The Gilbert Arenas Appreciation Thread

[Shanghai Kid]

Yes, it is indeed called for. In a city that now has every media outlet and even most fans throwing Gilbert under a bus when he hasn't been convicted and had no malicious intent, I feel it's neccessary for the true Gilbert supporters to unite. I don't know if his contract will be voided, but I get the sense that the organization would prefer that Gilbert Arenas never play for the Wizards again.

As stupid as Gilbert Arenas is for his actions, I do not easily forget that he accomplished what Michael Jordan could not do. He got us to the playoffs. Yes, we made the playoffs without him, but we we won our only playoff series because of Gilbert's clutch shot in game 5. He made the Wizards relevant again, got us some national telelvision games, he made it alright for fans on the road to have Wizards jerseys. And even though he was drafted by Golden State, he was young enough when he came here that it felt like was a homegrown superstar.

So if he has played his last game, than it is a terribly end to an era that normally would be considered a failure ,but as a Wizard fan I have at least been entertained since he arrived. Gil at one time was the "outside" superstar, the one player in the league who at one point could average 29ppg on a playoff team and still not make the All-Star team. We had a gem in 05-06, a player averaging 29ppg who everybody refused to hype as a young star even though he was 23 years old at the time. And than suddenly, he was an MVP candidate for a few months. It's crazy when you see a guy clearly peaking, and that was Dec-Jan-Feb of 06-07. When again will the Wizards have that clutch go to guy who can go toe to toe with Kobe in LA, or score 50 and a buzzer beater on the same night? It may not happen.

Beyond everything else, Gilbert's charisma and personality will likely never be replicated or duplicated again. It was rare for any athlete. Yes, his personality is probably the reason he's going down in flames, but even when it comes to his quirky behavior, I think he's done more good than harm.

Gilbert fans unite, I will not let this incident overshadow what he brought to the team. I refuse to be that fickle. And I believe are some with me.

[Orakpophobia]

I just wish we could've had a few more no-look buzzer beaters before all this went down. Man, what a magical season that was....

[montestewart]

After the Unseld-Hayes days, for me the happiest times as a DC basketball fan were the 2004-2007 teams led by Gilbert Arenas. It wasn't an earth shaking success of a team, but an Arenas-led team could be very fun to watch, and had a chance against almost any team. Maybe he'll never quite get the game back, and maybe his actions will destroy his career. I'm cautious about hoping for anything at this point (I'd hoped he'd just shut his trap) but I'd hate to see his career fizzle out from this point.

Get an agent. Listen to your lawyer. Take a break from off-the-cuff jokes. Figure out what Stern, the Wizards, the press, and the public want to see and hear in the way of contrition, and keep giving it to them until it hurts. Thanks for the memories (especially the shot in game 5), and I'd like to see a few more.

[Dat2U]

All I can say right now is Gil is quilty of being incredibly stupid & for failing to realize when to shut up.

That said, he's not a bad guy. In fact, he's a real quality human being. It's incredibly sad to see him become the poster child for everything that's wrong with "spoiled black athletes". Because he's nothing like that. He's not public enemy #1 contrary to media & public opinion.

I'm afraid the media and everyone who's dumping on him now, will be successful, at snuffing out his bright light. Society doesn't understand people who are different and has trouble accepting them for who they are, and Gil is just a different type of cat. But different shouldn't necessarily be bad.

[doclinkin]

I'm in.

I like the guy. As a player, as a person. He's a pain in the ass obnoxious hyperactive little brother type of trickster, but hey I get that. Most of my favorite childhood heroes were the Brer Rabbit Bugs Bunny Spider-man wiseass jester types. Its a surprising thing to see a similar cat in real life.

Guy has to be hurting right now, personally, seeing a relatively harmless act snowball into an avalanche. Again, if it was Matthew McConahey on a movie set with a brace of pistols, nobody gives a crap what Peter Vescey would say about it. If it was George Clooney pranking Matt Damon, it's not an issue. We expect a different sort of character from our sports celebrities than from movie stars. To say nothing of any other cultural issue. Harmless. Except for the law, and policy, and consequences. Must be stunning to feel all that come crashing down around you. Especially now.

There's dark and depressing dismaying irony in this, Gilbert's comeback derailed by his irrepressible nature. He's lost a couple years to injury, anyone who's ever had physical therapy knows how he killed himself fighting through pain to regain even this much of his form, and now-- to get a laugh -- he shot himself in the knee, figuratively. Able to laugh and kid around even -- or especially-- when times are hard. And that's ultimately what poleaxes him. Here. With the finger guns. With the twittering.

Irony. Sad, with no real benefit or any good to come of it that I can see. And I'm a bright side sorta fellow. Do we get better discussion and understanding of gun laws? No. Are neighborhoods made safer by this? No. Do professional sports rid themselves of gun culture once and for all? No. (And in the wake of Sean Taylor's death a few years back, my gun-distrusting self sorta wonders if they even should).

Gil's still one of the most accessible players in the game. No ten second delay on his thought processes. Still more like a superfan who happened land in the league -- by dint of superior talent and unsurpassed hard work. The people who know him personally speak well of him, even when he's been a trial on their nerves.

This team has been far more interesting and fun to root for with him on the squad. I paid closer attention to this squad as he became the sports worlds first internet fueled superstar. As a wizards fan I'm disheartened by the pitchforks and torches and usual know-nothings on radio calling for his ouster. These attitudes make for good ratings, and drive public opinion, it would be a tough climb to ascend from that hole.

But I'm still the guy who thinks it may not be as bad as all that in the end. Gilbert hasn't been his own best friend: it never pays to attack the media, they control the story, especially at a time when you aren't free to give more details. But Gilbert is an engaging and personable guy, given the right forum to explain himself (and not crack offcolor jokes) he can certainly make clear who he is at heart. Not a thug, just an overgrown kid who made an impulsive decision without considering ramifications other than the hope to make his pals laugh.

When all is said and done, depending on the legal outcome, his life itself has often been a story of redemption. I have every faith that he will find his way through this, and find more success. I have a personal sadness at the thought that he might not get that chance here. If so, I'll miss the heck outta him as a Wizard.

That said, I'd bet Ted would have something level headed to say about this, and manage to help him reach that redemption if he were involved. Even to help craft the message. That may be some time from now. Maybe too late for Gil. But I for one hope he gets that chance.

Gil, you my boy. You know for a fact there's a few hundred thousand cats in DC and worldwide who still like you as a human being and hope you make it back oncourt to play. Keep your head up my friend. This too shall pass.

-doc.

[doclinkin]

Tell you what, I'm still daily pluggin the ballot box with Gilbert votes for the All Star Game. Would satisfy me to see him voted in as a starter just to complete the joke.

[Dedicated_76ers_fan]

This too shall pass indeed. Like what happened with Michael Vick(sort of) and what happened with A.I: Redemption. Did Arenas commit ANY serious crime here? No, at the very worst he pulled an irresponsible prank that was unfortunately taken to another level. The worst you can charge is "illegal possession of guns" and that in of itself is a maybe. Is it really illegal to possess a gun with obviously no criminal intent?

People are making a big deal out of the "gambling" but it's not even that, it's a stupid joke taken a little too far.

At the very worst, Agent Zero is going to do some community time, especially since he posed no harm to the community at large and was truthful with officials. At the very worst.

This is nothing more then hyperinflation of an incident by David Stern.

[citywokagent]

I like Gilbert Arenas. hope he gets back on the court soon as a wizard

[verbal8]

If this is the end of Arenas' career with the Wizards. I see some parallels between Arenas' Wizards career and Chris Webber's. Both came in as young guys from Golden State. Both came with a lot of excitement. With Webber the excitement decreased, with Arenas it increased.

They were the best player on the only Wizards/Bullets play-off teams since the Malones/King team of 87/88.

Both left(or look like they are leaving) due to poor decisions that made the team look bad. I think Webber was in a pattern of screwing up and the team finally had enough. Arenas it was one incident that he handled poorly. Leaving Washington was a good thing for Webber. I hope Arenas has success wherever he ends up.

[Soup's Uncle]

My avatar should say it all. Dude is a beast and propelled us to being relevant in the East. He's just stupid and maybe slightly arrogant.

[Donkey McDonkerton]

[queridiculo]

Gilbert has been my favorite Wizard since Chris Webber. What's sad is that just like with Webber, the DC sports scene will in all likelihood once again lose a legit NBA star to immaturity and exceeding self righteousness by the ownership group.

Another team, perhaps the Lakers, will get the reap the benefits while Washington basketball will once again be left shaking their heads at their misfortune while having to endure yet another rebuilding phase.

I wish Gilbert the best, and hope that he'll internalize all the negative energy and ends proving his doubters wrong yet again.

[MJG]

I'll preface by saying that I don't think I ever quite liked Arenas as much as many others - I tolerated rather than appreciated the joking and blogging and such, and he was never my favorite player on the team. That's probably why I'm not especially sad to see him go, and why I'm strongly in favor of voiding his contract, whether or not his actions actually truly merit it.

That said, he was the best player on the best Wizards teams of my lifetime, and when looking back twenty years from now, I'll almost certainly be remembering the good more so than the bad. He may not have been my favorite player on the team, but if I listed out my favorite individual performances, I'm sure he'd be hogging the top ten. I definitely appreciate that he was willing to sign with us a free agent when we are a team that most guys wouldn't even glance at twice. Whatever team he winds up with when all is said and done, I'll wish him well.

[Kuq_e_Zi91]

I was fortunate enough to attend a Wizards game a few years ago when they were selling Bullets Arenas jerseys. I plan on wearing it everywhere in support of Gil because I absolutely hate when society gets that "pitchforks and torches" mentality as doc said (great post btw), so the least I can do is show my support and hope he makes it back after this.

Now pardon me while I go stock up on Gil-Zeros.

[barelyawake]

Now that I am thinking about this, Gilbert is probably my second favorite basketball player in my NBA fandom. And it's almost solely based on his personality. I'll certainly miss the dude if he's no longer here. So I say, let us not forget the jerseys thrown after every game. Let us not forget the pride we felt in having a Wizard say, "I don't care if I can walk when I'm forty, I want to win now." Let us not forget the admiration we had for a man who went to Barry Farms sans entourage to ball with the common folks. Let us not forget the night long solo practices as he tried to shake off a loss. Let us not forget the man who adopted a child whose parents were killed in a fire. But, most of all, let us not forget the jokes that made us all love that crazy kid.

[WizStorm]

Now that I am thinking about this, Gilbert is probably my second favorite basketball player in my NBA fandom. And it's almost solely based on his personality. I'll certainly miss the dude if he's no longer here. So I say, let us not forget the jerseys thrown after every game. Let us not forget the pride we felt in having a Wizard say, "I don't care if I can walk when I'm forty, I want to win now." Let us not forget the admiration we had for a man who went to Barry Farms sans entourage to ball with the common folks. Let us not forgot the night long solo practices as he tried to shake off a loss. Let us not forget the man who adopted a child whose parents were killed in a fire. But most of all, let us not forget the jokes that made us all love that crazy kid.

Well said!

[TheSecretWeapon]

I'm in too.

Back when I wrote about the team regularly, I interviewed Gil dozens of times, and spent a good amount of time just standing around yakking with him. That he could get in trouble for a joke gone too far -- not surprising at all. That he has become the latest poster boy for NBA thuggery is astonishing to me.

For several years, I spent WAY too much time in NBA locker rooms. Way too much time interviewing players, and trying to engage them in conversations. BY FAR, Gil was the most likable, goofy, offbeat, open, accessible, and fun guy in the room. Other guys were smarter and more insightful, but Gil is not a bad guy. He's immature, no question. He doesn't know when to stop joking. But there's nothing malicious about him.

When I think about him hitting that shot against Chicago, or the 60 points against Kobe and the Lakers (followed a few days later with 54 against Phoenix), or the arms-raised-in-triumph-before-the-ball-went-in three against Utah, or him throwing his jersey into the crowd after every game, it's hard to fathom that it's come to folks talking seriously about whether he should get a lifetime ban from the league. Or that people are HOPING the Wizards can void his contract. It's like some kind of bizarro world.

[fishercob]

From Gil's bio on the Wiz website:

"Served as a spokesperson for the NBA Fit program to raise awareness of physical fitness and nutrition to fight childhood obesity…

Through the Gilbert Scores for Schools program, donated $100 for every point he scored at Verizon Center to a different Washington, DC area school each game during the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons…

Supported Beyoncé’s pre-concert food donation drive in Washington, DC during her Beyoncé Experience Tour in 2007…J

oined NBA Hall of Famer Earvin “Magic” Johnson for the Freddie Mac Hoops for the Homeless Basketball Tournament at Verizon Center in June, 2007, to benefit six non-profit organizations that serve the homeless…

Recognized by The Sporting News as one of the top “Good Guys” in sports in 2005 and 2006…

Has a collection of over 500 autographed jerseys of past and present players, and purchased a chair used and autographed by President Barack Obama at a Wizards game with a $25,000 donation to Wizards Care…

Has created the Zero 2 Hero Foundation to promote the safety and well-being of children by raising funds to support organizations that aid in the preservation of families through foster care, adoption and child welfare services, as well as to help the homeless…

Named the NBA Community Assist Award winner for the month of August, 2005…Purchased $18,000 worth of goods and delivered them to Hurricane Katrina victims sheltered at the DC Armory in September, 2005…

Was featured in Essence Magazine as part of the magazine’s “Do Right Men” issue…Through the NBA Cares program, became involved with the Make-A-Wish foundation and the Special Olympics…"

And now that Gil has made some big mistakes, the organization has completely turned their backs on him. What scoundrels.

[cavsfan_osiris]

I just wish we could've had a few more no-look buzzer beaters before all this went down. Man, what a magical season that was....

During that time period the Wiz were as exciting to watch as any team in the NBA. It seemed like they had great team chemistry at time on the court especially offensively. I just wish the Wiz could have stayed healthy. The Cavs/Wiz rivalry was great, but it never reached its full potential because the Wiz were only healthy for the first time they met in the post-season.

Also as much as Wiz fans hated Eddie Jordan his system was working in Washington. It was the injuries more than anything else that prevented them from at least having the opportunity to advance in the post-season. When the Wiz were healthy those were good times and it was great for the NBA. It feels like 20 years ago now.

And now that Gil has made some big mistakes, the organization has completely turned their backs on him. What scoundrels.

The organization didn't turn their backs on Gil. Gil turned his back on the organization. All they are trying to do now by distancing themselves is recover from the mess he made. I loved Gil's freeflowing spirit and so did much of the NBA. It was good for the NBA, but in the end he didn't know what the limits were. He just didn't know when to be serious.

[Donkey McDonkerton]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=A ... &type=lgns

I just want to remind him of who I am,” Arenas said. “I’m the kid who jumped off the trampoline at the All-Star game, the kid who throws his jersey to people in the stands. I’m not the hoodlum that’s being written and talked about right now.”

Agent Zero is right. He’s no hoodlum and never was. Only it’s too late. Stern doesn’t care who he is – just who the public believes he is now.

Yes, Gilbert Arenas was a comedy act, a Globetrotter, sanctioned and sanitized by the NBA and the Washington Wizards. Through the years, there have been a lot of players who’ve done much worse with weapons, with violence, and they paid a far smaller price than Arenas must pay now.

His job as the court jester is over, and the commissioner and the Wizards can milk it no more. They know who Arenas is, and always did. The league and team can dispense mock outrage and moral indignation to the public, can void his contract and pocket his $80 million, but they know the truth. They helped create Arenas. They helped hatch this whole, sad, sordid mess.