Plain Dealer suggests West incident is worse than Arenas

[Niko23]

http://www.cleveland.com/sportsnetwork/ ... ngini.html

Author Dan Labbe copied and pasted an article that basically stipulates that the Delonte situation is much worse than Gilbert's, mainly because the guns that West had were loaded. This is completely ridiculous. It also suggests that West will be suspended for a very long time, which I see as a major problem if true. I realize that the PD did not write the article, but posting it without any real defense for Delonte is absurd.

[christian72589]

Delonte did what he did on his own time right?

Gilbert brought his guns to work and then pulled one on a teammate....

i kinda see Arenas in the wrong a little more. What Delonte did was crazy, and i don't remember if he was trying to go terminator on someone or f he was just paranoid or something but Delonte wasn't being a goon i don't think. He is just kind of messed up mentally.

[Triumph36]

Delonte did what he did on his own time right?

Gilbert brought his guns to work and then pulled one on a teammate....

i kinda see Arenas in the wrong a little more. What Delonte did was crazy, and i don't remember if he was trying to go terminator on someone or f he was just paranoid or something but Delonte wasn't being a goon i don't think. He is just kind of messed up mentally.

Delonte was suffering from paranoia, which was a result of his illness. He wasn't carrying those weapons with the intent to harm anyone, but rather to protect himself. In his mind he thought people were coming after him and thus his life was in danger. Given his location and rags-to-riches story, perhaps that was actually true.

Nobody is denying that West should be suspended. Most people, including Cavs fans, believe he should and will be. But his suspension will (or at least should) be based on past precedents set by the NBA - which is a short (<10 game) suspension.

Anyway, how can anyone write an article without spell checking? It's Crittenton, not Crittendon ffs.

[mg]

I'm a Delonte fan but admit he's going to get suspended. He may have a serious sickness but was still driving around with 3 concealed, loaded guns. From what I can recall not sure if the guns were even registered to Delonte? What I do know is DC is very strict about their gun laws and Delonte will get a very stiff fine, probation and possibly even jail time. Lucky for him the Cavaliers are a Class A organization and have stood behind him.

I really don't know if West's incident is worse than Arenas. Bringing guns to the workplace is beyond stupid especially when you work at an NBA arena. From what I recall Gilbert also had a gun charge when he was still with the Warriors so this wasn't his first offense. The big difference between the two is that Delonte has been contrite and is trying to get his life back together thru the help of his doctors and prescribed medication. Gilbert on the other hand went on a Twitter rampage and seemed to be mocking Stern and the NBA with his pregame antics. He only seemed to show any remorse after he was given the suspension. Too bad he didn't have an agent, family member, or a mentor on his team to give him counsel before he went out and upstaged David Stern. It will be a long time before Gilbert plays in another NBA game.

[Benedict_Boozer]

Delonte's medical condition is also a factor. It certainly doesn't excuse his behavior, but it also is a reality that he is mentally unstable when not on his medication. Stern would have to be careful with how he approached that IMO. It's not an Arenas situation where he was just being a jackass, Delonte is literally bi-polar.

If Delonte can get out of this situation with some hefty fines and community service, etc. then I think Stern will hand him a 5-10 game suspension. As has been said, Delonte has stayed out of the media and avoided any other public mishaps.

If Delonte's legal situation ends up worse, with potential jail time, public perception could lead Stern to drop a heftier suspension. Ultimately I think Stern is more concerned with the public image of the NBA than anything else.

Either way it won't be good for us.

[Niko23]

I think any one of the posts above would have been more than an appropriate response by this writer. I guess objective journalism, or at least routing for the home team, is not what the PD stands for.

The two situations could not be further apart

[jwalker23]

I just wonder if the Arenas/Crittenton situation will cause Delonte a longer suspension.

[Niko23]

^

It was stated in the article that they think it should because the guns were loaded.

[Triumph36]

If Delonte can get out of this situation with some hefty fines and community service, etc. then I think Stern will hand him a 5-10 game suspension. As has been said, Delonte has stayed out of the media and avoided any other public mishaps.

If Delonte's legal situation ends up worse, with potential jail time, public perception could lead Stern to drop a heftier suspension. Ultimately I think Stern is more concerned with the public image of the NBA than anything else.

Either way it won't be good for us.

A 5-10 game suspension wouldn't be bad, I'd happily accept that tbh. I just want to get the court case and subsequent suspension over with.

But I agree though, a lot depends on the outcome of his legal issues. It seems like most people are leaning towards the fines, community service, etc outcome....but I guess we'll have to wait and see. If it plays out like that, I'd expect a single digit game suspension.

Delonte's handling of the situation will certainly help him in Stern's eyes, but the result of the court case is going to be the biggest factor IMO.

[JonFromVA]

I hope Stern actually considers what's best for Delonte, and does whatever helps insure that West gets the treatment and attention he needs to make sure he can control his condition during the season or the off-season.

I don't see how punishing him does that.

Making sure he attends consoling and continues to stay on his meds? And that it's monitored?

That should help.

[gflem]

I have been on the wiz board since the Gil thing was reported, and I have been critical of thier teams fans covering for Gil like he didnt do much of anything. And I also mentioned how my 9 year old daughter met Delonte and most of the rest of the team at a game a week or so back. She came back reving about how nice Delonte was and how he spent time talking with her and her friend that she went with.
The differences are many in these cases. Delonte had loaded weapons. He also has a condition that can cause severe paranoia. He is a much more sympathetic figure in the eyes of the public in general because of that. And we all know that image is what matters most to Stern and the NBA. Rightfully so in some regards due to the high profile of the league and its employees.
However, he deserves to be suspended for what happened, but how he has responded to his incident so far indicates that he understands the serious nature of what he did, and that he is getting treatment to prevent a recurrence of something like that happening again.
In Gil's case, he basically thumbed his nose at the league, team, and got into a verbal sparring match with the media using his twitter account, Quite juvenille by all accounts, not at all understanding that whether or not the guns were loaded he was entirely in the wrong. To further cloud the situation is the fact that gambling is said to be involved, and we know the league will come down doubly hard on an allegations of that after the Donaghy thing. So, what does Gil do? he promptly does his fake gunplay thing before the Philly game thus flipping off everyone for noticing that he did something wrong. So how in the world does he not understand that his actions are going to cost him dearly? Is he really that stupid? Or arrogant? either way I think Stern's comment of unfit fits this situation to a tee. If he had said that about Delonte it would be more of a medical thing, but with the economy in the tank, and people losing their jobs and homes, a $16 million athlete that cant even grasp how everyone will view this is a danger to the reputation of the entire league.
If the guy had just shut up and acted like he cared even one bit about what anyone else thought his punishment imo would be much less.

[Triumph36]

^^ paragraphs, my man, paragraphs....

edit: well you used paragraphs, but spaces between them really helps

[gflem]

^^ paragraphs, my man, paragraphs....

edit: well you used paragraphs, but spaces between them really helps

Well, you have to double enter, and I am just too lazy for that. Content my man, content.

[JonFromVA]

Obviously Arenas does not comprehend the seriousness of his act. It was a joke to him at the time, and it's still a big joke. He also has a self-destructive streak where he naturally tends to make things worse to see who's really got his back.

Basically the guy has some issues dating back to his Mother abandoning him as a kid and really should have gotten help long long ago, but hey ... lot's of folks have issues ... it's just he's being paid millions of $$$ to represent his team and the league. Basketball has let him stay a kid and until now hasn't demanded that he bother to grow up.

It's looking like Stern is going to want more than just a written statement at this point. Gilbert's going to need to grow up.

It fascinates me that Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post drove yet another nail in Gil's coffin yesterday. HIs latest column details every "practical joke" that he could dig up that Gilbert has done over the course of his career, which IMO show a pattern of sociopathy. Just before Gil got suspended he ran another column where he showed lines from Gil's public statement and contrasted them to his Twitter statements.

Can you imagine a Plain Dealer sports writer doing such a hatchet job on a Cavs player? Let alone the guy who usually writes fluff pieces about the team?

The funny thing, is he may very well be doing it with the blessing of the team ...

[Icness]

nice post jon^^

Pulling a gun on a co-worker in a workplace environment is grounds for immediate and permanent termination in every conceivable line of work, period. Doesn't matter if it's loaded or part of a joke. I've worked for NFL teams and there are signs at every entrance that guns are strictly forbidden. The first team I worked for did random searches for weapons every so often, and they scoured everything from player lockers to secretary desks to toilet tanks in the public restrooms. I can guarantee you if an NFL player did what Arenas did he'd never sniff a roster ever again.

I think the NBA is correct in waiting on the legal system to decide on West before they do anything. He absolutely should be suspended for violating the standard player conduct policy in every contract regarding weapons arrests. And not to get political, but how does a guy diagnosed with paranoia or manic depression legally get those guns That should disturb everyone.

[JonFromVA]

And not to get political, but how does a guy diagnosed with paranoia or manic depression legally get those guns That should disturb everyone.

There actually were discussions on exactly that topic over on RCF. I don't remember exactly what they concluded, but it probably comes down to the fact that his condition had no legal status. He's never been commited to a mental institution and has never pleaded guilty for reason of insanity.

And heck, if he didn't actually buy the guns at a store, he wouldn't have had to worry about a background check, anyway.

And while he shouldn't have been driving around with loaded weapons, it's still just a misdemeanor in Maryland. I believe his shotgun in the guitar case was found to be legal.

Guns in the workplace is a serious issue. Transporting guns in to DC may be a felony.

But driving around with loaded guns in Maryland or Virginia?

Legally, it doesn't seem much worse than the reckless driving charge.

But it does make the league look bad, so, no doubt they'll do something.

[DaVoiceMaster]

Hey guys,

Sorry for chiming in on this, but I don't know much about the incident involving West. I heard there was something going on at the time, but haven't really heard anything else. I see in this thread that West is diagnosed with manic depression, but was that diagnosis prior to this incident or after? If prior, why wasn't he taking his meds? I could see that playing into any type of suspension he may get. If he was not diagnosed, then I dunno if I see any suspension since it was due to an undiagnosed medical condition. Clearly there is a lot more information I don't know about so who knows. Just my thoughts.

[JonFromVA]

It was not a good summer for Delonte. He actually got married, but that blew up in his face almost immediately.

It's a rumor that Delonte went off the meds. I'm not sure if it's known that he has, but if he did, it's not uncommon for folks to slip up in their program for any of various reasons, not the least of which is that the meds can have numerous negative effects.

[mg]

Delonte was already diagnosed and on meds but the dosage required is a 'moving target' for his condition. The dosage he was taking was not working this summer so he apparently stopped taking it...at least that's my understanding. Who knows how sympathetic the legal system or Stern will be when it comes to punishment.

[Itmotep]

I dont understand why people here keep saying Gilbert pulled a gun on anyone. Get your facts straight. Gilbert never pulled a gun on anyone, just layed 3 at Crichetons locker as a joke cause Crich. said "Ill shoot your knee" on the plane ride home involving gambling. . . And when Gil left the guns a note said "Choose one". Then eye witnesses (Players) say Crich. pulled a gun on Gilbert cause he didnt get the joke and everyone got the hell out, including Gilbert.

if you think about it, Ron Artest ATTACKED A FAN and only got a season, Jermain Oneal as well, only 20 or so games, Stephen Jackson, same. Sprewell CHOKED his coach and only got a year...Gil should if anything MAX get a year. MAX. Not even that IMO.