Gilbert Arenas News: Pro Sports Daily

Arenas would have "no problem" playing for Wizards

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March 3

Washington Post

"Since pleading guilty to a felony gun charge and receiving a subsequent season-ending suspension from the NBA, Gilbert Arenas has done what most thought he was incapable of achieving: He has maintained a low profile. Other than a brief comment about his suspension and an opinion piece in The Washington Post, Arenas hasn't said much of anything publicly. But on Tuesday, Arenas told the Associated Press that he would have "no problem" playing for the Washington Wizards again. In the days and weeks after he received an indefinite suspension following his behavior and comments in Philadelphia in early January, Arenas had been telling those close to him that he had no desire to play for team ..."

Wizards President says Gilbert Arenas likely will stay with team

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February 20

Washington Post

"After a six-day trade flurry that detonated an underachieving roster, the Washington Wizards are forced to look ahead to a future that no longer includes Antawn Jamison, Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood, core pieces of a former playoff team. But while the Wizards (18-33) finish this season with leftovers, spare parts and throwaways, team President Ernie Grunfeld intimated on Thursday that the rebuilding process could very well include at least one familiar face -- Gilbert Arenas. Arenas has been suspended for the remainder of the season after bringing guns to the locker room in December during a dispute with Javaris Crittenton. Arenas will be sentenced on March 26 for a felony gun ..."

Gilbert Arenas: Learning to be a better role model

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February 2

Washington Post

columnist Gilbert Arenas

"The Post suggested on Dec. 31 that I send a message to young fans "about guns being neither glamorous nor desirable." I am grateful for the opportunity to do something good in the face of the very bad situation I created. I have done a number of things wrong recently. I violated D.C. gun laws and the NBA's ban on firearms on league property, and I damaged the image of the NBA and its players. I reacted badly to the aftermath and made fun of inaccurate media reports, which looked as though I was making light of a serious situation. And I gave Commissioner David Stern good reason to suspend me from the game, which put my teammates in a tough position and let down our fans and Mrs. Irene ..."

It's too bad Abe Pollin missed this

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January 31

Los Angeles Times

columnist Mark Heisler

"There goes a great Bullet, er, Wizard. Even if the whole world abandoned Gilbert Arenas, who had the misfortune to become perfectly inconvenient and vulnerable at the same time, there was one man who would have remembered all he meant to the Washington Wizards and the "legacy of Abe Pollin" the late owner's family keeps talking about. That man, of course, was Abe Pollin. If Pollin was different, it wasn't for being wildly successful as an NBA owner, because he wasn't. It was for his generosity that was expressed in everything he did, including his day-to-day operation, such as clinging to General Manager Wes Unseld, whom he loved, long after Unseld had become inconvenient. President Obama ..."

Larry Hughes offers support for Gilbert Arenas

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January 31

Bergen Record

"Larry Hughes wears 0 on his uniform because of Gilbert Arenas, the self-proclaimed Agent Zero, Hughes' former teammate in Washington who's now suspended for the rest of the season along with teammate Javaris Crittenton for their Dec. 21 gun incident. "He's one of my best friends in this league," the Knicks' guard said of choosing 0. "We have history. I was there when he came [to Washington]. I looked out for him." Hughes said he's left text and voice messages since the suspension was announced this week, but hasn't spoken to Arenas, with whom he otherwise communicates regularly, since earlier this season. "I'm sure he'll call me when he's ready," Hughes said. "I understand when you make a ..."

Larry Hughes expects former teammate Gilbert Arenas to stay with Washington Wizards

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January 31

New York Daily News

"Larry Hughes is convinced that his embattled former teammate, Gilbert Arenas, hasn't played his last game for the Wizards. "I think he will (be back)," Hughes said. "This is a special place. I think he'll come to realize that. I can see (him coming back). You get in trouble, you get mad at the authority. But I think it will blow over so I expect to see him back here." Arenas was suspended 50 games by NBA commissioner David Stern after pleading guilty to a felony gun charge. Last month, Arenas brought four guns into the Wizards locker room during a dispute with teammate Javaris Crittenton. There is already speculation that the Wizards will try to terminate the four years and $80 million ..."

A 50-game suspension is reasonable for Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas

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January 29

New Orleans Times-Picayune

columnist John DeShazier

"I figured an 82-game suspension would be the penalty issued to Gilbert Arenas by NBA commissioner David Stern, a full regular season being the price for the foolishness. But a 50-game, without-pay ban is a reasonable alternative. And, all things considered, it's probably a lucky break for Arenas. He and teammate Javaris Crittenton will sit out the rest of this regular season for stupidly believing the Washington Wizards locker room was an acceptable place to store, and flash, guns. They lost the right to play because they engaged in an act that could've escalated into something a lot more dangerous than it did - and storing firearms in the Verizon Center, as Arenas admitted doing, and ..."

Now Gilbert Arenas and the Wizards have plenty of time -- to do the right thing

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January 29

Washington Post

columnist Mike Wise

"In this season of chaos and disappointment, David Stern gave the Wizards the best remedies of all Wednesday: time and distance. By suspending Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton for the remainder of the NBA calendar, the commissioner essentially levied dual restraining orders. The players are ordered to stay away from the franchise, whose season they detonated by bringing guns into the team's locker room at Verizon Center on Dec. 21. And the franchise can't put the players on the floor, where they can't pretend the incident didn't destroy team chemistry. Arenas and Crittenton have time to rehabilitate their reputations, eight months before the opening of the 2010-11 training camps. The ..."

After Arenas and Crittenton, Wizards face an uncertain future

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January 29

Washington Post

"The Washington Wizards' problems were hardly resolved when NBA Commissioner David Stern suspended guards Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton on Wednesday for the remainder of the season. All that has been cleared up is that Arenas won't wear a Wizards uniform again this season, with Crittenton yet to decide if he will appeal the decision, which stemmed from the players bringing guns into the locker room. The franchise is left to deal with myriad concerns. As one team insider put it on Thursday, "The worst isn't behind us yet." Arenas is still set to be sentenced for a felony gun charge on March 26 and his relationship with the organization is in tatters -- with both sides feeling ..."

Stern shelves Arenas for season

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January 28

Washington Examiner

"Wizards guards Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton were suspended by the NBA for the remainder of the season on Wednesday for their Dec. 21 locker room incident, which involved guns being displayed by both players. NBA commissioner David Stern announced his decision after meeting with Arenas on Wednesday at league headquarters in New York. Crittenton met with Stern on Tuesday. "The issue here is not about the legal ownership and possession of guns, either in one's home or elsewhere," said Stern in a statement. "It is about possession of guns in the NBA workplace, which will not be tolerated." Arenas pled guilty to a felony gun charge on Jan. 15 after bringing four firearms into the ..."

Wizards' Gilbert Arenas, Javaris Crittenton suspended for remainder of season

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January 28

Washington Post

"An incident that embarrassed the Washington Wizards franchise and disgraced two of its players moved closer to resolution on Wednesday, when NBA Commissioner David Stern suspended guards Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton without pay for the remainder of the season after they displayed handguns during a locker room dispute last month. Stern reached his decision after an hour-long meeting with Arenas at the NBA offices in New York. He later released a statement that said guns in an NBA workplace "would not be tolerated." Arenas learned of his fate during the meeting and asked the National Basketball Players Association not to challenge Stern's decision. Arenas's criminal attorney, Ken ..."

NBA suspends Arenas for rest of season

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January 27

Yahoo! Sports

"NBA commissioner David Stern has suspended Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas(notes) for the remainder of this season, the league announced Wednesday. League sources told Yahoo! Sports that Stern had been considering two suspension scenarios for the former All-Star: the remainder of this season or a full 82-game ban that would extend into next season. Sources said players union executive director Billy Hunter and union attorneys had negotiated the suspension terms with Stern over the past several days. If the union vowed to appeal the shorter penalty, sources said, Stern was prepared to suspend Arenas for the full 82 games. Legal counsel made it clear to Arenas prior to his Wednesday ..."

Arenas, Crittenton to meet with Stern

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January 27

Washington Examiner

"Wizards guards Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton both are scheduled to be in New York this week to meet with NBA commissioner David Stern and are expected to soon learn their league punishment stemming from their Dec. 21 gun confrontation in the team locker room. Crittenton reportedly met with Stern on Tuesday. "I think we're all pretty much numb to the whole thing right now," said Wizards head coach Flip Saunders when asked prior to Washington's game against Los Angeles about Crittenton's guilty plea and sentencing on Monday. "We understand that it is what it is, and we knew it got to the point that it had gotten to that nothing good was going to come out of it.""

Gilbert Arenas won't face lifetime ban from NBA for pleading guilty to carrying a pistol

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January 27

New York Daily News

"Gilbert Arenas isn't going to get a lifetime suspension from the NBA. The Wizards star guard is expected to learn of his suspension in the coming days for breaking the league's gun rules and pleading guilty to carrying a pistol in Washington, D.C. While giving Arenas, who is currently on an indefinite suspension without pay, a permanent ban was seen as a way to prevent a potential tragedy involving players and guns, he won't be thrown out for good, according to league sources."

Sources: NBA to detail Arenas ban

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January 23

ESPN.com

"Gilbert Arenas will know his fate -- at least in terms of how long he'll be suspended from the NBA -- by the end of next week, ESPN.com learned Friday. Multiples sources said the wheels were already in motion for the Arenas case to take its next turn, although the question of whether the Wizards will subsequently attempt to void Arenas' contract may remain unanswered. One source said Javaris Crittenton, the other player involved in the now infamous handgun incident in the Wizards locker room last month, will have closure in his case, too. Crittenton has been under investigation by authorities after he allegedly chambered a round in his handgun during the standoff with Arenas. Definitive ..."

Magic GM Shoots Down Talk Of Reunion With Arenas

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January 20

Yahoo! Sports

"Magic general manager Otis Smth denied speculation that Orlando would be Wizards point guard Gilbert Arenas'(notes) new home once Arenas gets through with his legal issues. "I have a lot of love for Gilbert, but this is something I've not given a whole lot of thought to," Smith told the Orlando Sentinel. "…I don't know where this is coming from. There is nothing in the works. No talk about it on this end or any other end.""

A Gun Charge, a Guilty Plea, a Contract at Risk

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January 19

New York Times

columnist Jonathan Abrams

"When Gilbert Arenas opted out of the final season of his contract two summers ago, the Washington Wizards made a decision that haunts them to this day. Even though Arenas had played in only 13 games and the Wizards had been eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for a third consecutive season, he was the face of the franchise. Retaining him became their priority. The Wizards entered new negotiations cognizant of Arenas's quirky personality. Because Arenas represented himself instead of delegating the responsibilities to an agent, they thought that initiating discussions with a low offer could be construed as an insult and might drive him elsewhere. Instead of working his way up, ..."

Otis Smith offers counsel to embattled NBA star Gilbert Arenas

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January 17

Orlando Sentinel

"Magic GM Otis Smith told the Sentinel that he has spoken twice with suspended Washington Wizards PG Gilbert Arenas, who pleaded guilty to a felony gun charge. Smith and Arenas go back to their days at Golden State in the early 2000s. Smith worked in the Warriors' front office as executive director of basketball operations and Arenas was the club's second-round pick. Smith has been a mentor ever since the two moved on to other teams. "First thing I told him was to end his Twitter account. Gil has to stop talking to everyone about everything," Smith said. "I told him to only talk to people he trusts and stop listening to people who aren't going to help him."

Firearms now part of game

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January 17

Denver Post

columnist Chirs Dempsey

"Bad judgment in bringing firearms to an arena, combined with a nonchalant attitude, earned Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas an indefinite suspension from the NBA. He called himself a "goofball" trying to "play a joke" on a teammate, which didn't sit well with NBA commissioner David Stern. Arenas' actions did bring to the forefront the issue of gun possession in the NBA, and why so many players own firearms. Players surveyed by a variety of media throughout the league estimate ownership at anywhere between 50 percent and 75 percent. Players say ownership is a matter of security, that the celebrity status of playing in the NBA comes at a cost of potentially being targeted. "It's scary ..."

Gilbert Arenas' joke could lead to the 'Bonfire of the Wizards'

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January 17

Los Angeles Times

columnist Mark Heisler

"Day 27 of Gilbert Held Hostage . . . . With sentencing put off until March, the prosecutors got what they needed, insisting Gilbert Arenas plead guilty to a felony, not a misdemeanor, recommending only six months in jail. That must be the difference between getting busted in the District of Columbia and the suburbs, like Cleveland's Delonte West. West was charged with four misdemeanors for carrying two loaded handguns and a loaded shotgun on his motorcycle, may beat jail with his bipolar history and is playing, amid no controversy. With Arenas now universally inconvenient, media people who doted on him dive out of his way. Adidas dropped him. If his suspension lasts all season, he'll lose ..."

Wizards need to move on without Arenas

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January 17

Washington Examiner

columnist Rick Snider

"It's time for the Washington Wizards to move on to next season. The Gilbert Arenas era appears over. The guard pleaded guilty to a felony count of carrying a gun without a license on Friday in D.C. Superior Court. The plea bargain, down from four such counts, comes with prosecutors asking for little or no jail time on a charge that carries a maximum five years. Sentencing is March 26. It's a fair deal. Arenas isn't a bad person, just someone who took a bad joke to its worst degree. Society benefits not from imprisoning Arenas, but by his spending many hours talking with children on why guns are not the answer to disputes. Maybe he'll save someone's life. Meanwhile, the Wiz have clearly ..."

Gilbert Arenas's gun collection is more than just 'bling'

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January 17

Washington Post

"It's a "bling" gun, a showpiece that weighs as much as a gallon of ice cream and comes, like a luxury car, with detailing options: gold plating, accents, even tiger stripes. It's appeared in movies and video games and is described as the "king of pistols." But the .50-caliber semiautomatic Desert Eagle, which with gold plating costs about $2,000, was not the most powerful in the arsenal that prosecutors say Wizards star Gilbert Arenas brought into the Verizon Center locker room. That would be the Smith & Wesson .500 magnum revolver, area gun dealers said. Arenas pleaded guilty Friday in D.C. Superior Court to a felony count of carrying a pistol without a license. "It's serious business," ..."

When it all changed for Gilbert Arenas, for better and worse

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January 17

Washington Post

columnist Mike Wise

"When did I know Gilbert Arenas had changed a franchise and a city? Martin Luther King Jr. Day, 2007, almost three years ago to the day. He had just let fly another deep rainbow jumper that won a game at the horn for the home team. Amid the pandemonium, two old-school players who had seen everything in Washington were sought out for comment. "We finally got us one," said Steve, an arena security guard for the Bullets/Wizards the past two decades. "We finally got a bona fide superstar. Michael was nice, but that was different than this." Dave, the reliable sentry next to the entrance to the team's locker room area, shook his head with delight after the player they affectionately called ..."

Adidas drops Arenas as endorser following guilty plea

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January 16

USA Today

"Athletic company Adidas said Friday it was dumping longtime endorser Gilbert Arenas of the Washington Wizards following his guilty plea on felony gun charges in Washington, D.C. The move demonstrates the short fuse that Madison Avenue now has with wayward athletic endorsers. Golf superstar Tiger Woods has been dropped by two corporate sponsors, AT"

Arenas pleads guilty; prosecutors seek sentence of no more than 2 years

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January 16

Washington Examiner

"Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas pleaded guilty to a felony gun charge Friday, with prosecutors saying they would recommend the athlete spend no more than two years behind bars. The 28-year-old NBA All-Star appeared in D.C. Superior Court, pleading guilty to one count of carrying a pistol without a license, which carries a maximum prison term of five years. Channing Phillips, acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, said prosecutors agreed to seek a sentence "at the low end of the applicable guidelines, which is estimated to be between 6 and 24 months." District of Columbia Superior Judge Robert E. Morin reminded Arenas that the court was not bound by that recommendation ..."

Sources close to Arenas say guard feels franchise has turned its back on him

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January 16

Washington Post

"The differences between Gilbert Arenas and the Washington Wizards may have reached the point of being irreconcilable regardless of the outcome of Friday's proceedings in the criminal case against Arenas, according to people close to Arenas and the team's management. Multiple sources close to the criminal case have said Arenas will plead guilty in D.C. Superior Court on Friday to a single felony count of carrying a pistol without a license in exchange for avoiding jail time. Such a plea would not be enough to allow the Wizards to void the $80 million remaining on the six-year, $111 million contract Arenas signed with the team in July 2008, other sources said. Yet neither side may be ..."

It's time for a new beginning for Arenas and the Wizards

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January 16

Washington Post

columnist Michael Wilbon

"This is the activity we engage in most frequently when it comes to professional basketball around here: looking back and trying to figure out how and why something went so horribly wrong. John Williams's eating, Chris Webber's underachieving, Gheorghe Muresan's aching back, Juwan Howard's contract, the trade of Rip Hamilton, drafting Kwame Brown, the firing of Michael Jordan and now Gilbert Arenas's felony plea bargain. Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives. This latest episode, Arenas pleading guilty to the felony charge of carrying a pistol without a license, is the most scandalous of all, the most embarrassing, a franchise-altering development that very likely ..."

Everybody's talking about Arenas' plea

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January 16

Chicago Sun-Times

"Gilbert Arenas dominated the pregame talk Friday before the Bulls hosted the Washington Wizards after he pleaded guilty earlier in the day to a felony charge of carrying a pistol without a license in a Dec. 21 incident in the Wizards' locker room in the nation's capital. Arenas, who is suspended indefinitely, said he stored guns in his locker at the Verizon Center and took them out to play a joke on a teammate. ''It is a very unfortunate situation," Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said. ''It is not good for the game, the Wizards, the league or the fans. It is very serious, and everybody is going to have to try to get through this. When I played, there were some guys who had guns, but it was a ..."

Washington Wizards star Gilbert Arenas pleads guilty to felony gun possession, could face six months

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January 16

New York Daily News

"Gilbert Arenas faces up to six months in jail after pleading guilty in Washington, D.C, Friday to carrying a pistol without a license. Arenas, the 28-year-old Washington Wizards star who created a firestorm in the NBA by bringing four guns to the team's locker room at the Verizon Center last month, will be sentenced March 26 after appearing in Superior Court to answer the felony gun possession charge. Judge Robert Warren will determine the sentence after Arenas waived his right to a jury trial. Legal experts say that Arenas could end up getting 30 to 90 days after reaching a deal with prosecutors. However, his conviction in 2003 in California for illegally possessing an unregistered ..."

Wizards' Arenas Pleads Guilty to One Felony Gun Charge

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January 16

New York Times

"Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas pleaded guilty Friday to one count of carrying a pistol without a license in the District of Columbia. Arenas's plea was part of a plea agreement; he could have faced four charges instead of one. The felony carries a maximum penalty of five years of incarceration, but the assistant United States attorney Chris Kavanaugh said prosecutors would not seek a term greater than the bottom of the guideline, which is six months. "We are pleased," Kavanaugh said as he left the courtroom. Arenas is scheduled to be sentenced March 26, and he will remain free while he awaits sentencing. Arenas, a three-time All-Star, has already been suspended indefinitely by ..."

Wizards' Gilbert Arenas pleads guilty to felony gun count

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January 16

Washington Post

"Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas pleaded guilty Friday in D.C. Superior Court to a felony count of carrying a pistol without a license, leaving his NBA career in jeopardy. As part of a plea deal, prosecutors agreed not to ask for more than six months in jail for Arenas. He will remain free at least until he is sentenced on March 26 by Superior Court Judge Robert E. Morin. Morin is not bound by the plea agreement -- a fact he emphasized in court -- and could sentence Arenas to anywhere from probation to a maximum five years in jail. The former all-star was released after agreeing to surrender his passport and not possess any handguns. Arenas, 28, has been the face of the Wizards ..."

Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas pleads guilty to felony; sentencing will be March 26

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January 15

Washington Post

"Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas pleaded guilty Friday in D.C. Superior Court to a felony count of carrying a pistol without a license, leaving his career in the NBA in jeopardy. As part of a plea deal, prosecutors agreed that Arenas would serve no more than the low end of sentencing guidelines -- in this case, six months in jail. Arenas will be sentenced on March 26 by Superior Court Judge Robert E. Morin. The charge ordinarily carries a maximum of five years in jail. The former all star was released after agreeing to surrender his passport and not possess any handguns. Arenas, 28, has four years remaining on his $111 million contract with the team. But he has been suspended ..."

Arenas to plead guilty to felony gun charge, source says

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January 15

Washington Examiner

"Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas is scheduled to appear in D.C. Superior Court on Friday to plead guilty to gun charges, The Examiner has learned. Arenas was charged in court papers Thursday with one felony count of carrying a pistol without a license, court papers show. A top law enforcement source familiar with the case told The Examiner that Arenas has agreed to plead guilty to one felony count of carrying a pistol without a license and four misdemeanor counts of unauthorized use of a weapon. The court papers were filed in a criminal "information," an indication that a plea agreement has been reached because prosecutors can only file charges by information when a defendant agrees ..."

A frayed marriage

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January 15

Washington Post

"The differences between Gilbert Arenas and the Washington Wizards may have reached the point of being irreconcilable regardless of the outcome of Friday's proceedings in the criminal case against Arenas, according to people close to Arenas and the team's management. Multiple sources close to the criminal case have said Arenas will plead guilty in D.C. Superior Court on Friday to a single felony count of carrying a pistol without a license in exchange for avoiding jail time. Such a plea would not be enough to allow the Wizards to void the $80 million remaining on the six-year, $111 million contract Arenas signed with the team in July 2008, other sources said. Yet neither side may be ..."

Wizards' statement on charge filed against Arenas

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January 15

Washington Post

"The Washington Wizards just issued the following statement: "We are aware of the charge filed against Gilbert Arenas today and will continue to follow the ongoing legal process very carefully. We will also continue to cooperate fully with the proper authorities and the NBA. Beyond our previous statements on this serious and unfortunate matter, will have no further comment at this time.""

Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas seeks plea deal, may avoid jail time on gun charge

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January 15

New York Daily News

"After being charged with felony gun possession Thursday in Washington, D.C., Wizards star guard Gilbert Arenas is headed for a court appearance Friday in an apparent plea deal to avoid going to prison for five years. In fact, he could end up serving little or no jail time. Arenas, whom the NBA indefinitely suspended last week for breaking its gun rules, was charged with one count of carrying a pistol without a license. The charges were filed in Washington, D.C. Superior Court in a document that indicates a plea bargain has been reached. League sources said Arenas tried to have the charge reduced to a misdemeanor, but apparently couldn't because in 2003 he pleaded no contest to a ..."

Gilbert Arenas charged, reaches plea agreement

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January 15

Washington Post

"Gilbert Arenas was charged Thursday with a single count of carrying a pistol without a license, a felony that carries a five-year sentence, but the Washington Wizards guard has reached a plea agreement that could result in much less or even no jail time, several sources close to the case said. Arenas is scheduled to plead guilty Friday afternoon before D.C. Superior Court Judge Robert E. Morin, who must decide Arenas's sentence. Regardless of whether Arenas goes to jail, the star's future in the city that once embraced his jocular personality and his ability to hit clutch jump shots is in doubt. The former all-star, whose 25th birthday party drew national celebrities and created a buzz ..."

Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas is charged with felony gun possession

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January 14

Washington Post

"Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas was charged Thursday with felony gun possession, a crime that carries a maximum five years in jail and a fine, authorities said. The charge was filed Thursday afternoon by the U.S. Attorney's office for the District. Arenas's attorney and prosecutors had been negotiating a plea deal during the day and it was not immediately clear whether the filing of charges was a part of the deal. Court officials said they had been told to prepare to have Arenas in Superior Court on Friday. The U.S. Attorney's office alleged that on Dec. 21, Arenas "did carry, openly and concealed on or about his person, in a place other than his dwelling place, place of business or on other ..."

Gilbert Arenas is in negotiations for a plea deal on gun charges

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January 14

Washington Post

"Prosecutors and attorneys for Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas were in plea negotiations this week that could have Arenas in court on gun charges as soon as Thursday, according to law enforcement sources. The two sources, speaking on condition of anonymity because the talks are ongoing, stressed that the negotiations could collapse. In addition, no cases involving Arenas had been docketed in Superior Court by late Wednesday night. If the plea talks are not successful, a Superior Court grand jury would continue to hear evidence in the case. Officials with the U.S. attorney's office in the District declined to comment about the case. Arenas's attorney, Kenneth L. Wainstein, also ..."

NBA players' union executive to meet with Wizards' Gilbert Arenas

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January 13

Washington Post

"NBA Players Association chief Billy Hunter will meet on Wednesday with suspended Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas to offer his support and gain a better understanding of the law enforcement authorities' investigation into Arenas bringing four weapons to Verizon Center last month. Hunter sat courtside for the Wizards' 99-90 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday and said he would wait until the investigation is concluded and NBA Commissioner David Stern determines Arenas's punishment before deciding what action the union would take. "Once the commissioner makes his decision, that will determine what extent we get involved and don't get involved," Hunter said, adding that he ..."

An expensive lesson, but a gun is not a joke

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January 11

Oakland Tribune

columnist Leonard Pitts Jr.

"THE ASTONISHING THING is that he did it even after. Even after news broke that he had brandished guns in the locker room of the NBA's Washington Wizards at a Dec. 21 practice. Even after meeting with federal prosecutors and local police investigating his violation of the city's gun laws. Even after being criticized by the Rev. Al Sharpton, NBA legend Karl Malone, and an army of fans, sports columnists and TV commentators. Even after apologizing to his team, his fans and the NBA and saying he understood the seriousness of the matter. Even "after" all that, Gilbert Arenas somehow managed to take a disaster and make it worse. It happened last week in Philadelphia. Every team has its ..."

Wizards facing fallout of Arenas suspension

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January 11

New Orleans Times-Picayune

"In a city where headlines change instantaneously, the local NBA team this week has become a newsmaker in its own right. Politicians aren't the only ones employing spin doctors here anymore. The Washington Wizards have had to employ their damage control efforts in the aftermath of Gilbert Arenas' indefinite suspension by the league for his part in an alleged altercation in the team's Verizon Center locker room involving firearms, gambling and a confrontation with injured teammate Javaris Crittenton that apparently had the pair aiming guns at each other. And Arenas' stunning poor judgment in clowning in pregame introductions just before his suspension -- standing in a circle of his ..."

Washington's Gun Past Affects Arenas's Future

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January 11

New York Times

"The office of Peter Nickles, the District of Columbia's attorney general, is on Pennsylvania Avenue, not far from the White House or the Verizon Center. The proximity of the three locations underlines how law, government, sports and the continuing threat of violence stand shoulder to shoulder in the nation's capital, creating a stark backdrop for Gilbert Arenas's decision to store several guns in a Verizon Center locker room. In doing what he did, where he did, Arenas has potentially created more legal trouble for himself than had he done it elsewhere. "The District of Columbia is about as unique a place as there is in the country in terms of regulating firearms because of its need to ..."

Arenas is the tip of the iceberg

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January 10

San Francisco Chronicle

columnist Bruce Jenkins

"Depending on your location and social stature, here are three good ways to liven up a party: -- (a) Exciting new Tupperware and a set of festive-colored hand towels in the guest bathroom. -- (b) A massive supply of chips, beer and tequila shots. -- (c) Everyone break out the guns. Come on, that means everyone. Lay 'em all out on the table. Let's see who's really holding the choice heat. Or as an NBA player might say at the latter event, "We've finally got some action around here." It took a joker, Gilbert Arenas, to bring clarity to the NBA's weapons crisis. In the manner most befitting a joker, he brought it about with laughter. As chaos swirled around him - my God, man, you brought ..."

Gun-toting athletes becoming a familiar problem

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January 10

Toronto Star

columnist Rob Cribb

"THE TASK: Delicately inform multi-millionaire athletes that wielding guns like inner-city thugs is dumb. It's in the new job description for those who handle players with egos more bloated than their bank accounts. "Teams have started to get very concerned about this and they call in consultants like me to talk sense into these players," says Garret Kramer, a sports performance coach and founder of New Jersey-based Inner-Sports consultants. "Athletes tend to have an inflated sense of their presence in the world. Out of arrogance and insecurity, they feel the need to protect themselves because, if you're insecure, you think people are out to get you.""

Wizards' Gilbert Arenas was wrong, but so was suspension

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January 10

Miami Herald

columnist Dan Le Batard

"For example, I have a ``What's the big deal?'' attitude about most of the outrage surrounding our games. Manny Ramirez and Ochocinco and Ron Artest are always sources of joyful comedy for me, not indignation. This gets me called an apologist or a contrarian because I tend to laugh at behavior that upsets many of you, and it undermines my credibility because I too often sound like I'm defending the indefensible. I rationalize it away by saying that I try not to judge people. But, although this is probably a decent quality in general, it isn't a great one for an opinion columnist or, you know, a judge. So, in explaining bad behavior, I too often sound like I'm excusing it. Wrong? Not wrong? ..."

Behavior becoming a liability in the NBA

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January 9

Akron Beacon Journal

columnist George M. Thomas

"A lot of eyebrows might have been raised this past week when Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas received an indefinite suspension from the NBA for behavior related to the locker-room gun incident that's given the NBA a black eye. After all, didn't Cavs guard Delonte West get arrested on weapons charges just prior to the opening of training camp? An NBA team executive who spoke on condition of anonymity said the situations are vastly different. Arenas allegedly had his guns in the Verizon Center, the Wizards' arena, something expressly forbidden by league rules. And Arenas was disciplined more for his behavior in the aftermath than for the incident itself. Instead of showing some ..."

Who is Gilbert Arenas? Even he doesn't seem to know

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January 9

Washington Post

columnist Sally Jenkins

"It's exhausting, this fight to believe that Gilbert Arenas is a better guy than he seems. Exactly when is he going to start acting like it? As opposed to the scattered, seven-faces-of-Gilbert split personality on display? When will he pull himself together into a whole, consistent, coherent person? Because so far all we have are versions of him. Arenas bears a series of tattoos on his legs that he calls Black Rushmore: images of Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Nelson Mandela and President Obama. When he first displayed them, they seemed nobler than the usual body art, more interesting than the inked tiger on his chest. They bespoke a guy who, beneath his teasing, was susceptible to ..."