA, so nobody really cares about what he did.

I also wonder what percentage of NBA players routinely had guns in the locker room before the Arenas story broke. My guess is that it was significant.

[Dr. FLK]

I actually think what Crittendon did was about 1,000 times worse. It's just that nobody's heard of him and he doesn't have the worst contract in the NBA, so nobody really cares about what he did.

I also wonder what percentage of NBA players routinely had guns in the locker room before the Arenas story broke. My guess is that it was significant.

I have a feeling that - after the legal process plays out - we won't see Crittendon in the NBA again.

[Nigel Tufnel]

I have a feeling that - after the legal process plays out - we won't see Crittendon in the NBA again.

Yeah, I agree. If the story is true, there's no way he escapes a lifetime ban. I guess Arenas is just generating more outrage because he's a star.

[Dr. FLK]

Yeah, I agree. If the story is true, there's no way he escapes a lifetime ban. I guess Arenas is just generating more outrage because he's a star.

And because he keeps acting like an idiot. If Gil had just issued a statement and acted like an adult, nothing would have happened to him until the investigation was completed. He just sped the process up (and perhaps exacerbated the result) by being a buffoon.

[CrimsonTribe]

Gregg Doyle (uggggghhhh, Gregg Doyle, why couldn't it be someone else?) wrote a very good article about how this is being blown way out of proportion.

http://www.cbssports.com/columns/story/12755334/crazy-from-packing-the-heat-talk-of-arenas-lifetime-ban-is-ludicrous


The NBA should send a strong signal about guns, but to the right person and at the right time. This is neither. When habitual idiot Stephen Jackson -- less than two years after climbing into the stands and punching out a fan during that 2004 riot -- shot a gun five times into the air outside a nightclub, he should have been suspended a lot more than seven games. Those bullets came down somewhere, Stephen. You idiot.

When Sebastian Telfair took a loaded gun onto the team plane in 2006, even if that was an innocent mistake, he should have been suspended a lot more than two games. Other than a school, an airport is just about the worst place to bring a gun. Telfair's two-game suspension was laughably soft.

When Golden State's Chris Mills fought with Portland's Bonzi Wells in 2002 and took the fight from the court to the parking lot, allegedly brandishing his gun at Portland's team bus, he should have been suspended a lot more than three games.

Delonte West was caught in September with three loaded guns, including a shotgun stashed in a guitar case. Stern hasn't acted on that, because Maryland police are still investigating and because West didn't -- as Arenas did -- bring the guns to work. But when Stern is ready to act, West should be suspended a long, long time. Longer than Arenas. West's guns were loaded. Arenas' guns were not. Major distinction.

[tvz1997]

Watching the coverage of this begin to spread and fester, we are already beginning to hear mention of the real or imagined race issue (often masked in discussion of the "hip hop culture" that has been embraced by the NBA).

I just find it sort of galling that on OTL on ESPN, somebody had the nerve to say that it is hipocritical for the NBA to come down hard on this after embracing that "hip hop culture."

[Dr. FLK]

West also didn't have his guns at his workplace...another big distinction; and West also isn't making a mockery of the events, and thus didn't "force" Stern's hand to save image.

As for the other two "events": they were a while ago, and Stern has since acknowledged his intentions to be much tougher on this sort of thing. I'm also not a fan of any argument of the form "mis-justice A was allowed to happen, therefore similar mis-justice B must also be permitted". It just seems fundamentally flawed to allow one mistake to justify another.

[CrimsonTribe]

West also didn't have his guns at his workplace...another big distinction; and West also isn't making a mockery of the events, and thus didn't "force" Stern's hand to save image.

As for the other two "events": they were a while ago, and Stern has since acknowledged his intentions to be much tougher on this sort of thing. I'm also not a fan of any argument of the form "mis-justice A was allowed to happen, therefore similar mis-justice B must also be permitted". It just seems fundamentally flawed to allow one mistake to justify another.

So you think that because Gilbert Arenas broke an NBA rule and a DC law with absolutely no malice or violent intentions and causing no danger to anyone else, he should be punished as or more harshly than Ron Artest or Stephen Jackson? Further, the NBA should take its precedent in similar situations, throw it out the window, and bend Gilbert over because a bunch of reactionary media-types think he should be banned for the year or life?

I say give him 10 or 15 games. It would be an incredible miscarriage of justice to suspend him for the rest of the year or longer. This is more a stupid mistake than a crime perpetrated with bad intentions.

[BaltimoreTerp]

I guess I just don't think the incident is that serious. Putting it in context, nothing he did was dangerous. The guns were unloaded. His sense of humor is out there, but that's hardly a crime. Suspend him 10 games for violating NBA rules. Suspend him longer if he gets convicted of a felony. But to indefinitely suspend him for essentially the remainder of the year because you don't like his attitude is a bit much IMO.

I have to stop you right here.

The very first thing I was ever taught about handling guns was to ALWAYS assume it is loaded and treat it as such.

There's no way to just wipe that away just because Gilbert says they were unloaded. And isn't he the one saying that? I really doubt anyone else checked, so we're taking the word of the guy who is trying to NOT get kicked out of the league and thrown in prison. Even if he didn't specifically load them, they should still have been treated as such.

I laughed when I saw the picture, but I also thought that Gilbert was, well, playing with a loaded gun by doing that. I know if I was the commissioner and I saw that when it happened, I would have had him pulled from the game and suspended immediately.

I mean, if we're talking about in the future after everything has played out and he's served what, if any, punishment was handed out, and he did something like in the photo, that's one thing. But he couldn't have had worse timing had he pulled up his jersey to expose some (fake) explosives and acted like he was trying to set them off.

[CrimsonTribe]

I have to stop you right here.

The very first thing I was ever taught about handling guns was to ALWAYS assume it is loaded and treat it as such.

There's no way to just wipe that away just because Gilbert says they were unloaded. And isn't he the one saying that? I really doubt anyone else checked, so we're taking the word of the guy who is trying to NOT get kicked out of the league and thrown in prison. Even if he didn't specifically load them, they should still have been treated as such.

I laughed when I saw the picture, but I also thought that Gilbert was, well, playing with a loaded gun by doing that. I know if I was the commissioner and I saw that when it happened, I would have had him pulled from the game and suspended immediately.

I mean, if we're talking about in the future after everything has played out and he's served what, if any, punishment was handed out, and he did something like in the photo, that's one thing. But he couldn't have had worse timing had he pulled up his jersey to expose some (fake) explosives and acted like he was trying to set them off.

All I know is that the guns were confiscated by the DC police and nothing has come out contradicting the reports that they were unloaded. I'll go with that. If the story changes, I'll be the first to change my opinion.

As for the picture, he's goofing with his teammates. Teammates who have to share a locker room with him. Some of whom witnessed the incident. They all seem to find it funny, which tells me they know Gilbert was being the goof that he is. Can you really tell me that Gilbert's japes gone awry deserve a suspension for the rest of the season?

[Nigel Tufnel]

All I know is that the guns were confiscated by the DC police and nothing has come out contradicting the reports that they were unloaded. I'll go with that. If the story changes, I'll be the first to change my opinion.

As for the picture, he's goofing with his teammates. Teammates who have to share a locker room with him. Some of whom witnessed the incident. They all seem to find it funny, which tells me they know Gilbert was being the goof that he is. Can you really tell me that Gilbert's japes gone awry really deserve a suspension for the rest of the season?

Yeah, even Andray Blatche is laughing, and he's actually been shot before.

[AgentOrange]

I have to stop you right here.

The very first thing I was ever taught about handling guns was to ALWAYS assume it is loaded and treat it as such.

There's no way to just wipe that away just because Gilbert says they were unloaded. And isn't he the one saying that? I really doubt anyone else checked, so we're taking the word of the guy who is trying to NOT get kicked out of the league and thrown in prison. Even if he didn't specifically load them, they should still have been treated as such.

I laughed when I saw the picture, but I also thought that Gilbert was, well, playing with a loaded gun by doing that. I know if I was the commissioner and I saw that when it happened, I would have had him pulled from the game and suspended immediately.

I mean, if we're talking about in the future after everything has played out and he's served what, if any, punishment was handed out, and he did something like in the photo, that's one thing. But he couldn't have had worse timing had he pulled up his jersey to expose some (fake) explosives and acted like he was trying to set them off.

Why in the world would he load 4 guns, put them in Crittendon's locker and make a sign that said "pick one" on it?

[BaltimoreTerp]

All I know is that the guns were confiscated by the DC police and nothing has come out contradicting the reports that they were unloaded. I'll go with that. If the story changes, I'll be the first to change my opinion.

As for the picture, he's goofing with his teammates. Teammates who have to share a locker room with him. Some of whom witnessed the incident. They all seem to find it funny, which tells me they know Gilbert was being the goof that he is. Can you really tell me that Gilbert's japes gone awry deserve a suspension for the rest of the season?

It's not for the rest of the season, it's "indefinitely".

Arenas could go to New York, have a chat with Stern, and be back on the court pending charges within a couple games. It's just a "shut your mouth and act like you know what is going on" move.

[BaltimoreTerp]

Why in the world would he load 4 guns, put them in Crittendon's locker and make a sign that said "pick one" on it?

I didn't mean that. I meant more in the sense of accidentally leaving a round chambered, or not checking one of the guns.

Sorry if I wasn't clear.

But what about my earlier post about buying fake guns? You make your joke, no risk of mistakes, none of this happens.

[AgentOrange]

I didn't mean that. I meant more in the sense of accidentally leaving a round chambered, or not checking one of the guns.

Sorry if I wasn't clear.

But what about my earlier post about buying fake guns? You make your joke, no risk of mistakes, none of this happens.

Not gangsta enough to make a point. Ya know?

Is it kinda like whipping it out and putting it on the table. After the little argument they had on the plane, if he came the next day with toy guns he would have gotten laughed at.

I am pretty sure that is why he did that.

[BaltimoreTerp]

Not gangsta enough to make a point. Ya know?

Is it kinda like whipping it out and putting it on the table. After the little argument they had on the plane, if he came the next day with toy guns he would have gotten laughed at.

I am pretty sure that is why he did that.

Wasn't the point to get a laugh, though? Isn't that his reasoning?

[AgentOrange]

Wasn't the point to get a laugh, though? Isn't that his reasoning?

Re-read what I wrote. I explained it pretty well why he did what he did.

And he doesn't want to get laughed at for being soft, which is what would have happened in the toy gun scenario.

[BaltimoreTerp]

Re-read what I wrote. I explained it pretty well why he did what he did.

And he doesn't want to get laughed at for being soft, which is what would have happened in the toy gun scenario.

But what does he care about being "soft", if the whole thing was a JOKE?

The only reason to care about something like that in my mind is if you are at least partially serious. And Crittenton obviously saw it that way, since he reacted like he did.

[BaltimoreTerp]

And now the story is that Crittenton loaded and COCKED his own gun.

I hope that's NOT true, because his career is over if so.

[AgentOrange]

But what does he care about being "soft", if the whole thing was a JOKE?

The only reason to care about something like that in my mind is if you are at least partially serious. And Crittenton obviously saw it that way, since he reacted like he did.

Do you even know why he put the guns in Crittenton's locker?

[AgentOrange]

And now the story is that Crittenton loaded and COCKED his own gun.

I hope that's NOT true, because his career is over if so.

That is true, at least from the confidential parties that talked about the incident.

[adamwolff11]

Some interesting stuff from Wizards Insider Michael Lee

On the possibility of voiding the contract:


Two league sources said that Arenas and the NBA Players' Association would fight any attempt to terminate his deal. But I talked to a high-powered agent last night who informed me the Wizards would be well within their rights under the circumstances and that Arenas and the union wouldn't have much ground to stand on -- especially with Arenas admitting to breaking the law and violating league rules.

On Arenas not being suspended immediately by the team (which many sports writers were calling for and somewhat bashing the team for):


The Wizards were unable to suspend Arenas because the collective bargaining agreement clearly states that any violation of the league's firearms policy falls solely under the jurisdiction of the NBA. I've heard from two sources that the Wizards wanted to punish Arenas -- and you can tell from that strong statement from the Pollin family last Saturday that the organization was none too pleased with this situation. But as Stern said in his statement, "I directed the Wizards to refrain from taking any action." After Arenas's comments and his playful "shooting" episode before the game against Philadelphia, Stern decided to act swiftly to spare the Wizards and the league from further embarrassment.

Not sure if there were any posters on here calling out the Wizards for a lack of discipline on Arenas, but I know I saw at least 4 or 5 different guys on ESPN discussing how terrible it was for the Wizards to allow him to still play.

And I hope Crittenton is off the team as soon as possible. The combination of Mike Jones and Crittenton might be one of the worthless (and overpriced) combinations of NBA players I've ever seen (at least in regards to bringing in players that will get playing time). Not a fan of Crittenton's game, and now, not much a fan of him as a person. Bye Bye.

[Dr. FLK]

Some interesting stuff from Wizards Insider Michael Lee

On the possibility of voiding the contract:



On Arenas not being suspended immediately by the team (which many sports writers were calling for and somewhat bashing the team for):



Not sure if there were any posters on here calling out the Wizards for a lack of discipline on Arenas, but I know I saw at least 4 or 5 different guys on ESPN discussing how terrible it was for the Wizards to allow him to still play.



The NBA told them to wait according to Stern.

[BaltimoreTerp]

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2010/01/07/learn-about-bourre-the-game-that-took-gilbert-arenas-down/

Some information on what exactly they were playing. Based on that, makes me wonder why they can't just play frickin' Texas Hold 'em like the rest of America :laughlol:

And also why they didn't pull guns on whichever doofus convinced them to play that game that evening :D

[cmcgarvey]

Charged with felony gun possession.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/14/AR2010011403502.html

[BaltimoreTerp]

Charged with felony gun possession.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/14/AR2010011403502.html

So...what would YOU do with $100 million to play with that your star player just graciously returned? :laughlol:

[Pedro Cerrano]

So...what would YOU do with $100 million to play with that your star player just graciously returned? :laughlol:

Pay everyone's plus membership for life.:D

[Nigel Tufnel]

Pay everyone's plus membership for life.:D

I saw in a Washington Post chat that, had Arenas not been suspended, he and Nick Young had some sort of John Wayne / Gunfight at the OK Corral thing planned for that night's pregame warmups. That would have been hugely inappropriate, but probably also hilarious.

[CrimsonTribe]

So...what would YOU do with $100 million to play with that your star player just graciously returned? :laughlol:

I seriously doubt the Wiz will be able to void his contract.

[backwardsk]

I seriously doubt the Wiz will be able to void his contract.

And it's going to get REALLY nasty if they can't.

[Dr. FLK]

I seriously doubt the Wiz will be able to void his contract.

If he pleas guilty to a felony, their chances increase significantly.

[RandyM]

Seriously what do you have to do to have your contract voided.
- choking your coach. not enough
- bringing guns into your workplace. close, but not enough.
- going into the stands and causing a brawl. your getting there, but not enough.

I am sure if I did either of those things at my workplace I would be quickly escorted out by HR. The following day there would be a box of my personal belongings mailed from my workplace with a termination letter attached.

Did Arenas hurt anyone? No, just stupid, but there are a lot of people serving a lot of time for things that were just stupid.

[Nite]

I'm sorry but I find it really really sad that we are spending all this time talking about a goofball who brought UNLOADED guns to work with him as a prank, just to have a LOADED gun pulled on him. Why aren't we talking about the person who ACTUALLY committed a MAJOR crime and put people in danger?

[BaltimoreTerp]

I'm sorry but I find it really really sad that we are spending all this time talking about a goofball who brought UNLOADED guns to work with him as a prank, just to have a LOADED gun pulled on him. Why aren't we talking about the person who ACTUALLY committed a MAJOR crime and put people in danger?

Because no one knows if that person did anything.

[RandyM]

I'm sorry but I find it really really sad that we are spending all this time talking about a goofball who brought UNLOADED guns to work with him as a prank, just to have a LOADED gun pulled on him. Why aren't we talking about the person who ACTUALLY committed a MAJOR crime and put people in danger?

These were the guns he brought into work. I do agree that Arenas was trying to be funny, but when you bring in semiautomatic's into a place of work, loaded or not. That is not good at all. You really don't think you or I wouldn't be fired on the spot for bringing anyone of those into a place of work? Unloaded or not.

Authorities then seized the four guns from Arenas's house in Virginia, including the .500 magnum; a .50-caliber gold-plated semiautomatic Desert Eagle with magazine; a .45 caliber, black semiautomatic Kimber Eclipse with a magazine; and a 9mm Browning with a magazine.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/15/AR2010011502656.html

[Birds of B'more]

I seriously doubt the Wiz will be able to void his contract.

Let's see...an employee is unable to show up for work because he is (likely) serving a jail sentence, but you as an employer can't void the contract and still have to pay him. Sounds about right. :rolleyes:

[Birds of B'more]

Seriously what do you have to do to have your contract voided.
- choking your coach. not enough
- bringing guns into your workplace. close, but not enough.
- going into the stands and causing a brawl. your getting there, but not enough.

Speaking of which, whatever happened to the money the Orioles still owned Ponson when they released him after his 2nd DUI in 7 months? I seem to recall the parties reached some sort of undisclosed settlement, but I'm not sure.

[CrimsonTribe]

Let's see...an employee is unable to show up for work because he is (likely) serving a jail sentence, but you as an employer can't void the contract and still have to pay him. Sounds about right. :rolleyes:

You need not roll your eyes. I wasn't expressing an opinion. Like it or not, they probably won't be able to void his contract.

[CrimsonTribe]

These were the guns he brought into work. I do agree that Arenas was trying to be funny, but when you bring in semiautomatic's into a place of work, loaded or not. That is not good at all. You really don't think you or I wouldn't be fired on the spot for bringing anyone of those into a place of work? Unloaded or not.

Authorities then seized the four guns from Arenas's house in Virginia, including the .500 magnum; a .50-caliber gold-plated semiautomatic Desert Eagle with magazine; a .45 caliber, black semiautomatic Kimber Eclipse with a magazine; and a 9mm Browning with a magazine.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/15/AR2010011502656.html

You realize that he's going to get the worst gun suspension that the NBA has ever handed out, right? This includes Stephen Jackson shooting a gun in public, Sebastian Telfair bringing a loaded gun on a team plane, and Chris Mills pointing a loaded gun at the Portland team bus. Gilbert's irresponsible goof is apparently worse than these things. Why? Because he made light of it. How ridiculous.

[Pedro Cerrano]

Agree with CTribe about Gil's crime vs. those of Jackson, Telfair, etc, but did any of those guys end up being found/pled guilty to a felony? I assume in the situations he mentioned the teams tried to void the deal? I dunno, Gil pled guilty to a felony today and the Wizards have (probably) really really good lawyers. They'll try, for sure. We'll see..

[CrimsonTribe]

Agree with CTribe about Gil's crime vs. those of Jackson, Telfair, etc, but did any of those guys end up being found/pled guilty to a felony? I assume in the situations he mentioned the teams tried to void the deal? I dunno, Gil pled guilty to a felony today and the Wizards have (probably) really really good lawyers. They'll try, for sure. We'll see..

Pretty sure Stephen Jackson did, but I don't think his team (Golden State at the time?) tried to void the deal. Regardless, it is going to be extremely hard for the Wiz to void the deal. The union is going to fight tooth and nail.

[Pedro Cerrano]

I wonder if there is anything written in the CBA about being convicted or pleading guilty to a felony being grounds for voiding a deal?

[Birds of B'more]

You need not roll your eyes. I wasn't expressing an opinion. Like it or not, they probably won't be able to void his contract.

I wasn't rolling my eyes at you....it was directed at the fact that a very small minority of people with special talents get to play life by their own set of rules.

[BaltimoreTerp]

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/local-breaking-news/dc/no-jail-for-arenas.html?hpid=topnews

Thirty days in a halfway house and two years on probation.

[Pedro Cerrano]

He has a good lawyer.

[AgentOrange]

Guys, everything is going to be alright. He is changing his jersey # to 6.