Will Gilbert Arenas ever be embraced by the Wizards again?

[dobrojim]

I'll never forget the MLK day game against UTA when Gil dropped 50 including
the game winner at the buzzer. Always loved Gil.

I was also at the CHA game where Gil showed up late for shootaround
so EJ took him out of the starting lineup. Then Gerald Wallace rolled up
on his leg and Gil limped off the floor. At the time, I had no realization
that that would really be essentially the end.

But the argument about his jersey being retired relative to Earl the Pearl
is a good one. I might be tempted to retire both. IMO, there's a better argument
for Earl though. Slightly.

[pineappleheadindc]

.
It may seem odd, but this thread -- on a basketball-related discussion board -- had me thinking all night.

Now, after stewing about it for a while, let me revise and extend my earlier remarks to say this:

I'm a Gilbert fan. I hope he comes back from time-to-time to this, his once-adopted home, to participate in Wizards alumni events and be visible in the community. And I hope, on the franchise's side of things that they'll do all they can to welcome him back.

Retiring his jersey seems like a longshot. Looks like we've only retired three and Gil wasn't around long enough. But if I were the Wiz and Gil were amenable, I'd like to start my welcoming him back into the Wizards community by inviting him back to DC to a big-event game (perhaps when Miami or Lakers are in town). In between the 1st and 2nd quarters, I'd have my PA announcer welcome Gil back to DC (him live on the Jumbotron), then I'd launch a 2-minute highlight video.

I stipulate the parts that have been mentioned -- the guns, the shooting motion in the introductions, etc.

But I also remember things that are quintessentially Gilbert as well. He's the guy who, hearing that victims of Hurricane Katrina were going to be housed at the DC armory, went on a personal $18K shopping spree for things like clothes, soap, shampoo, diapers for babies. On his own. No publicist or entourage. He's the guy who looked after and "adopted" that kid whose mom was killed. He's the kinda "normal" dude not living a normal life -- driving (alone) his ride to Berry Farm to get in a game or three. He was accessible, funny, driven to win.

I end this disjointed rant with a link back to the Gilbert Arenas shrine. I'm a fan. Period.

Gilbert, if you read this, come back from time-to-time to check in. We miss ya.

[frontline205]

I know what Gilbert did for the Wizards was way better than what Carmelo Anthony did at any of his stops. Gilbert was a true talent I just wish that injury hadn't robbed his career. A healthy Arenas and a John Wall couldve been amazing

[barelyawake]

I think my favorite Gil quote (and the greatest thing I, as a fan, had ever heard an athlete say).

"I don't care if I can walk when I'm forty, I just want to win now."

And then, of course, he told the coach, "Just put me in. I'll stand still and I promise I'll hit every shot you pass to me."

Who doubts he woulda done it too?


Of course, the above attitude lead him to rushing back; doing too much and hurting himself long term, but how can you not LOVE that passion as a fan? That's some 1970's smash-mouth, mud bowl, football talk right there. Not prissy little 2000's basketball talk.

[verbal8]

Retiring his jersey seems like a longshot. Looks like we've only retired three and Gil wasn't around long enough. But if I were the Wiz and Gil were amenable, I'd like to start my welcoming him back into the Wizards community by inviting him back to DC to a big-event game (perhaps when Miami or Lakers are in town). In between the 1st and 2nd quarters, I'd have my PA announcer welcome Gil back to DC (him live on the Jumbotron), then I'd launch a 2-minute highlight video.

It is 4 retired numbers(Gus Johnson is the least obvious, but very impressive).

I think Jersey retirement may be a possibility with a new owner. If the Wizards start to have some success and decide they want to honor the "Wizards" past, Arenas would be an obvious candidate.

I definitely would like to see some sort of Wizards alumni involvement with him. I think whatever time was necessary has passed since the incident.

[badinage]

Eventually, the right thing to do would be to retire his jersey.

He deserves it.

[montestewart]

I'll never forget the MLK day game against UTA when Gil dropped 50 including
the game winner at the buzzer. Always loved Gil.

I was also at the CHA game where Gil showed up late for shootaround
so EJ took him out of the starting lineup. Then Gerald Wallace rolled up
on his leg and Gil limped off the floor. At the time, I had no realization
that that would really be essentially the end.

But the argument about his jersey being retired relative to Earl the Pearl
is a good one. I might be tempted to retire both. IMO, there's a better argument
for Earl though. Slightly.

Monroe was on better teams, made it to finals, but 3 of the 4 retired jerseys were on those teams. He had more help than Arenas did. Arenas was clearly the best player on the 3rd best Bullets/Wizards team, and the top two heavily overlap. But for that injury, I have little doubt Arenas would have added greatly to his legacy here. He's an odd guy, but he served time and has at various times (in his odd way) expressed regret. I choose to remember that he created the most excitement since the 70s Bullets. I'd have no problem with his jersey being retired.

[JonathanJoseph]

I'd have a tough time embracing him. He had a chance to come back and be a mentor here to Wall and be a part of the rebuild but he chose not too. They traded him to a good situation and he seemed to take shots and put the blame here whenever he could. I'm a huge fan of his and appreciated what he did, but Gil's immaturity was his undoing and is a large reason why I can't see him ever being a part of this organization or embraced here again

What? He absolutely tried to be a mentor to Wall but it was known that Grunfeld was doing everything in his power to trade him. What else was he supposed to do?
WIth all things Arenas, the perception and reality are far apart. Arenas should have his number retired. It was a short amount of time, but I recall Wilbon saying that Arenas had reached the 3rd best player in franchise history. It was supposed to take a different trajectory from there, obviously.

And you know this how? What information do you have that shows Arenas was trying to be a mentor to Wall or that Grunfeld was doing everything in his power to trade Arenas? I have mentioned this a long time ago, but I spoke to Ted Leonsis right after Arenas was traded. Ted personally responded to an email I wrote him asking why he traded Arenas when he had just recently made public comments that Arenas would not be traded. According to Ted, the Wizards had no intention of trading Arenas at that time, but that they found out that Arenas was in cahoots with Orlando to try to facilitate a trade. During this time, Arenas publicly said something about going to Orlando even though the Wizards had had no discussions with Orlando. Ted was incensed that Arenas would make that comment. Ted also said that Arenas was not very welcoming to Wall and he was pouting about Wall being selected, as well as no longer playing hard during the games. I recall noticing this as well. Ted said that he originally had no plans to trade Arenas at the time, but that Arenas' action of announcing that he would likely be traded to Orlando and his handling of the Wall situation is what caused Ted to agree to the trade.

Now, is it possible that Ted lied to me. Absolutely. But why would he do so? Why would he bother to call one fan to tell a lie. He could have just easily ignored my email. Moreover, what he told me seemed to jive what I noticed as well....Arenas did mention Orlando before anyone else did and he was definitely playing like he did not want to be here before the trade. In any event, I have a reason to believe that Arenas was not really trying to mentor Wall and that it was Arenas that wanted out because the owner of the team told me so. What are you relying upon to conclude that Arenas was mentoring Wall or that Grunfeld was doing everything possible to get rid of Arenas, other than you are an Arenas fan that thinks he could do no wrong.

I liked Arenas and still do. Although I think he was directly responsible for his fate, I also don't think he is the goon that a lot of people portrayed him to be. He was just immature. I would love to see Arenas welcomed into the alumni association and participate in alumni events. However, I think there is absolutely no way his jersey will be retired so it is not even worth discussing.

You may be right about that, I don't know. All I know is that the guy was clearly our franchise player until something that was probably not that big a deal was blown far out of proportion by Grunfeld and Arenas was made the scapegoat. Then they drafted Wall and literally rolled out a red carpet for him while Arenas, who had accomplished far more than Wall has to date, was moved to the bench. It would be hard for any human to react well under those circumstances.

I recall Arenas handling that as well as could be expected, with some Arenas' trademark moodiness of course, and graciously handing the torch over to Wall. Keeping in mind that Arenas had earned that torch and Wall had not.

[GhostsOfGil]

As a long time Wiz fan, I will always appreciate what Gil did for basketball in the city of DC. If the Wiz decided to retire his jersey I would fully support it. Quote from Gil's instagram:

If u don't let go of ur past u will never live in the present some of us are stuck on things that happened 2,6,even 10yrs ago and the ppl u were around have moved on while ur still dwelling on the past #letgo #mines(felt the locker room story got flipped and made worst then what it really was)5yrs later i can say I'm teamwiz4life

Edit* I see jeffsays beat me to the punch

[dandridge 10]

As a long time Wiz fan, I will always appreciate what Gil did for basketball in the city of DC. If the Wiz decided to retire his jersey I would fully support it. Quote from Gil's instagram:

If u don't let go of ur past u will never live in the present some of us are stuck on things that happened 2,6,even 10yrs ago and the ppl u were around have moved on while ur still dwelling on the past #letgo #mines(felt the locker room story got flipped and made worst then what it really was)5yrs later i can say I'm teamwiz4life

Edit* I see jeffsays beat me to the punch

As I said before, I like Gil. I like that he still appears to support the Wizards. However, I think the organization would be more receptive to welcoming Arenas back in some capacity if he just said, "I screwed up...what happened was ultimately my fault and I apologize for it." Instead, he has to speak in uncertain terms and still try to make the point that the locker room story got "flipped" and was worst than it really was. Although there may be some truth behind his statement, making statements like that makes it appear as though Gil is really not taking full responsibility for his actions. If Gil really wants to move on and be accepted by the Wizards, I think he needs to just say "I'm sorry" without any qualifications attached to it.

[mohammed10]

Gil was a polarizing figure for his 7+ years in DC. He embraced the city and those emotions were returned many fold.

Most long time Wiz fans recall his 60-point game - one of only 20 players to achieve that feat...EVER
...and the ensuing conversations about who was better - Gil or Kobe.
He also still holds the career 3 point mark for this team.

But do we also recall his 12 TO game against Miami (still a franchise record)?

Personally, I suspect that Gungate will forever color Gil in a negative light for Ted and his do-goody band. As such, I cannot see Ted raising Gil's '0' into the Verizon Center's rafters.