Mike Wise reports: Crittenton had loaded gun

[Pollinator]

I know I'm in the huge minority here, but this is a game-changer to me.

I've only been in the presence of guns a handful of times in my life. The thought of someone "chambering" a round in a menacing way scares me to the point of pooping a teeny bit in my pants.

Knowing that Gilbert has dealt with a lifetime of pain through humor, doesn't this put his actions since the incident in some reasonable context? It's not an excuse, but golly gee I'm pretty damn sure some doctor would testify that Gil's post-incident actions are in some ways consistent with PTSD.

I totally agree Fisher. The book on Gil has always been that he is crazy like a fox- that beneath that quirky exterior was a lot of savvy. The Gil that has been out there the last week tweeting and making fake pistols with his fingers and directly taunting the Commish is not Gil- this is a freaked out kid who has completely lost touch with reality out of fear.

Actually my own personal feeling is that even before he got in trouble - from the early season moodiness to the fateful decision to put those guns in front of Crittenton's locker - just wasn't quite Gilbert Arenas. Who knows what it was - the stress of coming back from a devastating injury, the struggles of the team, maybe even that whole thing with Shaq - but there has definitely been something off about Gil emotionally even though no one could have expected him to play any better than he has on the court.

I don't excuse anything that he has done - Gil is smart enough (and experienced enough with his previous gun run-in with the law) that he should never have even considered pulling a stunt like he did with his weapons, and even if nothing else had happened, the way he was bullying a young kid like Crittenton who is barely hanging on in the league is something he should be ashamed of.

But I still think underneath it all, Gilbert is basically a good kid, and he has done enough good things and brought enough joy and shown enough loyalty to the Wizards that someone with the organization should reach out and get him the help he needs, whether it be counseling, medication, or just quiet time. Because he really needs it right now.

[willbcocks]

Good post pollinator, I agree completely.

[dangermouse]

some of the posts by non wizard fans in this forum and in others just show that the first news story that hits is the one that sticks in peoples minds. it is the one they take as truth. just like when someone is arrested for being a suspected terrorist, it is plastered all over the front page of the newspapers and the persons character is completely demonized. then a few weeks later when they are found to be not guilty, it barely gets a write-up, and even if it does, no one believes it.

only the wiz fans seem to be the ones who know about the 'actual' story of what happened in the locker room, barely anyone else seems to know any of these new facts, like that javaris loaded and pointed a firearm at gil. the media hasnt even made a big deal of it, even though it is WAY worse than what gil has done.

this reminds me of when the sonics were leaving town. to any other fan of any other team, it seemed like the general consensus was that it was somehow the fans or the cities fault. yet you ask any seattle fan, there was reams and reams of evidence that the new owner had planned from the start to move the team, and that seattle was robbed blind.

[Ruzious]

Hey, Sprewell had to feed his kids. Seriously, I think Sprewell did more to damage the reputation of the modern day NBA player than any other individual. As hard as Artest tries, Spree's got him beat, easily.

Ruben Patterson. Except no one remembers him.
Complete scumbag.

I don't think anyone noticed him when he played. He was actually an underrated hustling player - had a nice season with the Bucks near the end of his career.

[montestewart]

some of the posts by non wizard fans in this forum and in others just show that the first news story that hits is the one that sticks in peoples minds. it is the one they take as truth. just like when someone is arrested for being a suspected terrorist, it is plastered all over the front page of the newspapers and the persons character is completely demonized. then a few weeks later when they are found to be not guilty, it barely gets a write-up, and even if it does, no one believes it.

only the wiz fans seem to be the ones who know about the 'actual' story of what happened in the locker room, barely anyone else seems to know any of these new facts, like that javaris loaded and pointed a firearm at gil. the media hasnt even made a big deal of it, even though it is WAY worse than what gil has done.

this reminds me of when the sonics were leaving town. to any other fan of any other team, it seemed like the general consensus was that it was somehow the fans or the cities fault. yet you ask any seattle fan, there was reams and reams of evidence that the new owner had planned from the start to move the team, and that seattle was robbed blind.

Why would you state that "javaris loaded and pointed a firearm at gil" as if it were a fact and the actual story? That's just the latest version, one that's apparently more to your liking. If you're asking people to be more open minded, you might set an example. As for the "general consensus" about the Sonics move, a fair number of NBA fans I know (none of them Sonics fans), understood the story as you describe it, and it got some coverage in the press and was the subject of a documentary. Fewer broad-brush generalizations, please, and a little more open-mindedness too. Thank you.

[dangermouse]

some of the posts by non wizard fans in this forum and in others just show that the first news story that hits is the one that sticks in peoples minds. it is the one they take as truth. just like when someone is arrested for being a suspected terrorist, it is plastered all over the front page of the newspapers and the persons character is completely demonized. then a few weeks later when they are found to be not guilty, it barely gets a write-up, and even if it does, no one believes it.

only the wiz fans seem to be the ones who know about the 'actual' story of what happened in the locker room, barely anyone else seems to know any of these new facts, like that javaris loaded and pointed a firearm at gil. the media hasnt even made a big deal of it, even though it is WAY worse than what gil has done.

this reminds me of when the sonics were leaving town. to any other fan of any other team, it seemed like the general consensus was that it was somehow the fans or the cities fault. yet you ask any seattle fan, there was reams and reams of evidence that the new owner had planned from the start to move the team, and that seattle was robbed blind.

Why would you state that "javaris loaded and pointed a firearm at gil" as if it were a fact and the actual story? That's just the latest version, one that's apparently more to your liking. If you're asking people to be more open minded, you might set an example. As for the "general consensus" about the Sonics move, a fair number of NBA fans I know (none of them Sonics fans), understood the story as you describe it, and it got some coverage in the press and was the subject of a documentary. Fewer broad-brush generalizations, please, and a little more open-mindedness too. Thank you.

Its the latest version, but the only person denying it is Javaris. Only the video, if it ever comes out, will show what actually happened. Im just going by what was reportedly in Arenas' police statement, and what was said to have happened by the two unknown witnesses in the locker room at the time. It may be more to my liking, but im not the only one posting here that thinks this version holds the most water. People were quick to jump on Arenas when the first info was leaked that he had drawn a gun on a team mate in a reservoir dogs scenario, and that is what many people outside of the wiz fanbase still see as the facts of the story, even though there has been nothing (as yet) that has indicated that this was the case, but in fact other statements given say another player was the one drawing a gun on Arenas, yet no one has said word one about Javaris in any major media that im aware of. Game commentators are still talking about quick-draw Arenas.

As for the sonics move, sure those fans might know about it NOW, after Sonicsgate the documentary has come out and there has been much more exposure. In my experience at the time when the controversial facts of the move first came out, posting on several sonics messageboards and blogs, and a few other general NBA and basketball boards, there was an ignorance (and even sometimes a disbelief) of those facts by anyone outside of the sonics fanbase. I cant drag up any evidence of that for you, this was 2 years ago, but im sure if you spoke to any sonics fan who was posting around that time, they would more than likely side with me on this.

[montestewart]

As for the sonics move, sure those fans might know about it NOW, after Sonicsgate the documentary has come out and there has been much more exposure. In my experience at the time when the controversial facts of the move first came out, posting on several sonics messageboards and blogs, and a few other general NBA and basketball boards, there was an ignorance (and even sometimes a disbelief) of those facts by anyone outside of the sonics fanbase. I cant drag up any evidence of that for you, this was 2 years ago, but im sure if you spoke to any sonics fan who was posting around that time, they would more than likely side with me on this.

I just remember that guy buying the team with promises that he would keep it in Seattle, then promptly beginning the move. His ability to renege on promises told me he should run for elected office. Maybe you're right about what most non-Seattle fans believed, but I never really believed him, and I didn't believe the Hornets owner too (he basically just tries to gouge any city he's in, started w/ Charlotte, the new Orleans, then even tried OKC, who knows what city will be next for that guy).

It doesn't look too good for Crittendon or Arenas, but I'm not in a position to prejudge, so I'm trying to avoid it. Arenas is of course the better story because he's a big name and a colorful personality, but to some press and some fans, Crittendon might be an easier target, in that he's a peripheral talent and a recent arrival, rather than a beloved (by some) cornerstone of the organization. For all I know, Crittendon's just the one more easily thrown under the bus. Crittendon's not talking to the press (or publishing statements via Twitter), and I wish Arenas had followed that lead.

[Dat2U]

Our boy Mike Jones (Who?) corroborates Mike Wise's story about Critt pulling out his own weapon, loading and cocking the chamber. http://www.mikejonessports.com/

The eye-witness I spoke to said Crittenton's gun possession didn't get out to the media initially -- other than the New York Post's dramatic story -- because Arenas and his teammates wanted to cover for him. I'm told Ernie Grunfeld didn't even know at first, but that he was later told after questioning everyone involved. Arenas, according to a source close to him, did however tell investigators during his two-hour interview on Monday. Grunfeld was questioned by the authorities Tuesday, and more Wizards likely will be called in within the next day or so.

[sportjunky]

laker fan here, ive been following the story avidly due to fantasy bball, took gilbert early 2nd round

i dont think its fair to point at other nba fans as being ignorant, altho its certainly a fair point regarding the general public. its obviously true the first splash is the biggest

also for the record, the article explicitly states critt never pointed the gun at arenas

Neither witness said the gun was ever pointed at Arenas, but both said Crittenton began singing as he held the gun.


i think the strangest thing about the whole situation was how quickly precedent set by stern in situations involving guns was disregarded by the media. the lust for gils head was just bizarre. and its going to suck if stern feeds into it by punishing gil and "making an example" out of him

[pickaxe]

laker fan here, ive been following the story avidly due to fantasy bball, took gilbert early 2nd round

i dont think its fair to point at other nba fans as being ignorant, altho its certainly a fair point regarding the general public. its obviously true the first splash is the biggest

also for the record, the article explicitly states critt never pointed the gun at arenas

Neither witness said the gun was ever pointed at Arenas, but both said Crittenton began singing as he held the gun.


i think the strangest thing about the whole situation was how quickly precedent set by stern in situations involving guns was disregarded by the media. the lust for gils head was just bizarre. and its going to suck if stern feeds into it by punishing gil and "making an example" out of him

How do you differentiate between a loaded gun from a man that threatened to blow up his surgically repaired knee pointed directly at Arenas and still loading it and waving it around in the same room? Sounds like the exact same threat.

Arenas supposedly said he'd blow up Javaris' car - it would be like Arenas bringing an explosive device, waving it around and singing. You don't expect him to detonate it..but then again he had loaded a bomb that could explode. Is it no less of a threat because Gil is nowhere near Javaris' car?

[sportjunky]

right, i dont disagree there was a threat as soon as the gun was cocked but its strange to read post after post about how critt "pointed the gun" when the article says he didnt actually do that. just found that strange

[Tirion]

some of the posts by non wizard fans in this forum and in others just show that the first news story that hits is the one that sticks in peoples minds. it is the one they take as truth. just like when someone is arrested for being a suspected terrorist, it is plastered all over the front page of the newspapers and the persons character is completely demonized. then a few weeks later when they are found to be not guilty, it barely gets a write-up, and even if it does, no one believes it.

only the wiz fans seem to be the ones who know about the 'actual' story of what happened in the locker room, barely anyone else seems to know any of these new facts, like that javaris loaded and pointed a firearm at gil. the media hasnt even made a big deal of it, even though it is WAY worse than what gil has done.

this reminds me of when the sonics were leaving town. to any other fan of any other team, it seemed like the general consensus was that it was somehow the fans or the cities fault. yet you ask any seattle fan, there was reams and reams of evidence that the new owner had planned from the start to move the team, and that seattle was robbed blind.

what's funny is that the original NY Post story was closer to the truth than the first Gilbert's story:
1) both players brought guns
2) there was a loaded and cocked gun in the room

[Hoopalotta]

what's funny is that the original NY Post story was closer to the truth than the first Gilbert's story:
1) both players brought guns
2) there was a loaded and cocked gun in the room

Yeah, that did occur to me too.

Despite Vecsey's efforts to slather the substance of events in popcorn butter, the actuality of the happenings sound like they weren't THAT far off from what he, well....'reported'.

With what we now 'Know', using that term loosely, I don't think there's anyway the NY Post get sued in this.

That's another tragedy lost to this affair I guess.