text:
Reports: Arenas brought guns in dispute with Crittenton
Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas brought guns to Verizon Center because of a dispute with teammate Javaris Crittenton, according to reports in the New York Post and Yahoo! Sports.com.
The New York Post reports that the incident was over an unpaid gambling debt and that Crittenton also had a weapon. Yahoo! Sports is reporting that the dispute was before practice at Verizon Center on Dec. 21 in Washington. On Christmas Eve, the NBA and Wizards announced that Arenas was being investigated for possibly violating league rules regarding firearms.
Arenas said on Tuesday that the D.C. police department was investigating the circumstances under which he brought the guns to the arena. "They just wanted to know where I got them from and make sure they're not dirty guns," Arenas said.
Metropolitan Police Department spokeswoman Gwendolyn Crump released a one-sentence statement mentioning that it is assisting the U.S. Attorney's Office with the investigation without mentioning any names.
The league allows players to possess guns, but under the collective bargaining agreement, they cannot have weapons at NBA facilities. Arenas hasn't been charged with a crime, but he could face a league fine or suspension following the investigation.
After CBSSports.com broke the news of the investigation on Christmas eve, Arenas initially said he brought the guns to the arena after deciding that he no longer wanted them in his home after the birth of his third child. His second girl, Hamiley Penny, was born on Dec. 9.
The Wizards released a statement that Arenas had unloaded guns and no ammunition in a lock box in his locker. The statement did not mention Crittenton. Both Crittenton and his agent, Mark Bartlestein, declined comment when reached by telephone.
Arenas was asked if he brandished the weapons, and he answered, despite attempts by the Wizards public relations staff to keep him quiet. "Yes, I showed them to someone, I showed them to team security when I handed them to them and said give them to the police," he said. "Yes, I took them out of this locker room. I had to take them out to get them out of here to give to security. You see they didn't take the whole locker out of here."
When asked the reasons for bringing weapons to the arena, Arenas joked, "I'm a bank robber. I like to rob banks."
If the allegations are true, Arenas and Crittenton could both face fines or suspensions from the league. The NBA and the Wizards are both waiting to see if law enforcement agencies would file charges before making a decision.
The Wizards (10-20) have had a disappointing season on and off the court. They currently are last in the Southeast Division and have the third-worst record in the Eastern Conference. Last month, longtime owner Abe Pollin died at 85.
Michael Lee
January 1, 2010; 11:02 AM ET
Save & Share: Previous: Happy New Year?
Next: Wizards statement
Too late...I already reported it. :P
Ivan Carter would have never let that happen! ;);)
Happy New Year Mike!
- Ray
Posted by: rmcazz | January 1, 2010 11:05 AM | Report abuse
I don't thiink this is what Flip Saunders meant whe he said he wanted more firepower.
Posted by: leetee1955 | January 1, 2010 11:16 AM | Report abuse
This is gonna be great! Bring of the Arenas/Defence jokes!
Posted by: cballer | January 1, 2010 11:27 AM | Report abuse
That behavior, I am sure is a violation of their NBA contracts and both of their careers as NBA players are done."
Yeah, because players who physically assault members of their own organization or brandish guns in public are summarily dismissed from the NBA, without question, never to play in the league again.
Just ask Latrell Sprewell and Stephen Jackson.
Think before you post.
Posted by: kalo_rama | January 1, 2010 10:43 AM
I surely hope you are not right about this one. I know what Sprewell did but not aware of what Jackson did.
But in any event, having guns in the Verizon Center and actually having a confrontation with them seems to be a bit more serious than choking your coach.
As much as I given Gilbert his due and thought that Crittenten could be a postitive asset to this Team, I have no tolerance for foolishness.
If this report is true, I cannot believe that this does not violate their NBA conracts and they both are done in the League.
If true this shows and egregious character flaw in both men and I would not have them in my organization.
Posted by: LarryInClintonMD | January 1, 2010 11:33 AM | Report abuse
Where did Crittenton get his gun from? How many players brought guns into the lockerroom?
If these two players pulled loaded guns on each other in a locker room with people in the arena (fans, ushers, staff)...geez...they just have to go. Somehow.
No suspensions. Gone.
Posted by: SteveMG | January 1, 2010 11:39 AM | Report abuse
Hey, racist at 11:31. Brave enough to use that sign-on, but too chicken to spell out s***?
Posted by: dbct | January 1, 2010 11:44 AM | Report abuse
This question is now in the courts and there is not a final answer about guns in the District. People should consider the Constitutional rights of all involved before they act.
Just saying "fire them all" is hardly the way to go.
Posted by: gary4books | January 1, 2010 11:45 AM | Report abuse
Can we change the name back to Bullets now? That way, the players could play while armed and gregarious, and then the game would be watchable, as long as they held the guns sideways like in the movies.
Posted by: lard_lad | January 1, 2010 11:45 AM | Report abuse
I doubt this is the end of their careers in the NBA. A suspension or fine---yes.
It may mean Gilbert will be shopped more for a trade. Too bad Houston doesn't want hime for T-macs expiring. Maybe GS will take him back for Monta Ellis. I would add Jamison if we could get back young PF Joe Randolph and filler to make the salaries match.Maybe we could shop Gilbert or better, Caron (plus Foye, NY and McGee or a 1st rounder) for Chris Paul and stokavich or Okafor. NO is in a salary dump mode so something may be possible here. Now that Abe is gone, its time to rebuild around players who value defense. I just do not think we can teach D to Gil or Jamison. And many of the others on the team with the exception of Haywood just do not have the skill or will to play defense. Defense, rebounding and passing are the most important things (not shooting) and we stink in all three. Rebuild now---the fans are ready Ernie.
Posted by: wizfanatic | January 1, 2010 11:46 AM | Report abuse
I never believed that EG tried to trade Gil because he loved Gil and its still early but if this story is true then that could be the reason why EG just had enough
Posted by: dlts20 | January 1, 2010 11:47 AM | Report abuse
Once again Arenas shows why Jordan, Duncan, Shaq, Kobe, Garnett, etc. are all winnners! Arenas is a loser and will never make the Wizards a winning team. Both Jamison and Butler are tired of his BS. Now with Pollin gone, the team might have a chance to unload this bum, albeit with that $123 million albatross of a contract that Pollin stupidly saw fit to sign with Agent Zero. Now that's a good one, that's the number of championships the Wizards will win with Arenas.
Posted by: skylinesva | January 1, 2010 11:48 AM | Report abuse
Arenas is a selfish grown kid that has his world centered all around him. While he is a prolific scorer and always has been his defensive prowess is terrible. Too bad his contract is loaded the way it is but everybody non the less is expendable. I could see the Wizards off loading him to another team to get either future draft picks or veteran players that play defense. Arenas when healthy is a fun player to watch but he is one large ball hog and a hotdog.
Posted by: jamesjiven55gmailcom | January 1, 2010 11:49 AM | Report abuse
How old is JC's friend? I hate clowns like that. You know how bad this is going to sound if true? Why would you put something like that out in the media? I bet he swears that he's a street cat too.
Posted by: dlts20 | January 1, 2010 11:50 AM | Report abuse
Who would want Arenas now? A guy who would pull a piece on a teammate? A gun-brandishing headcase making $111 mil? I can't even imagine Isaiah, if he were still a GM, making that trade.
Posted by: keithward64 | January 1, 2010 11:52 AM | Report abuse
One more thing Michael Lee and the Washington Post. Shame on you for getting scooped by the NY Post on this story--how could you have missed telling this story first? Where are your sources? Please explain to us as fans of this blog why you missed this story?
Posted by: wizfanatic | January 1, 2010 11:53 AM | Report abuse
Funny how I posted this in the other blog about Arenas, which came from newschannel8 and BAM, it's now posted here...'insider' blog...LMAO
How inside are you if you didn't post this up before friggin newschannel8? They are barely a newschannel dude...
Posted by: kahlua87 | January 1, 2010 11:55 AM | Report abuse
The NBA as an organization expressly forbids this type of conduct.
So, you ask yourself, how can two Wizard players do something this serious that is expressly forbidden by the League.
Or, are they doing something that is common in the NBA by other players as well.
Even if it is true that other players bring guns into their venue's, I would not do it and as an organization I would not have been turning a blind eye for the sake of my players perceived protection on this matter.
This type of conduct also goes to the point that it is always the players. It is the players fault why the Wizards can't win.
You see there is no doubt in my mind that what these two guys are accused of would not happen with every NBA club in this League.
If Arenas played for Boston, I don't think he would doing this in Boston, or the Lakers, and many other Clubs in this League.
There should not have been any reason for these two guys to believe that it was alright to do this.
The fact that they did it, if it is true says a lot about them and influences they have everyday in their lives as a Washington Wizard.
And by the way, to the Blogger above, Racism has nothing to do with this.
Posted by: LarryInClintonMD | January 1, 2010 11:55 AM | Report abuse
This is a wait and see story. There is no proof Jarvis had a gun. If he did, I'm sure he would be under investigation as well. The Wizards are on record as saying Gil stored on unloaded weapon. Why would he pull and unload weapon on someone. That doesn't make any sense. Let's wait and see. Also, this was first reported in the New York Post. I don't trust anything written in that rag.
Posted by: 33dgriffin | January 1, 2010 11:56 AM | Report abuse
People should consider the Constitutional rights of all involved before they act.
The Constitution forbids Congress (or the government) from taking away your rights. Not your private employee (broadly speaking).
You and I have the right to say that the NBA referees or David Stern are crooked and the government can't punish us. But the players, per the labor agreement, don't have that same free speech right. The league can punish them (fines, suspension).
Similarly, Arenas and Crittenton (and you and I) may have a Second Amendment right to own a gun (although the government may place restrictions on that right). But they don't have a right to bring it into a privately-owned arena or place.
And again, not bringing in guns into arenas is part of the NBA agreement between the league and players.
Not to mention brandishing them at one another!
Posted by: SteveMG | January 1, 2010 11:58 AM | Report abuse
Thanks Gil. You just gave this organization and its new ownership cause to release you and get out from under that enormous contract. It's pretty ironic that the team changed its name in response to all of the violent crime in the city and its so-called franchise player is packing heat at the arena. See ya Gilbert....
Posted by: randysbailin | January 1, 2010 11:59 AM | Report abuse
Just another pathetic example of the "thug culture" that has pervaded pro basketball--and many other pro sports--and destroyed the credibility of the league. Remember way back when sports stars could be and were expected to act like role models for our youth? Nowadays, I'd rather have Michael Jackson babysit my kids than let them hang out with thugs like Arenas.
Kick both of these jokers to the curb and enforce a conduct standard.
Posted by: nola_exile | January 1, 2010 12:00 PM | Report abuse
All I can say is, I am glad that I don't waste my hard-earned money on NBA tickets. That's a franchise/league that I don't miss in B-more. Thugs like that should both be in jail! What a great way for the Wizards to save on their payroll...
Posted by: msilver2 | January 1, 2010 12:01 PM | Report abuse
Gambling debt, now there's something else that's against the NBA rules for players.
Posted by: rickgonz | January 1, 2010 12:01 PM | Report abuse
Living proof that no matter how much money you give fatherless welfare garbage, they are still the same inside: fatherless welfare garbage.
Posted by: tjhall1 | January 1, 2010 12:01 PM | Report abuse
This isn't the NFL. In the NBA, you can't just "release" a player. You could, but you would still have to pay his entire salary according to the contract.
Posted by: rickgonz | January 1, 2010 12:04 PM | Report abuse
"I'm a bank robber. I like to rob banks." What??? As a lifelong Wizards/Bullets supporter, if they brought guns to the locker room, they both have to go NOW. No waiting for the NBA or police to pass judgement, which will take too long. NOW. They're 10-20. It appears these two take their gambling and their guns more seriously than they take winning basketball.
How can Wizards management excuse this? Don't the fans and the city deserve much better? Ernie, come out of hiding, do your job, and fire both of them.
Posted by: oc_magnet | January 1, 2010 12:06 PM | Report abuse
It's not as though this is a winning team. Dump both of them and replace them with low cost character players who play defense.
Posted by: ajlerner1 | January 1, 2010 12:06 PM | Report abuse
Gilbert Arenas = Pete Rose?
This story not broken by the Washington Post and widely reported everywhere now raises interesting questions about whether they were betting on games? Wizards to win or lose? This may help expalin the Wizards record. Just saying it undermines the integrity of the game.
Posted by: wizfanatic | January 1, 2010 12:09 PM | Report abuse
Posted by: DC_MAN88 | January 1, 2010 12:09 PM | Report abuse
Typical NBA culture. What is the mindset of someone who actually gets excited about the NBA? I mean, how many sports fans actually discuss regular season NBA games? The NBA is a (small) step above professional wrestling.
Posted by: terpfan11 | January 1, 2010 12:10 PM | Report abuse
Abe is rolling over in his grave right now.
Abe wanted Gilby back to be the best representative of the organization, worldwide.
Is this the way?
Please, enlighten me.
Posted by: DC_MAN88 | January 1, 2010 12:11 PM | Report abuse
Time to change the name back to the Bullets.
Posted by: glynnjp1 | January 1, 2010 12:11 PM | Report abuse
And the @ssclown says:
"When asked the reasons for bringing weapons to the arena, Arenas joked, "I'm a bank robber. I like to rob banks.""
Please tell me how this is just "Gilby being Gilby?"
Is this a marketing plow to bring the "Bullets" name back since Gilby supposedly only brought unloaded weapons to the gym?
WTF is going on?
I smell a way to void a stupid max money contract.
Posted by: DC_MAN88 | January 1, 2010 12:12 PM | Report abuse
I can perhaps overlook (i.e., suspend but not release) players bringing guns to the locker but to point them at each other?
Pointing loaded guns at each other? In a locker room? With players, staff others around?
No way.
Posted by: SteveMG | January 1, 2010 12:13 PM | Report abuse
After a two-day cooling period, Saunders didn't back away from his words, and even applied more pressure to his three captains -- Butler, Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison -- after Arenas said that the team had adopted a "losing mentality" in recent years.
"Gil can say that, but when you have the money that those three guys are making, you never talk about loser mentality," Saunders said about Arenas, Jamison and Butler, who will earn $16.2 million, $11.6 million and $9.8 million this season, respectively. "You're making $20 million; you're getting paid to win. Bottom line. Don't blame it on the guy that's making $300,000. This is a league where you get paid on your production and what your expectations are. It's up to them to change that mentality. They have to carry us."
Butler agreed. "When it all goes back, it's going to fall back on us," he said. "We're the captains, the leaders. . . . We got guys back healthy. We got to lead our ball club to wins.
"We've got to get it done."
Saunders singled out Butler after practice, saying that it was the best he'd looked since taking over as coach. "Today I saw Caron Butler -- we had a talk yesterday or whatever -- play how I thought he could play. I told him, maybe I've given him too much credit and been soft on him and haven't driven him enough. That's not going to happen anymore."
Butler said during training camp that his goal was to be an all-league defender, but his difficult adjustment to playing alongside Arenas again has seen his offensive production fluctuate dramatically, right along with his effort on defense. And after averaging at least two steals per game in each of the past two seasons, Butler is down to just 1.6 this season.
Posted by: DC_MAN88 | January 1, 2010 12:13 PM | Report abuse
Posted by: DC_MAN88 | January 1, 2010 12:16 PM | Report abuse
This isn't the NFL. In the NBA, you can't just "release" a player. You could, but you would still have to pay his entire salary according to the contract.
Every contract has behavior conditions such that a player violating those conditions voids the contract. Do you think if Arenas and Crittendon started shooting it out in the locker room the Wiz would be required to keep them under contract while they're in prison?
Posted by: randysbailin | January 1, 2010 12:17 PM | Report abuse
It may violate a morals or similar clause in his contract and provide a basis to void the contract and avoid it counting against the cap. Sort of like Plaxico Buress but as one poster points out the NFL rules on contracts are different: in the NBA guaranteed contracts are the norm not the exception. More likely Gil will apologize, take his suspension or fine and continue with the Wizards. He may be untradeable even for junk.
Posted by: wizfanatic | January 1, 2010 12:19 PM | Report abuse
Ethics violation. Void the contract. Get rid of as many of these knuckleheads as possible as quickly as possible.
Posted by: KDSmallJr | January 1, 2010 12:20 PM | Report abuse
DC_MAN88 thanks for posting a link to the story we all just read.
Posted by: mack1 | January 1, 2010 12:21 PM | Report abuse
"This is a wait and see story. There is no proof Jarvis had a gun. If he did, I'm sure he would be under investigation as well. The Wizards are on record as saying Gil stored on unloaded weapon. Why would he pull and unload weapon on someone. That doesn't make any sense. Let's wait and see. Also, this was first reported in the New York Post. I don't trust anything written in that rag"
How do you know that Crittenden is NOT under investigation? Just because the Wizards have not released that information.
I'm going to tell you how this is going to turn out. Areans brought a gun to the locker room in order to confront Crittenden. This other story is horse crap and in the end is going to be very embarrasing to the organization.
Posted by: MKadyman | January 1, 2010 12:21 PM | Report abuse
If this is true, it is the perfect reason to negate his contract a turn the punk loose.
Posted by: mitlen | January 1, 2010 12:22 PM | Report abuse
At 1st I was like Gil is an idiot and he will never get it. Its over and he ruined a whole Franchise.
Now though, Im starting to feel sorry for Gil. All this was around the time when we were losing and it was so unexpected back then. He also looked like a shell of his former self. I think for the 1st time he was questioning that he wont ever be good again and will be another Grant Hill or Penny Hardaway.
Then we all know about the stuff that was happening with his good friend Shaq, his Fiance, and he was having a child at the same time. I think he was ready to snap at that time. It was like nothing in his life was going good.
It was a truly dumb thing that he did and that cant be forgotten but I do kind of feel bad. He never thought anything would turn out like this and now the future looks dim all the way around. Atleast he's started to play better though but you know that it has to be on his mind. No wonder why he was choking late in games
Posted by: dlts20 | January 1, 2010 12:22 PM | Report abuse
if this story is true, then i believe that gilbert arenas should be banned from the nba. his conduct sends a message to the youth of america that it is okay to pull a gun on somebody during a minor argument. unfortunately, in many communities across america this type of behavior happens all too often, and usually results in murder.
Posted by: melvinowens | January 1, 2010 12:22 PM | Report abuse
How will Gilby enjoy his 3 kids and his grotto while sitting in jail?
Talk about unnecessary drama to add to a franchise that just lost its owner, is on a downward death spiral, and now this BS?
WTF is going on under EG's watch?
Where is MeTawn in all this? I thought he was the elder voice of reason on this team?
WTF is going on?
Posted by: DC_MAN88 | January 1, 2010 12:23 PM | Report abuse
It's great to know that the team's franchise player has his priorities in order. With the team floundering and losing 2 out of every 3 games, why bother working harder in practice when you can run up gambling debts and threaten to kill a teammate?
Posted by: randysbailin | January 1, 2010 12:23 PM | Report abuse
From the link above, it indicates that Gilby wasn't good for the money he owned JCritt.
Posted by: DC_MAN88 | January 1, 2010 12:24 PM | Report abuse
The topic a couple of days ago was "low basketball IQ".
Now it is just about players having a low "non basketball" IQ.
Maybe Critt bet on the Wizzies and Gil missed a couple of FT's to lose the game.
If this gets substantiated both of these cowboys could be gone.
Posted by: VBFan | January 1, 2010 12:25 PM | Report abuse
Posted by: DC_MAN88 | January 1, 2010 12:25 PM | Report abuse
Posted by: DC_MAN88 | January 1, 2010 12:26 PM | Report abuse
Gilbert made TMZ...
Lets send him "packing"......pun intended..
With that conract, just buy him out...nobody will take that contract on in a trade. He should feel ashamed for such a dishonor to Abe Polin. Abe was farrrr to nice to Gilbert.
Posted by: nowhine | January 1, 2010 12:29 PM | Report abuse
The NBA is becoming GHETTO. When will black men learn.
Gilbert needs to go to jail and the NBA needs to set a better example.
Goes to show , no matter how much money you make and being raised in the GHETTO , one still remain GHETTO.
For the record, Im black.
Glad I do not spend my hard earned money to go see any of these lowlifes THUGS
How stupid.
Posted by: K2007 | January 1, 2010 12:29 PM | Report abuse
If this story is true, Gilbert has to go. If I showed up for work w/ a weapon, I'd be terminated immediately. This clown makes $18.5 million a year, doesn't play defense, is gambling during the season (cough, Tim Donaghy), hogs the ball and is a locker room cancer. They can't get rid of him soon enough.
Posted by: randysbailin | January 1, 2010 12:31 PM | Report abuse
"I think for the 1st time he was questioning that he wont ever be good again and will be another Grant Hill"
I hate Duke, like 99 percent of the country, but I like Grant Hill. He is not a thug and was raised well. He went through lots of surgery and could have taken money and retired.
Gilbert is just a rich ghetto thug that plays ball. Thats all. Like alot of them, if not for Bball he would be in jail or be dead already. Grant Hill would be a lawyer or broker, or something like that.
Posted by: nowhine | January 1, 2010 12:34 PM | Report abuse
WaPost is behind with this story. I read it on the NY Post website LAST NIGHT! After I read it there I came back to the WaPost site and was disappointed that the hometown paper got scooped, AGAIN!
I wonder if Michael Lee or Ivan Carter will know before the NY Post if Arenas days are numbered in the Association or with the Wizards? Hopefully Arenas will get:
1. Suspended for the season
2. Traded and then suspended for the season
3. Released out right and then suspended for the season
Whatever it takes to get this cancer out of town.
How can the Wizards expect Arenas to be a team leader, I.E. Captain, when he pulls guns on his teammates?
A team leader does not gamble with his teammates and then refuse to pay when he loses.
A team leader does not try to 'Punk' a teammate by not paying off a gambling debt and then pulling out a pistol when said teammate has the nerve to ask for his money.
Posted by: whatyoutalkinboutman | January 1, 2010 12:37 PM | Report abuse
Can the team use this to legally cut both and especially terminate Gil's waaay overpaid contract and poor ROI?
Posted by: kedavis | January 1, 2010 12:37 PM | Report abuse
I blame Brendan Haywood.
Posted by: p1funk | January 1, 2010 12:40 PM | Report abuse
If Haywood was better at defending the rim none of this would happen.
Gilbert wouldn't be pulling guns on teammates.
Gilbert would be able to play defense.
Gilbert would be worth $111million.
Gilbert wouldn't be petulant and immature.
Gilbert's knee would be as good as new.
This all goes back to Haywood being able to defend the rim.
Posted by: p1funk | January 1, 2010 12:42 PM | Report abuse
This is from yahoo sports about 10 hours ago. I wonder how many leave???
The Wizards are active in trade talks with multiple teams, league sources said, and willing to trade any player on their roster.
Yahoo! Sports NBA writer Marc J. Spears
Posted by: rnorris6 | January 1, 2010 12:42 PM | Report abuse
When somebody asks you what is wrong with this country... pull this article out of your wallet and show it to them. Effing pathetic.
Posted by: nosuchluck | January 1, 2010 12:48 PM | Report abuse
Wonder who else was in the locker room when all this transpired?
Maybe they were betting on the DNA results of Gils last kid.
Posted by: VBFan | January 1, 2010 12:50 PM | Report abuse
Arenas is a huge basketball talent, but it's overshadowed by his being a flaming dope.
Posted by: wewintheylose | January 1, 2010 12:50 PM | Report abuse
Lost in the discussion about the guns is the gambling. Would anyone be surprised if we find out that Gil bets on NBA/Wizard games?
Posted by: randysbailin | January 1, 2010 12:53 PM | Report abuse
Posted by: chamidi | January 1, 2010 12:56 PM | Report abuse
When asked the reasons for bringing weapons to the arena, Arenas joked, "I'm a bank robber. I like to rob banks."
That's not too far from the truth. With his contract, he's clearly robbing the Wizards blind.
Posted by: TimDz | January 1, 2010 12:56 PM | Report abuse
This investigation has been yet another blow to what the Wizards had hoped would be a renaissance season. So far, disharmony has reigned in the Wizards' 10-20 start. The locker room has been marred with friction between Arenas and the coaching staff and players.
Posted by: rnorris6 | January 1, 2010 12:58 PM | Report abuse
Honestly, though, Gil needs the protection.
Now that Abe isn't around to protect Gil with his My Favorite Player Status, everyone is out to kick his overpaid, petulant, underperforming, gimpy-kneed, franchise-sinking butt.
Posted by: p1funk | January 1, 2010 1:00 PM | Report abuse
This is what I have been trying to bang 2 eveyone about this idiot.
He ain't all there. He is not a superstar he is a child. He had all the physical gifts he needed to be on the superstar level, except the single most important thing he needs and that's the superstar menatality.
what he gives you on the court simply does not outweigh what he is lacking and In my opinion 90% of what he is lacking is between his ears.
Here you have a team coming off a 19 win season and we talking about him bring firearms into the lockeroom! regardless of why he decided to do this it is disturbing.
But this may be a blessing in disguise because I'm 100% sure if they cab void his deal because of this, we will be free at last.
I'm sick to my stomach with Gilbert Arenas. I saw the potential he didn't develop and I won't make excuses for him any longer. He simply is just not the player/person I thought he was or would develop into. He has proven all the skeptics to be 100% correct about his childish antics.
Posted by: kevenjones | January 1, 2010 1:04 PM | Report abuse
Fire them both if their contracts allow it. If not, then bench them and make them sweep the Verizon Center after each game and clean toilets. There is no room for players, in any professional league, to be behaving like this. They are supposed to be adults and role models. On top of that, any one of us would be sitting behind bars right now.
Posted by: JorgeGortex | January 1, 2010 1:05 PM | Report abuse
One of the comments on this page is from a commenter with an offensively racist post name, killda*****. A brutally obvious one that. What good exactly are the "full rules" here on the Post comments page if someone can use a moniker like that and not get blocked for it? This is about gun-challenged athletes who just don't get it that we don't live in Deadwood. But race? How about the deer hunter who killed the college student while he was hunting near a college campus. Looked pretty white to me.
Posted by: tvanzandt | January 1, 2010 1:06 PM | Report abuse
I missed ur Haywood post above. dude u r stupid..lol LMAO and any thing else. good one bro...
Posted by: kevenjones | January 1, 2010 1:09 PM | Report abuse
As a proud member of the NRA, I can't see the problem here. There should never been any prohibitions on guns. If these guys want to play ball with holsters and loaded guns on their hips they should. God and the US Constitution guarantees it.
Posted by: octobertea | January 1, 2010 1:10 PM | Report abuse
This may be a happy new year indeed! If old crazy pants Arenas violated the conduct terms of his contract, see ya later! What an albatross. Happy new year all!
Posted by: mstov | January 1, 2010 1:11 PM | Report abuse
there is a place that all you have to do is click on the
Report abuse link.
Everyone here should report this as abuse. I did.
Posted by: VBFan | January 1, 2010 1:12 PM | Report abuse
If ANY of this is true, the Wizards should be able to void Gil's contract post haste. More importantly, I am convinced Gil needs help. His injury, his drama with his fiance and Shaq and now this. Gil needs help more than he needs basketball. Lord why is this city saddled with so many overpaid divas (Portis, Haynesworth, Gil)? What did we do to deserve this?
Posted by: williewil4u | January 1, 2010 1:14 PM | Report abuse
God and the US Constitution guarantees it.
Yes, and we also have the right to freely sign contracts with other people that stipulate what both sides must and must not do.
And the NBA players contract - that Arenas and Crittenton are party to - forbids bringing guns into private arenas or locker rooms. Just as it forbids public criticism of referees, a right that you and I have.
The Constitution prevents Congress and the goverment from taking away our rights. It doesn't apply to private individuals who freely sign agreements with one another.
Posted by: SteveMG | January 1, 2010 1:18 PM | Report abuse
with all the money these guys make they should be happy. Why risk going to jail over some petty argument when you have millions?
Posted by: charlietuna666 | January 1, 2010 1:23 PM | Report abuse
The NBA is becoming GHETTO. When will black men learn.
Gilbert needs to go to jail and the NBA needs to set a better example.
Goes to show , no matter how much money you make and being raised in the GHETTO , one still remain GHETTO.
For the record, Im black.
Glad I do not spend my hard earned money to go see any of these lowlifes THUGS
How stupid.
Posted by: K2007 | January 1, 2010 12:29 PM
For the record, it doesn't matter if you're black (and I'm skeptical of your self-declaration). You're painting the entire NBA with your broad brush of ignorance.
There are more players who came from poverty (the ghetto) and managed to keep their nose clean and make something of themselves than those who have brought guns to a locker and dishonored themselves and their organization.
By your logic, kids who grow up in the ghetto should never be given a chance to become doctors, lawyers, engineers, etc., because, after all, they ARE ghetto and will never be able to be law-abiding citizens.
Your ignorance is bottomless and you should look into your soul to figure why you feel that people who grow up disadvantaged are throw-aways.
Posted by: artiesliver | January 1, 2010 1:23 PM | Report abuse
If this did happen, Stern will suspend both of them multiple games without pay and the Wizards will try and use this to get out of another bad contract when they extended Arenas. What a clown both of these guys are
Posted by: sghdr | January 1, 2010 1:25 PM | Report abuse
To all of you out there, a question:
How many of your employers allow you to bring firearms to your place of employment?
Mine does not. And I would thus be fired effective immediately if I did (although I do not own a weapon). Especially if I drew the gun onto another employee.
These guys should be banned from the NBA. No excuses. Make an example of these losers.
Posted by: sloppyawn | January 1, 2010 1:27 PM | Report abuse
Gilbert: How stupid could you be bro? You make in an excess 70,000.00 per week and you are sweating Crit for what? a few thousand now in addition to your problems on the court you got legal issues with the city and with the NBA challenging your integrity it would seem to me you should focus on your rapidly declining skills on the basketball court instead of trying to play tough guy with a fellow teammate.
Posted by: dargregmag | January 1, 2010 1:29 PM | Report abuse
How many of your employers allow you to bring firearms to your place of employment?
I don't understand these people who believe the Constitution is somehow involved.
This is a private matter between the players, the league and the Wizards. And the contracts between them.
The Constitution states that Congress cannot take away our rights; it doesn't apply to private individuals who agree to such matters.
If I say my boss is an incompetent jerk, the government cannot punish me. But my boss and employer sure can.
Posted by: SteveMG | January 1, 2010 1:31 PM | Report abuse
Another thing. If this story is true that Gil pulled a gun on someone in the locker room, anything short of his contract being terminated makes this organization junior-league. Period.
Posted by: artiesliver | January 1, 2010 1:32 PM | Report abuse
I wonder if this could be something that invalidates his contract. That could be a major blessing in disguise.
Posted by: clfrdj | January 1, 2010 1:34 PM | Report abuse
It always sickens me when someone uses one bad apple as a justification for their own racism. There are a hand-full of bad seeds in the NBA, but most of these guys are solid citizens that do a lot in their communities. Shaq, for all his goofiness, paid for George Mikan's funeral when he found out that the Mikan family wasn't well off. I'm tired of Arenas and his crap and want him out of here, but saying that he's the typical NBA thug is just wrong and blatantly unfair to the good guys around the league.
Posted by: randysbailin | January 1, 2010 1:36 PM | Report abuse
My theory is subconsciously he doesn't feel that he deserves the contract.
He had plenty of time to think about it between picking the guns up from his house, transporting the guns in his vehicle, carrying them into the building, and (allegedly) brandishing the gun.
Posted by: artiesliver | January 1, 2010 1:43 PM | Report abuse
It is even more amazing that EJ won with this bunch and isn't it interesting that they won without Gil in the lineup,go back a few years the night Gil was hurt(Gerald Wallace fall ing on his leg)that was the second game of back to backs where the Wiz had been blown out by the Bobcats in NC and after the game Gil disses EJ after the coach ripped his starters for their lack of defense and then Gil shows up late for shoot around and EJ bench's Gil for the start of that game and you know the rest...................Karma !!!
Posted by: dargregmag | January 1, 2010 1:44 PM | Report abuse
"I surely hope you are not right about this one. I know what Sprewell did but not aware of what Jackson did."
Yet more proof (not that any was needed) that for all your incessant blather about how things are supposed to work in the NBA, you actually pay very little attention to what goes on in and around the league.
And the fact remains that even if the act itself were grounds for the Wizards to seek to nullify Arenas' contract (A) that doesn't mean they would actually do it (B) Even if they wanted to do it, there's a potentially very lengthy legal process that has to be undergone to make it happen (C) Even if they initiated the process, it's nothing close to a given that they would be successful.
If the likes of Stephen Jackson and Ron Artest (to say nothing of Michael Vick) are still drawing paychecks from pro sports teams, Arenas will be too (even if it's not with the Wizards).
Posted by: kalo_rama | January 1, 2010 1:45 PM | Report abuse
To All,
Man ignore the racists who post stupid stuff. what does it matter. They are just attmepting to get us to respond to their irrelevant opinion. Seriously, they are entitiled to say what they wish. Move on to someone with a legitimate opinion.
In regards to the right to bear arms, this is not about that. Mr. Arenas is signed to a contract with the Wizards that calls for him to abide by certain rules/guidelines. One of which is to not bring guns inside any arena. what are ypu missing. He has the right to own guns just can't bring them with him to NBA related activities..
Posted by: kevenjones | January 1, 2010 1:47 PM | Report abuse
Just when you think people can't get any dumber..
Posted by: wewintheylose | January 1, 2010 1:48 PM | Report abuse
Wizards General Manager Ernie Grunfeld declined to comment. "It's in the hands of [Washington] authorities," said Grunfeld, a former star Knicks player and president. "We're going to get to the bottom of this, if there is a bottom to this."
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/nba_gunpoint_R52AnT76DRgTSuVKDQ8XBO#ixzz0bO7sTDQQ
Posted by: rnorris6 | January 1, 2010 1:50 PM | Report abuse
Just another in a long list of "privileged athletes" and guns. Some shoot themselves, some shoot others and some are shot with their own weapons.
Charge the idiot and let's get on to the next incident.
Posted by: mortified469 | January 1, 2010 1:51 PM | Report abuse
If the allegations are true, I don't know how the Wizards can keep this guy and have any credibility as a professional sports franchise and in the community. Apparently professional sports is the only place where the employees aren't accountable for their actions. If the Wiz keep him, will they be distributing bullet proof vests along w/ programs at the entrances to the arena?
Posted by: randysbailin | January 1, 2010 1:51 PM | Report abuse
"Living proof that no matter how much money you give fatherless welfare garbage, they are still the same inside: fatherless welfare garbage.
Posted by: tjhall1
Gilbert was raised by his Dad, but don't let facts pollute your 'views'.
"As a proud member of the NRA, I can't see the problem here. There should never been any prohibitions on guns. If these guys want to play ball with holsters and loaded guns on their hips they should. God and the US Constitution guarantees it."
Posted by: octobertea
I must have missed that day in Sunday School. But you may have a point....hockey and soccer shootouts were sure get a lot more exciting.
Posted by: ts35 | January 1, 2010 1:51 PM | Report abuse
I knew it was just a matter of time before dargregmag tied it all back into Eddie Jordan.
Good to see you Mr. Jordan...Happy New Year. I hope you're enjoying Philly.
Posted by: SDMDTSU | January 1, 2010 1:55 PM | Report abuse
All i want to know is why did not either one of them shoot!!! Would not be a loss either way.... they are both incredible morons for carrying guns into their locker room. The franchise should press charges to the fullest extent of the law. Can you imagine if one of these two stupid pphuks had squeezed off a round or two??? Two incredibly stupid individuals setting yet another great example of what life in the NBA is like.
Disgusting.. its why i never watch this worthless leage.
Next time do us all a favor and shoot each other.
Posted by: tjcoster | January 1, 2010 1:58 PM | Report abuse
God and the US Constitution guarantees it."
Yes, the Constitution guarantees it from government interference.
But we're not talking about the government forbidding it.
And if God is concentrating on the NBA no wonder the world's so screwed up.
Hey, Lord?, get your priorities straight there big fella.
Posted by: SteveMG | January 1, 2010 2:01 PM | Report abuse
What..agent Zero did something stupid? Why I'm... so surprised! I thought he was a stable person, a genius...Mensah material; a studious young man who'd settle disputes in a reasonable, intelligent manner.
This can't be the agent Zero we all know and love. This must be a clone -the real agent Zero's been abducted by aliens and is trying to escape to set this story straight. After all, the real agent Zero wouldn't blow last minute free-throws, costing his team certain victories.
Yeah, this ain't the real agent Zero...
Posted by: vaslim1 | January 1, 2010 2:02 PM | Report abuse
*would sure get a lot more exciting
Posted by: ts35 | January 1, 2010 2:02 PM | Report abuse
i wake up this morning and seen i was the new JOHN WAYNE..lmao media is too funny
3 minutes ago from web
He just posted that on Twitter.
Posted by: SDMDTSU | January 1, 2010 2:03 PM | Report abuse
Flip, who says the Wiz don't play defense? Lying is a defensive move and, certainly, pulling a gun on a threatening teammate is a fine defensive option.
Posted by: wp318676 | January 1, 2010 2:04 PM | Report abuse
Umm, Gil was arrested in Cali (2003?) for possession of an unregistered handgun.
DC has VERY VERY strict handgun laws. Even if Gil only brought the handgun into the DC and did not brandish it, that alone is a serious offense. Pleading ignorance will not work.
I cannot even imagine him pulling out a gun, I mean to me it sounds like there is a level of intent behind. We don't have all the facts, so I'd not like to jump to any conclusions, but that said ---
I am not going to watch a Wiz game or even read an article about the Wiz until this situation is resolved.
Oh yeah, I hope that whichever of them won their gambling bet properly claims the winnings on their taxes.
Posted by: fatfreddie | January 1, 2010 2:06 PM | Report abuse
"All i want to know is why did not either one of them shoot!!!"
Posted by: tjcoster
Maybe they did...and missed. Crit doesn't shoot a real high percentage, and Gil is having problems lately in the clutch.
Posted by: ts35 | January 1, 2010 2:06 PM | Report abuse
First, this reporting is at odds with WTOP's reports that the two players DREW guns on one another in the locker room. Could the Post's Wizards "Insider" be too cozy with the players and team and thus covering up some of the facts?
Second, Arenas must GO. Permanant ban on NBA play. He is a cancer and a nutjob. With the Wiz out from under his contract--and his poisonous influence on the team--maybe there's a future for the team.
Clean house. Get something for some of the players with value. But the trades need to be made by new management as the current GM and other team officials should be dismissed pronto for their mismanagement and for closing their eyes to what's gone on with this team.
Posted by: BlanketyBlank | January 1, 2010 2:06 PM | Report abuse
Why are half the comments from people who hate the NBA to begin with? Stick to your PBA forums or your fantasy monster truck teams or whatever it is you goons are into and leave us alone.
Also, always a delight to see the way people withhold judgment until all the facts are out.
Oh, and the word is spelled "Mensa."
Happy New Year, all you hate-filled, jealousy-consumed monsters!
Posted by: IrenePollin | January 1, 2010 2:09 PM | Report abuse
And who thought giving Arenas a $111M contract extension was a good idea?
Abe didn't realize it but in reality this is a move that will cripple the franchise for the forseeable future.
The Wizards are now where the Knicks were several years ago with a team over the salary cap and paying the luxury tax to see a losing team with players nobody else wants.
Posted by: leopard09 | January 1, 2010 2:10 PM | Report abuse
Posted by: tjcoster | January 1, 2010 2:12 PM | Report abuse
I am sure his contract has a personal conduct clause to it, at least most do. This is the out the Wizards needed on Gil's contract. Billy Hunter and the union will try to fight this but they will not prevail.
Posted by: jaythrowback1 | January 1, 2010 2:14 PM | Report abuse
Posted by: SOLVBACK | January 1, 2010 2:16 PM | Report abuse
I'm afraid the two players' careers are over if the reporting is true. The NBA is already having reputation issues and these allegations could potentially be felony related.
It's sad to Gil go through the entire rehab process only to "shoot himself in the foot."
Posted by: Captain_Universe | January 1, 2010 2:16 PM | Report abuse
"I thought he was a stable person, a genius...Mensah material"
Posted by: vaslim1
Oh, and the word is spelled "Mensa."
Posted by: IrenePollin
Maybe he meant former local GW star Pops Mensah-Bonsu
Posted by: ts35 | January 1, 2010 2:19 PM | Report abuse
This is the thug mentality, along with lying, that is becoming more prevalent among college and professional athletes. Even if you take the thug out of the street environment, you cant take the thug out of the athlete. It's time that they all jettison their decrepit culture and adapt the culture of mainstream America, and you can read that anyway you want to.
Posted by: mxk1 | January 1, 2010 2:20 PM | Report abuse
Drawing an unloaded weapon in a threatening manner is still a felony. How does the other party know that the gun is unloaded? He can rightly defend himself w/ deadly force if necessary. I think we've seen the last of Gilbert for a while. His next destination could well involve an orange jump suit...
Posted by: randysbailin | January 1, 2010 2:21 PM | Report abuse
Ernie Grunfield, You have had a week to think about the possibilities concerning this incident with Arenas and Crittenton. I know you see talent in Arenas. You also must see that he is not a winner as a player, or mature as an adult. He is an Allen Iverson as a player. More concerned with being the center of attention than honing the particular skills necessary to make everyone around him better (i.e. Nash). You have been waiting for it to happen, instead you get gambling, welshing on bets, and intimidation guns at your place of business. You have a bad, long term contract with a guy who doesn't fit what your coach is trying to instill in the team, but is a powerful influence on the other players which will soon come to a head. Will he shoot Saunders? If you have the legal opportunity to remove him from the team and rid the salary so that someone else can come in and appreciate being a contributing member, you must do so. You can not risk someones life being taken to placate a spoiled athlete. He will have little trade value and you will probably have to give up someone elses good contract or high draft choice to rid yourself of this problem if you dont try to void his contract now. We don't like the reputation or the results of his being on the team. Great offensive player, totally lacking at everything else.
Posted by: 1bmffwb | January 1, 2010 2:22 PM | Report abuse
there SHOULD be morals clause in every player contract that spells out acceptable behavior. they may or may not describe all penalties. in my view, the franchise should act immediately and fire arenas. in addition, the nba should ban him FOR LIFE from ANY professional competition, even in a minor or developmental league they are affiliated with. let him take that behavior back to los angeles, or wherever he came from. crittenton may have only been reacting to gilbert, and MAY be eligible for punishment other than complete banishment. in short, i agree with the person who said that the league needs to use arenas as an example to all the kids out there who think/belive that once they become pro athletes that they can act out and bring that ghetto BS out into the public's eye. having said THAT, i am still in favor of them returning to being known as the "Bullets." this piece of player stupidity has nothing to do with the team's nickname.
Posted by: dcjazzman | January 1, 2010 2:22 PM | Report abuse
Permanent ban from the NBA? That's crazy considering Artest, Stephen Jackson,and Jermaine Oneal still play and they harmed fans. Remember none of this is FACT yet.
Posted by: Wizbullets88 | January 1, 2010 2:27 PM | Report abuse
i also wonder: how in Hades can a rag such as the NY Post been able to scoop THE Post??? Dayum! unless... the post pledged not to release the story... which might mean that a teammate or somebody else (???) CLOSE to the team was aware and let it fly.
Posted by: dcjazzman | January 1, 2010 2:27 PM | Report abuse
I'm proud of y'all. Except for some of the usual obligatory race-baiting (sigh!) this discussion has mostly been conducted in a fairly civil manner. Nobody has blamed Obama or the international Zionist conspiracy, no odious comparisons to former German leaders have been bandied about, and even the personal attacks have (for the most part) been relatively mild. Happy New Year!
Posted by: bobsewell | January 1, 2010 2:28 PM | Report abuse
The Washington Bullets y'all.
Posted by: hz9604 | January 1, 2010 2:29 PM | Report abuse
Interestingly enough, there's a post from Irene Pollin on this thread. I wonder if this is truly the late Abe Pollin's wife. If so, my condolences....
Posted by: randysbailin | January 1, 2010 2:30 PM | Report abuse
Cut these corner boys thugs. The NBA is a joke.
Posted by: buster17 | January 1, 2010 2:35 PM | Report abuse
SO much for Gil stating he would never do anything to embarass Abe. These guys have dream jobs making more nightly then many in a year...and to mess is up. They should be banned from the league and made examples of. IDIOTS...they MILLIONS you make is also about image and being responsible.
Hey Ernie, I have a quick 1st step and good 3 point shot...I'll play for $500K a year!
Posted by: Gooddad | January 1, 2010 2:36 PM | Report abuse
So Dan Snyder wins the "PR Clusterf***" award of 2009.
I have a feeling this is gonna take it for 2010.
Wow. Abe Pollin just spun in his grave. And Ted-dog just hit the bottle.
Posted by: CF11555 | January 1, 2010 2:37 PM | Report abuse
That is a valid question about the NY Post scooping WaPo on this story. Michael Lee has incredible access to what goes on behind closed doors in that locker room. I can't believe that he didn't know about this before now. Cover up?
Posted by: randysbailin | January 1, 2010 2:38 PM | Report abuse
wisbullets88: if arenas confessed that he had a gun in his locker or wherever, then it already IS a fact/is true. or should be treated as such. but i DO agree with you that artest and jackson should not have been allowed to continue playing in the league. it was the wrong message to send to kids. but if you witness MANY of the comments in these sports blogs (political ones, too) quite a few people seem to think that they can just say ANYthing to other people (which includes players) and not expect retaliation. i'm a fairly controlled personality, but in the heat of battle, ANYbody can lose control. that's not an excuse, just a fact.
Posted by: dcjazzman | January 1, 2010 2:39 PM | Report abuse
Ernie Grunfeld is undoubtedly praying hard that whatever Arenas did is sufficient to cause a violation of the morals clause in his contract and permit him to be released and not count against the salary cap. That would almost be a gift from the heavens for the Wiz.
Posted by: acoberst1 | January 1, 2010 2:43 PM | Report abuse
I am naive and do not know Michael Lee BUT:
There is no way in hell any journalist (tied to the team or not) would sit on this story if they knew about it.
So, my question would not focus on a cover up, but rather how he was out-scooped.
Then again, if I'm wrong, and he did sit on this Michael Lee just kissed his career goodbye.
(another reason why i don't think he would sit on the story)
Posted by: CF11555 | January 1, 2010 2:44 PM | Report abuse
"Remember none of this is FACT yet."
Posted by: Wizbullets88
Not fact???? But Vecsey, reporting for the reputable NY Post, has confirmed it through Crit's friend Kendrick "Bookie Ball" Long. Sounds like a credible source to me.....
(where is that sarcasm emote again?)
Posted by: ts35 | January 1, 2010 2:45 PM | Report abuse
WOW....could be a PERFECT start for Leonsis....prison time for Arenas....and void the rest of his contract and pocket the $$$$$$
Posted by: FletcherChristian1 | January 1, 2010 2:46 PM | Report abuse
This is almost too good to be true from a comedian's point of view. Too bad that the Bullets made that PC name change a few years back.
We need the Post to sponsor an essay contest with the following question:
Which of our beloved local teams is the more disfunctional in all respects: The Redskins or the Wizards? Include as many details as you wish of
---violent incidents
---coaching and front office turmoil
---draft choice flops
---stupid long term contracts
---playoff chokes
---prima donnas
---and of course fan gouging.
It should be quite a close contest.
An appropriate first prize would be season tickets to the Nats. At least there you won't get shot.
Posted by: andym108 | January 1, 2010 2:46 PM | Report abuse
Is it time to change the "Wizards" back to the "Bullets"?
But seriously, gambling debts and guns? I don't care how well these clowns play; they should be thrown out of the NBA on their tails. There should be absolute zero tolerance for this misbehavior. Get rid of them and give two other players a chance.
Posted by: eed017 | January 1, 2010 2:47 PM | Report abuse
i've seen reports that they pulled weapons out on each other. now, if this is the case, an act like this should render arenas contract null n void. drop him and don't pay him. abe would've done it i bet.
Posted by: efuller1 | January 1, 2010 2:48 PM | Report abuse
OK, assuming that Michael Lee didn't know about it before yesterday, you can bet that the editors at WaPo aren't happy that they were scooped by an out-of-town newspaper....
Posted by: randysbailin | January 1, 2010 2:52 PM | Report abuse
I'd like to think if this is possibly true, Mike Lee would have known about it first and foremost and that "bookie ball" is full of crap.
However it's been clear for awhile that Mike Lee barely follows the team, so maybe he didnt know.
Posted by: divi3 | January 1, 2010 2:54 PM | Report abuse
I'm with efullert .. if they brought guns to work over a gambling debt they should be gone and the team should let them take it up in court if they choose. I can't believe it has taken the Wizards so long to come to that conclusion. Perhaps the death of the owner had something to do with it .. power void.
For perspective, if any of you, and I mean any of you, brought a handgun to work over a dispute with a coworker you can bet, no matter your title, that you would be gone the next day.
Simple as that. They both need to go.
Posted by: tslats | January 1, 2010 2:54 PM | Report abuse
everyone spouting the garbage about the nba being full of thugs is an idiot, how bout our country is full of thugs, an impoverished society created by our racist history
Posted by: bford1kb | January 1, 2010 2:56 PM | Report abuse
I suspect that there will be an announcement forthcoming soon that Arenas and Crittendon have been suspended indefinitely, pending the outcome of an investigation. There really isn't any choice. Professional athletes can't be allowed to pull weapons on one another any place at any time, least of all at the arena....
Posted by: randysbailin | January 1, 2010 2:59 PM | Report abuse
GET to work you POST stiffs....are you working sloths that got outscooped by the COMP or just Covering UP? ********NEW YORK -- Washington Wizards teammates Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton drew guns on each other during a Christmas Eve locker room argument over a gambling debt, according to The New York Post.
Last week, the Wizards and Arenas acknowledged that Arenas had stored unloaded firearms in a container in his locker, and the NBA said it was looking into the situation.
It was during that investigation that a confrontation between Arenas and Crittenton was revealed, according to a Yahoo! Sports report.
The dispute stemmed from an unspecified disagreement, sources told Yahoo! Sports.
Citing an anonymous source, the Post reported in Friday's edition, however, that the standoff was sparked when Crittenton became angry at Arenas for refusing to make good on a gambling debt.
That prompted Arenas to draw on Crittenton, who then also grabbed for a gun, league security sources told the Post.
Asked by the newspaper about the confrontation, Arenas denied pulling a gun on Crittenton.
The Wizards on Friday afternoon released a statement regarding the alleged confrontation: "The Washington Wizards take this situation and the ongoing investigation very seriously. We are continuing to cooperate fully with the proper authorities and the NBA and will have no further comment at this time."
"This is unprecedented in the history of sports," Billy Hunter, executive director of the NBA players' association, told the Post. "I've never heard of players pulling guns on each other in a locker room."
On Dec. 24, the Wizards had issued a statement addressing Arenas' storage of unloaded firearms in a container in his locker at the arena and that the NBA was looking into the situation.
On Tuesday, Washington, D.C. police said they were investigating a report that weapons were found inside a locker room at the Verizon Center.
Now, the federal government is also involved. Ben Friedman, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Washington, D.C., told the Post "we're working with the Metropolitan Police Department on the investigation."
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Posted by: FletcherChristian1 | January 1, 2010 3:02 PM | Report abuse
Even if they could void his contract, wouldn't that damage the Wizards' chances of landing other free agents? And you have to wonder what else has been going on in that locker room. Of course, the real mistake was giving 111 mil to a point guard with a bum knee and apparently poor judgment off the court. I guess there's something to be said for loyalty to players but I don't see a lot of other teams behaving that way.
Posted by: Delle | January 1, 2010 3:03 PM | Report abuse
Nothing new. He is a punk and represents the valueless thugs that dominate our sports now. What kind of moron would bring guns to the locker room?
These overpaid tatooed carjackers in shorts are unwatchable. They simply don't have the class and character that makes them worthy of being entertainers.
Another good example of poor or absent parenting that produces sociopaths like Vick and Ray Lewis and another reason why I have not watched NBA for 15 years.
Posted by: jackson641 | January 1, 2010 3:17 PM | Report abuse
I wonder if a serious offense like this would make gilbert's or crottendons contract voidable by the team?
Posted by: peteywheatstraw | January 1, 2010 3:21 PM | Report abuse
DC has a habit of not bothering to enforce their Draconian gun laws when celebrities are involved...so don't expect the city to bring charges agains a pro basketball player.
Posted by: JCM-51 | January 1, 2010 3:23 PM | Report abuse
Has Leonsis taken control of the team yet? No doubt that he, EG and David Stern didn't have a very happy New Year's Eve. Just when you thought that Michael Vick or Plaxico Burress were the biggest idiots in professional sports, here comes our Gilbert entering his name on to the list.
Posted by: randysbailin | January 1, 2010 3:26 PM | Report abuse
Wallace Prather, listed in the NBPA directory as Crittenton's agent, said Friday he resigned from representing the player on Dec. 10 and has no knowledge of the allegations against his former client. Arenas,
Posted by: rnorris6 | January 1, 2010 3:37 PM | Report abuse
ESPN reports that Arenas and Crittenden (Who Dumbass Grunfeld traded the Grizzlies First Round Pick for) pulled guns on each other.
This is great news if the Wizards can invalidate Arenas' contract and hopefully fire Ernie "Wes" Grunfeld before he trades next year's high lottery pick for more role players.
I'm afraid that Grunfeld is entering Wes Unseld territory.
Posted by: nativedc | January 1, 2010 3:39 PM | Report abuse
They should both be banned from the league for life! The league needs to make them an example.
Posted by: vsgavin_1 | January 1, 2010 3:40 PM | Report abuse
Not sure if you were echoing my sentiment or you did not understand what I was writing. I was not making an argument about what the Constitution allows. However, I do agree (as I wrote) that this is a private matter amongst contracted employees.
And I still think that both players should be banned indefinitely. Take there act somewhere else. Maybe the European league will welcome these hooligans . . . NOT.
Posted by: sloppyawn | January 1, 2010 3:43 PM | Report abuse
Dan Snyder is thankful that for once, the spotlight isn't on his team.
I bet that SOB smiled when he heard this news.
Posted by: CF11555 | January 1, 2010 3:44 PM | Report abuse
Pete Rose was banned from baseball for life for gambling on his own sport. Plax Burress is in the clink for shooting himself in the leg. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out w/ Gilbert's gun-play and gambling both involved....
Posted by: randysbailin | January 1, 2010 3:53 PM | Report abuse
As Wiz move to demolish roster, front office is seriously exploring a deal for T-Mac's expiring deal, sources say. Butler likely bait.
Posted by: rnorris6 | January 1, 2010 3:56 PM | Report abuse
Not sure if you were echoing my sentiment or you did
I was agreeing with it.
My reference to the Constitution was directed at those others here who argue that Arenas and Crittenton had a Second Amendment right to bring the guns into the locker room.
Posted by: SteveMG | January 1, 2010 3:59 PM | Report abuse
If Arenas first drew a gun on his teammate, that should make his contract voidable. PLEASE VOID HIS CONTRACT - HE SUCKS FOR THE MONEY HE'S PAID and presents a serious chemistry problem.
Posted by: BulletsFan1 | January 1, 2010 4:00 PM | Report abuse
If Houston's looking to move T-Mac, I have 2 guys that they can have: Arenas and Crittendon. C'mon Houston, you're getting 2 guys for 1 and a lot of firepower....
Posted by: randysbailin | January 1, 2010 4:06 PM | Report abuse
Fines or suspensions? Are you f&*(ing kidding me? These guys can pull out guns and threaten to murder each other at an NBA arena and can still hope to play in the NBA? You can't be serious. These guys should be banned for life. Hell, I'm a Wizards fan and I think they should be banned for life.
Posted by: TripLBee | January 1, 2010 4:16 PM | Report abuse
Complete speculation:
What if Michael Lee was Vescey's anonymous source?
What if Michael Lee was physically threatened by Arenas/Crittendon to not write the story?
Oh speculation is fun!
Posted by: CF11555 | January 1, 2010 4:21 PM | Report abuse
If Gilbert shoots a hand gun as bad as he does the triple these days or free throws, well Crit was NOT in any danger......I'm just sayin yo.
Posted by: nowhine | January 1, 2010 4:24 PM | Report abuse
Gil Says Its False
Gilbert wrote this on his twitter ---
"i wake up this morning and seen i was the new JOHN WAYNE..lmao media is too funny"
Gilbert Arenas is considering suing the NY Post over their recent story claiming that he and Javaris Crittenton pulled guns on each other in the Wizards' locker room.
"That's not the real story," said Arenas. "I saw the story. Very compelling. Some real O.K. Corral stuff." The Post cited unidentified sources, so it's anybody's guess what actually happened, but this still lends a worrisome angle to Agent Zero's firearms fracas. Stay tuned.
Source: Michael Lee via Twitter
Comcast SportsNet's Chris Miller is reporting that Arenas did not point a gun at Crittenton and that Crittenton himself did not have a weapon. Miller has confirmed a Yahoo! Sports report that an incident between the players occurred before practice on December 21 and that the disagreement was over a bet.
Posted by: dlts20 | January 1, 2010 4:24 PM | Report abuse
There has to be more to this. Why would Arenas think he would need a gun to protect himself from a gambling debt? Who was he betting with and if Critterion is involved, who is he associating himself with?
Also, could we please leave the consitiutional interpretations out of this discussion. It is not relevant here.
Posted by: BT23 | January 1, 2010 4:25 PM | Report abuse
Am I the only one who thinks this reads like a story from The Onion? Then I realized that not even they could make this stuff up. Wow.
Posted by: mohammed10 | January 1, 2010 4:38 PM | Report abuse
NO excuses, just make them go away. Eliminate them both from the NBA and tell them to go back to the hood from where they came.
Posted by: jsmith33351 | January 1, 2010 4:40 PM | Report abuse
Glad I don't partake in watching any longer the thuggish culture of the NBA.
From the music played in arenas around the league to the selfish banter exhibited by kids from the hood, this game has become a TOTAL turn off to me.
Lock em both up and throw away the keys.
Posted by: jsmith33351 | January 1, 2010 4:45 PM | Report abuse
It's clear that if the story is true Arenas is done in the NBA and probably going to jail along w/ his gambling buddy...
Posted by: randysbailin | January 1, 2010 4:46 PM | Report abuse
First, Michale Lee, you should be shamed to be paid for Wizards coverage from Washington Post as you didn;t do your work, But New York post for Wizards locker room incident ???
Gil, Just leave. you have no court to plat except the court by judges. Same to the other one.
I stopped watching Wizards since Timberwolves game and saw this article today and had to come back to confirm. Wizards has loyal fans and fans deserve players who can represent city. Not Gil.
Please leave now. You have all the money you can do whatever stupid things you care.
Posted by: dc4teams | January 1, 2010 4:47 PM | Report abuse
Regarding the "gambling" part of the incident:
A bet could mean anything.
They could have bet $1,000 on a HORSE shot or something.
Didn't people like Jordan and Barkley do that all the time?
Hopefully the gun part is indeed not true....
Posted by: CF11555 | January 1, 2010 4:48 PM | Report abuse
Wow, DCMan_88 hasn't felt this good in years! But we should wait for the facts. I suspect that they will differ considerably from those reported by the NYTimes.
However, if they don't, I hope the team can void Gil's K and use the money to rebuild, though Gil's lawyers won't make that easy as kalo points out above.
Given Flip's recent stand, I still think the team can salvage something gratifying for us fans this season.
Posted by: 7snider7 | January 1, 2010 4:58 PM | Report abuse
nba security reported the incident to the past, the radio just said.
EG should suspend Gil and Critt right now, then look into voiding his deal
Posted by: divi3 | January 1, 2010 5:21 PM | Report abuse
Typical NBA thugs.
Funny, you never hear about MLB or NHL players pulling guns on each other, or getting arrested for carrying guns.
Oops, how racist of me.
Posted by: mr_bill_10 | January 1, 2010 5:27 PM | Report abuse
Absolutely disgraceful. A disgrace to the game, the NBA, and the Wizards. Ban them for life! No questions asked. The Fans must boycott ALL Wizard games (home and away) until these clowns are banished! What a disgrace.
Posted by: N8ivenyr92 | January 1, 2010 5:33 PM | Report abuse
how ironic that they changed the name from Bullets..and THEN they almost have real bullets flying the locker room..good thing Abe wasnt around to see this travesty
Posted by: detroitblkmale30 | January 1, 2010 5:35 PM | Report abuse
Gambling in the locker room? Guns? He actually pulled it on his teammate?
Garbage. Human garbage, both of them. Thugs parading around in basketball uniforms and making alot of money so they can spend it on their thug lives.
They should both be barred for life from ever playing in another NBA game. They can take their thug a**es out on a street court and play thug ball and gamble and pull guns on each other to their heart's content.
Posted by: Monk81_Green28 | January 1, 2010 5:36 PM | Report abuse
divi3, what are you saying? Are you trying to say that NBA Security already reported the story when it happened and it is true?
Posted by: dlts20 | January 1, 2010 5:37 PM | Report abuse
Guns in the locker room? There is no excuse on earth for that.
I find this another reason not to bother watching NBA basketball.
Posted by: MillPond2 | January 1, 2010 5:41 PM | Report abuse
To see this punk go to jail would make my day. What a loser. You have to think that Abe was a little senile when he made the decision to pay this loser more than $100 million. Well, if it gets Arenas the loser off the team then it will be good for the Wizards.
Posted by: Jaymand | January 1, 2010 5:42 PM | Report abuse
Gilbert wrote this on his twitter ---
"i wake up this morning and seen i was the new JOHN WAYNE..lmao media is too funny"
No, you are just another thug with a gun. If you weren't playing ball you would probably be in jail or where a chalk outline was.
Posted by: bal503 | January 1, 2010 5:46 PM | Report abuse
"From the music played in arenas around the league.."
Like the Village People and Elvis Costello? That might make some people want to pull their guns, I guess....
Posted by: Delle | January 1, 2010 5:47 PM | Report abuse
"Living proof that no matter how much money you give fatherless welfare garbage, they are still the same inside: fatherless welfare garbage.
Posted by: tjhall1 | January 1, 2010 12:01 PM "
Dude, who are you referring to? Say it out straight like a man will you? Was it possibly someone you had a personal encounter with? As anyone knows, Gilbert Arenas has a father he still talks to till today.
Posted by: rickgonz | January 1, 2010 5:48 PM | Report abuse
The NBA today is nothing more than "our overpaid thugs can beat your overpaid thugs."
What a joke.
Posted by: checkered1 | January 1, 2010 5:50 PM | Report abuse
how can all of you still keep calling him a thug and so on when now we find out that it "might" not be true? Why dont you just wait
Posted by: dlts20 | January 1, 2010 5:51 PM | Report abuse
Unless these two have a permit in DC for these weapons then what they have done is a felony.
Posted by: 8-man | January 1, 2010 6:12 PM | Report abuse
Way to go Wizards! Way to improve that THUG NBA image. The NBA will soon drop to the #4 sport in the US if the NBA doesn't clean house of thugs in the league
Posted by: ArlingtonHokie | January 1, 2010 6:15 PM | Report abuse
It doesn't matter if the the incident between he and Javaris took place.
He admitted to bringing guns into the locker room. To me that in itself should be enough to 86 his azz...
Posted by: kevenjones | January 1, 2010 6:41 PM | Report abuse
if psycho Gil has a conduct clause in his contract, let him go, EG, -we deserve better....
Posted by: Max231 | January 1, 2010 6:53 PM | Report abuse
Fines? Suspension? They should be GONE. Period. It is a privilege to play on a professional sports team and it is a job. It comes with responsibilities, one of which is obeying the law. Pulling a gun on someone is illegal. Carrying an unregistered firearm is illegal. The owners of the team should not wait for the NBA to take action -- they should act like grown ups and hold these two jokers accountable for their irresponsible actions. There are other people who can put the ball in the net (and it's not as if these guys have been doing that all that often in any event).
Posted by: fmjk | January 1, 2010 6:59 PM | Report abuse
dcjazzman wrote:
"there SHOULD be morals clause in every player contract that spells out acceptable behavior."
There are morals clauses in the contracts of athletes in all the major professional sports, including the National Basketball Association.
In this instance it's less a question of morals as much as it is that the agreement between the NBA and the players association (under which each professional NBA player is required to follow) specifically and clearly prohibits players from bringing such weapons into the arena.
Posted by: Dungarees | January 1, 2010 7:00 PM | Report abuse
and this is AFTER Abe Pollin changed the name from the Washington Bullets because he didn't like the connotation. Oops!
Posted by: fmjk | January 1, 2010 7:03 PM | Report abuse
This is "news?"
How come there's nothing in the news about the speeding ICE agent that ran a stop-sign and broadsided a van, killing three women and seriously injuring two children in El Centro, California this week?
Posted by: abelito | January 1, 2010 7:08 PM | Report abuse
Well, I guess this suggest that Arenas is an even bigger idiot than people thought. Crittenton, too.
But really, being 'scooped' on a story like this by the NY Post is no disgrace. The Post lives for this stuff. It's pretty much all they print. Think of them as the TMZ of mainstream media.
Truth is, we don't really know what happened in the locker room yet, and probably won't in any detail for another couple weeks. There's a whole lot of smoke around the incident, implying something hot underneath.
Before this happened, Gilby was a bit like Terrell Owens, regarded as nuts but able to offer the defense of not having gotten involved in anything really serious. Looks like that all has changed.
We'll see in the near future.
Posted by: Samson151 | January 1, 2010 7:10 PM | Report abuse
You know what you do? You tell this guy "good bye" and toss him out of the league. I am so sick and tired of these overgrown babies getting away with this stuff. They are not role models. They are not people to admire. They are thugs who happen to have a talent. He brought a gun to work because of a dispute with a co-worker/team-mate? If you or I did that we'd be gone. No questions asked. This guy just simply needs to go.
Posted by: am1968 | January 1, 2010 7:11 PM | Report abuse
wow, looks like Gil really struck a nerve with some people who normally never post here, probably dont watch the nba anyway, but sure do have some other issues going on.
wonder if the same folks were all over Pat Kane and the thug nhl in august. somehow i doubt it!
Posted by: divi3 | January 1, 2010 7:33 PM | Report abuse
This is what I like the most about professional ball sports: Off-the-field they can be just like an old Western movie, in a modern-day setting!
Shoot'em up Plax!
Posted by: connerabr | January 1, 2010 7:40 PM | Report abuse
"But in any event, having guns in the Verizon Center and actually having a confrontation with them seems to be a bit more serious than choking your coach."
LOL I can't imagine that any man who thinks that is not a major threat to those around him.
Posted by: dubya1938 | January 1, 2010 7:46 PM | Report abuse
This is what I like the most about professional ball sports: Off-the-field they can be just like an old Western movie, in a modern-day setting!
Shoot'em up Plax!"
...the problem, of course, is that Gilbert *and* Plax both have a right to carry a firearm. Just like every redneck in West Virginia.
Seems that that "right" works just fine when the guys in question aren't black.
Posted by: dubya1938 | January 1, 2010 7:47 PM | Report abuse
The NFL and NBA are becoming nothing but stomping grounds for thugs. They should both be shown the door.
Posted by: dmahon | January 1, 2010 7:48 PM | Report abuse
I remember the days of professional basketball players.
Thus, I do not waste my time watching Thug Ball.
Posted by: jrealty | January 1, 2010 7:54 PM | Report abuse
Pro sports are pretty powerful. Big guys, making Big money, on the Big screen, it's all Big. And, apparently, toting guns is also 'big'.
Pro sports are the modern gladiator games. You get to get out there, in physical competition with the other athletes, make your jump shots, your 3-pointers, work your on-court magic. But, what goes on off-court? What about issues like fixed games, betting, as was the case here, and all the tension and energy that goes with pulling down that kind of coin? Guns and money, that's what it's all about, right? Big social recognition, physical power, who's bigger, better, faster, stronger, better-paid, but when it turns into who's the quicker draw, maybe that's the time to hit 'pause', 'rewind', and frame-by-frame advance, to see what went wrong with THAT play. It's all good clean fun 'til someone gets taken to jail for manslaughter.
Posted by: walkerbert | January 1, 2010 7:54 PM | Report abuse
Arenas vowed not to even use Twitter until he had one million followers; he broke his silence on New Year's Eve because he said it was taking too long to reach the goal (he had bout 11,000 followers as of early Friday evening, meaning not that many people were interested in his possible tweets).
Maybe, instead of being flippant on Twitter, it would be smarter to not say anything. Or does Mr. Arenas think, like many do, that they have to put their comments out to the caring public continually? At this time, especially, it might just make sense to "shut up" and not say anything in public, either in person or in Twitter.
Posted by: Dungarees | January 1, 2010 7:55 PM | Report abuse
Verizon Center might be the only arena in sports where you're more likely to be shot inside the building than outside of it on the way back to your car...
Posted by: randysbailin | January 1, 2010 7:59 PM | Report abuse
I guess I can't understand why coaches, or upper management allowed this to continue?
Why wouldn't they send one of the players packing?
I would have to believe incidents like this would affect play on the court and isn't it their responsibility to insure petty disagreements don't get this far?
Posted by: helloisanyoneoutthere | January 1, 2010 8:16 PM | Report abuse
And everyone wonders why all of the young D.C. teenagers settle their arguments with guns. With all of these "so called" role model millionaire professionbal atheletes who are so overpaid by the owners, who the teens admire, and are in awe of, wonder no more!! Will the cycle ever stop?
Posted by: sb0457 | January 1, 2010 8:35 PM | Report abuse
Regardless of the Constitution, etc., I believe that the District of Columbia bans weapons that are not in the hands of those who have a badge or those who have carry permits. Please correct me if I am wrong. If I am not wrong, then I'm betting that neither of these morons have the appropriate paperwork. Anyone know?
Posted by: jtsj16 | January 1, 2010 8:35 PM | Report abuse
So many NBA and NFL players are gangsters and thugs who, no matter how many millions they make, cannot leave the street behind. For the team owners, it is all about money, otherwise they would establish necessary standards for players, or at least provide them with some rehabilitation to help them raise themselves to a higher level.
Posted by: FactChecker1 | January 1, 2010 8:37 PM | Report abuse
Whether rightly or wrongly, these athletes are role models for young men. This kind of behavior should be absolutely forbidden. Then again, so should the Senators and all the other so-called role models. But using guns, over a gambling debt, no less, should be prohibited from all sports, no matter what. As with Plaxico Burris (who with so much talent, wasted his opportunity by bad behavior), this kind of extreme violence must be repudiated by the league.
Posted by: eileenmilt | January 1, 2010 8:48 PM | Report abuse
You are an embarrassment to journalism. How can the NY POST scoop you on your own turf. Could it be that you wanted to protect your beat? I hope the editors at the Washington Post are proud of your reporting. Maybe the Washington Times could use your journalist talents. Time to grow up and be a real journalist. Warmest Regards, Paul
Posted by: camera11 | January 1, 2010 9:30 PM | Report abuse
On the bright side, Crittenton is no longer being overlooked.
Posted by: PostSubscriber | January 1, 2010 9:34 PM | Report abuse
Since this has been a disappointing season in nearly every way, I am finally on the the bandwagon that says we need to blow this thing up. I may have missed a post on this, but if not, I heard something today that could work out great if EG has the "ba__s" to do it. If Gilbert is convicted of a firearms charge, like Plaxico was, we may be able to void that huge contract of his. I have heard that most contracts of this type have a provision about this.
The reason I mention this is because Antawn and Caron are both moveable, but Gilbert's contract is not. What about trading Caron and whatever else is takes to match salaries for TMac and then void Gilbert's contract if he is guilty of a firearms charge. This scenario could make us huge players next summer and give us the opportunity to construct this team in the right way? EG might move in this direction since Abe will no longer be around to veto this kind of major overhaul. If Ted were already the owner, he would consider it. He has learned the right way to construct a team from his Caps experience.
There is obviously a huge potential backlash from the fans, but the Wiz overcame showing MJ the door, so we might be able to overcome this. The second issue is the perception of potential FAs who may know and like Gilbert. They may think that the management is taking too drastic a measure and might not be loyal to its players.
Interested in everyone's opinion about blowing up the "Small Three" who have not proven they can win together, and becoming a big player next summer with a lot of cap room and many good pieces to pick up to assemble a team that can actually compete and win as a team.
Posted by: faninAlex | January 1, 2010 9:42 PM | Report abuse
"Interested in everyone's opinion about blowing up the "Small Three""
How are you going to blow it up? The team is structured around a franchise player who probably will never be a franchise player again, if he ever, was and who is now probably untradeable.
Posted by: Delle | January 1, 2010 10:52 PM | Report abuse
I presented a hypothetical situation on a possible way that we could end the contract with Gil. If there is fire where we are seeing smoke (an especially good analogy here), then the most difficult player to move could move himself by his actions. Otherwise, McGrady's huge contract for Caron and others, maybe Antawn, could be great for next summer. If you are worried that it might hurt us now, c'mon, aren't we 10-20, slightly better than the young players who played last year?
I understand this likely would not happen, but from the news reports, it could..
Posted by: faninAlex | January 1, 2010 11:08 PM | Report abuse
Wizards shotting percentage is so low that even if they had shot at each other, they would have missed!
Posted by: muktech | January 1, 2010 11:11 PM | Report abuse
It seems to me that when it is a black NBA or NFL player who carries a gun, he is called a thug, but when it is the gun-totting, bible-loving, West Virginia resident who carries the gun, then it is their "right".
Posted by: muktech | January 1, 2010 11:26 PM | Report abuse
The comments to this entry are closed.


text:
Guilty of Greenwashing!
Zero emissions vehicles aren't.
Brad Couch
CNG Business Development Manager at Ariel
Calling a vehicle "Zero Emissions" when over its life-cycle produces slightly more or less carbon (and other pollution) than its gasoline counterpart is an outright falsehood.
Even BioCNG vehicles which science has proven to be carbon neutral to carbon negative, which vastly outperforms EV's, still has emissions. There is no such thing today as a Zero Emissions Vehicle!
Greenwashing as defined by UL says: Green∙wash (grēn'wŏsh', -wôsh') – verb: "the act of misleading consumers regarding the environmental practices of a company or the environmental benefits of a product or service."
In a report last year from the University of Toronto, research documented the EV life-cycle and how it ranged from slightly worse to slightly better than its gasoline counterpart based on from where the electricity to charge its batteries was sourced. Here is the link to the article by the CBC Radio Canada, the Canadian equivalent of America's NPR. If its slightly better or worse, how is it "Zero Emissions"?
Or if you prefer a European source, here is the Copenhagen Consensus Center's presentation of their research with supporting research found here. They illustrate that in America, on the average electricity grid, an EV performs only about 10% better than its gasoline counterpart over the vehicles lifecycle (emissions to produce, operate and scrap/recycle). Again, is this "Zero Emissions"?
Or if you prefer our own American minds, the US Gov's Energy Information Agency (EIA) shows, when you average the American power grid, an average small EV produces around 7-8 pounds of carbon per day to operate (doesn't include carbon cost of production or scrapping/recycling). A comparable gasoline vehicle, around 13 pounds (and of course a BioCNG carbon neutral vehicle, zero). Find the EIA information and source report here. How is 7-8 pounds per day "Zero Emissions"?
Here is the list from UL of the 7 deadly sins of greenwashing. You tell me how many you think are violated by EV public relations, advertising and marketing, 5? 6? None?
The list: http://sinsofgreenwashing.com/findings/the-seven-sins/index.html
Article Courtesy of Brad Couch / LinkedIn – See original article here

subset: commoncrawl


text:
I Spy With My Little Eye…
Yesterday afternoon was really beautiful; the sun was shining and it was in the high 30's temperature wise. Perfect for digging up the back hillside and planting some of the tulips that have been waiting in the garage. About dusk, I wandered back into the maple grove to look around and much to my surprise I noticed some of the my mushrooms logs had started to produce mushrooms!
I guess all that warm rainy weather we've been having the last couple weeks made them decide it was time to start fruiting. One of the 'Pearl Oyster' logs was producing huge masses of beautiful blonde mushrooms. They were a bit frosty because the temps dipped down into the mid 20's overnight, but I picked them anyways. The texture might not be quite right, but they'll still be flavorful in a venison stew.
These logs were inoculated way back on April 21st of this year. I ordered these spawn plugs from Grow Organic this spring, they're also available from Fungi Perfecti.
Inoculating logs with mushroom spawn couldn't be easier. Basically you drill holes in the logs 3-4 inches apart in a diamond pattern, pound in the spawn plugs, cover with wax and let sit in a shaded area. After a few months you can start watering the logs to encourage fruiting, or you can let them fruit naturally during spring and fall rains. (since folks were asking in the comments I figured I'd add that the logs are supposed to continue to produce mushrooms for 3-5 years depending on the size of log used and the type of wood used).
I used three different kinds of spawn plugs to inoculate logs this spring, Pearl Oyster, Hen of the Woods (Maitake) and Shiitake. I also inoculated some wood chips in the garden area with Garden Giant and Elm Oyster mushrooms spawn.
After plugging your logs with spawn you're supposed to put some wax over the holes to keep bad fungus and bacteria out. I will use beeswax next time, but I didn't have any when I did these logs so I used some extra cheese wax I had in the pantry. I'm not keen on using a petroleum product but it was all I had. I have since purchased some organic beeswax to use this coming spring when I inoculate more logs.
I've declared my love of mushrooms before, so being able to grow my own makes me a very happy camper! If all continues to go well with this experiments I'll be inoculating many more logs this coming spring to keep up enjoying mushrooms by the bushel! My harvest tally for this picking was 3 pounds – not bad indeed!
Have you ever grown mushrooms? Do you think you'd like to try? Yay or nay on mushrooms in your food?Filed under How-To's, Make Your Own | Comments (38)


text:
A man matching the description of a spree-killing suspect* in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania attempted to rob a Doylestown Township man who was walking his dog of his car keys.
Doylestown Township Police reported:
Doylestown Township Police is investigating an attempted armed robbery that occurred on 12/15/14 at approximately 7:00PM. The victim was walking his dog in the area of Burpee Road and Shady Retreat Road when he was confronted by a suspect carrying a knife. The suspect described as a w/m approximately 5'10" wearing camouflage clothing demanded his car keys.
The victim resisted and fell to the ground. The victim was armed and fired multiple rounds at the suspect. The suspect was last seen running from the area.
The murderer is believed to have killed his ex-wife and five of her family members. The killer and his wife were locked in a bitter custody battle. His current wife, their infant child and the two children that were at the center of the custody dispute are in police protective custody.
Breaking news suggests that the murderer has been found deceased, presumably by his own hand.
One has to wonder if the killer gave up, psychologically speaking, when he failed to steal the victim's car keys and felt trapped in the area.
Update: Authorities has now stated that the carjacker could not have been the killer, as the killer appears to have been dead for some time. An investigation into the carjacking claim continues.
* Bearing Arms does not publish the names of mass or spree killers.