One last Arenas post (but with a Krugman shout-out this time)

I think Gilbert Arenas was incredibly stupid, way to glib about guns and DC gun laws, and probably should have his contract terminated.  But should he go to jail? No.


It's interesting that one of the many backdrops to this story has been hearings held by the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission (chaired by Greek-American Phil Angelidis) regarding bank bail-outs, the mess on Wall Street, and the culture that led to the recent financial meltdowns.  For a more articulate take on Wednesday's hearing, check out Paul Krugman's recent op-ed.


If we're looking to send anyone to jail it should be from Wall Street.  To my knowledge not a single Wall Street banker, etc. has been held responsible for losing trillions of dollars of wealth, wealth from average Americans' pension funds, retirement and savings.  All these losses could have been prevented with more oversight, more responsibility, and more accountability.


If we're looking to send someone scofflaw to jail I say look on Wall Street, not in the Wizards' locker room.*


* Though Javaris Crittendon looks jail-eligible for actually waving a loaded gun in the locker room.  I also believe he once interned at Goldman Sachs, so he'd be a two-fer.

Arenas, and ESPN looks back at the top players and coaches of the 2000s

I don't have much to add to the completely embarrassing news about Gilbert Arenas.  Tracee Hamilton sums it up pretty well in today's Post.


Talk about the "Curse of Les Boulez" - times two in this case.


One, how embarrassing for a team that used to be the Bullets, a name the late Abe Pollin changed over disgust with gun violence especially in DC but also over the assassination of Yitzak Rabin, to have guns waved in their locker room.  Guns apparently drawn in the locker room by two professional athletes.  Pretty pathetic.


Two, the lame Wizards are now stuck, really stuck, with Arenas.  There is no way they can trade Arenas in an attempt to jump start a team off to a 10-20 so they are on the hook for the remainder of his $110 million contract.  That contract was the original reason he was tough to trade, but who would want a guy who brings - and may wave them around - guns to the locker room.  


Finally, this instance obviously raises serious concerns about Arenas the person.  His professionalism, dedication, and maturity are all in question.  I guess I need to give him and Javaris Crittendon the benefit of the doubt; maybe guns weren't drawn. But either way, Arenas is damaged goods - and I'm not talking about his repaired left knee - and the Wizards are stuck with a player who is NOT the professional and leader they thought they had when Pollin signed him to that mega contract three years ago.


To paraphrase Chief Justice Earl Warren, after reading about man's defeats you can read about man's triumphs at the link below on the best of college basketball in the last decade: Looking back at the top players and coaches of the decade.