Gilbert Arenas likely played his final game of the 2009-2010 NBA season and collected his final paycheck on his way out the door. NBA Commissioner David Stern brought the hammer down on Arenas Wednesday, placing him on indefinite suspension while the NBA completes its internal investigation into the shenanigans involving gambling debts, unloaded pistols and a Mexican standoff that has taken place in the Washington Wizards locker room.
Arenas Suspended Indefinitely
The straw that broke the camel’s back played out in Philadelphia last night. While horsing around during pregame warmups, Arenas imitated fake gun shots at his teammates in a circle as they laughed and giggled over his display. The immature antics were caught on camera by Jesse Garrabrant of Getty Images. While his Wizards teammates thought it was hilarious based on their facial responses in the background, Commissioner Stern failed to find the humor in the display of stupidity.
It is disappointing that it has taken Stern this long to act. When Al Sharpton comes out in support of suspending an African American player for violation of gun laws and common decency, you know it is serious. The poor decision making displayed by Arenas marks some of the worst behavior ever seen in the NBA, perhaps even topping Ron Artest’s entering the crowd in Detroit to start a fight with a fan.
The sad part is that Arenas and his teammates in that Washington Wizard locker don’t seem to grasp the seriousness of the situation. Guns have no place in their lives, let alone the locker room. If you need to have a handgun with you everywhere you go, it is clear that the lifestyle you are choosing to live is not the correct one. Arenas’ explanation that he brought the guns to work to get them away from his child is a comical. The is much more to this and it is tough to believe anything that comes out of Arenas’ mouth.
As Arenas’ forfeits his $147,200 game check for each game he misses while suspend, perhaps he finally realize this is not a joking matter. It’ll become even less funny when his $118 million contract is voided for his blatant violation of NBA player conduct standard which he agreed to abide by when he signed the contract.
The only people that will be laughing when this is all over is the Washington Wizards management team when they get out from under the rock of Arenas’ awful long-term deal.
