So Far So Good

January 16, 2010 @ 11:20

It's no secret that I'm not much of an NBA fan. It doesn't help that I'm not big on the actual game itself, but when you include the boatload of idiots who play in the NBA it leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

Having said that, I've gotta say I'm immensely impressed with NBA commissioner David Stern and the Washington Wizards.

Stern showed remarkable leadership in suspending Gilbert Arenas indefinitely without pay and the Wizards showed class by supporting it.

In an era when athletes are coddled and protected and allowed to think they answer to a different set of rules than the rest of us, it was great to see the commissioner smack Arenas upside the head with a suspension that has teeth, and even better to see the Wizards react the way they have.

The team has removed nearly all traces of the player from their home arena, including Arenas merchandise with his jersey No. 0 and a huge banner with his photo that used to hang outside.

So far, everything has been done correctly.

But that will probably change. As I said in a posting a couple of weeks ago, I think Arenas should have his contract cancelled and be thrown out of the NBA for life, but that's wishful thinking

In today's world, that would be considered extreme and Stern and the NBA would be criticized for not giving a man a second chance, and from there I'm sure it would become a human rights issue and then it would morph into a racial issue.

By pleading guilty to a felony gun charge yesterday, without a doubt the backroom dealings are already taking place. Arenas pled guilty, which means he'll receive a sentence well below the maximum five years. Once that's determined then the NBA will show compassion and allow him back into the game with several conditions.

Personally, I won't like it. By taking a gun into an NBA locker room, Arenas has blemished professional sport well beyond what it deserves and in this case I don't think there should be room for a second chance.

But hey, as its been point out to me on several occasions in the comment section of this blog, I'm just a bitter old hard ass.

Category: Sports

22 Responses to "So Far So Good"

Chet
January 16, 2010 / 14:52

Arenas was making about $18 million a year. He may do easy time or maybe they still allow convicts to buy easier time. It's still time. Pent up and disgraced.
I agree, no second chance. Let him come out and flip burgers in a few years. Oh I made a mistake doesn't cut it.

catchacoma
January 17, 2010 / 08:34

This is a proven stat.
60 percent of N.B.A. players are broke 2 years after retiring. 75 percent of N.F.L. players are also broke after the same amount of time.

Dimwit
January 17, 2010 / 12:27

You may be a bitter old hardass but that doesn't make you wrong.

Between the Buress incident and this, pro sport has to get its shit together and make *very* clear that guns are not acceptable in any way, shape or form.

If they allow Arenas back it will be a rather dark day. If any of the usual gang of idiots rears up to charge racism all the leagues should slap them down quick. No mercy and no recourse. Otherwise someone *will* get killed.

Fred
January 17, 2010 / 14:06

Wonder how the other excellent black basketball players feel about it and there are plenty of them?
What they really feel?

Gene
January 17, 2010 / 18:15

What's it go to do with black?So far this story has had nothing to do with race. So far.

JP
January 18, 2010 / 03:43

Here's one thing I don't understand.

Fred and some of the commenters already seem to be engaging in eye rolling about some sort of inevitable, over the top, politically correct charge of racism that may arise should Arenas be kicked out of the league for life.

However, I have not read ONE thing written by ANY African American (or of a person of any race) that suggests this is likely to happen. Not one instance of a black person being quoted as saying 'if they ban him - that's racist'.

In fact, Al Sharpton has been quoted in the New York daily news saying that he has spoke with commissioner Stern and encouraged him to "show no mercy" with Arenas.

So I guess what I'm saying is - give people out there some credit. The African American community is NOT going to bring up the race issue if Arenas is suspended. If anything, they seem to be embarrassed and ashamed by his actions. I don't think it's fair to preemptively suggest otherwise.

A Question
January 18, 2010 / 19:28

Exactly why are people so bent about this? I'm serious. Yes it was a stupid thing to do but that's it. Do you honestly believe Gilbert Arenas took the gun in there to use? Really? Gimme a break.

I frankly don't care if the Wizards or any other team wants him. Why should I? And why should you? Pro sports teams are businesses. If you choose not to patronize that business that is your prerogative. But if the Wizards want to play him why should they be prohibited from doing so?

And oh by the way, I am willing to bet that if Kobe or LeBron had done this, the team NEVER would have suspended either of them and it is an open question whether Stern would have. Particularly since the Wizards may simply be looking for any excuse to get out from the contract they gave him. So I'd slow down in congratulating Stern and the Wizards.

On another point I am interested to hear from all these zealous "law and order" posters regarding what the appropriate penalty is for that punk Patrice Cormier. I will say this - anyone that thinks what Arenas did is even 1/10th as serious as what Cormier did is a moron at best.

Ted
January 20, 2010 / 12:09

The law in that state is that it is a crime to have an unregistered gun.
I'm sure a polished rich athlete lke Gil had no intention of ever using it illegally. But he broke the law. As for the headhunter Cormier. What he did was no more or less serious than many other penalties in hockey games. The result unfortunately looked extremely bad. So he'll probably be kicked out of junior hockey.
What also looked bad was him arguing with the ref.

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