Arenas suspended indefinitely
- Thread starter Double-K
- Start date
I am curious as to what "ongoing conduct" Stern is referring to. All I've seen in the media reports is Arenas 1) claiming that the incident was a misguided joke and 2) apologizing for the incident and noting its gravity.
Now, Arenas could be out-and-out lying here, but it seems like that is still under investigation. In the meantime, why should explanations, apologies, and recognition of the gravity of the situation (the ongoing conduct as far as I can tell) CHANGE anything? Am I missing some ongoing conduct here?
I mean, suspend him immediately? Sure, I can see that. Wait for the outcome of the investigation? Sure, I can see that too. But wait a while, then suspend him in the middle of the investigation blaming vague "ongoing conduct"? Seems weird to me.
Now, Arenas could be out-and-out lying here, but it seems like that is still under investigation. In the meantime, why should explanations, apologies, and recognition of the gravity of the situation (the ongoing conduct as far as I can tell) CHANGE anything? Am I missing some ongoing conduct here?
I mean, suspend him immediately? Sure, I can see that. Wait for the outcome of the investigation? Sure, I can see that too. But wait a while, then suspend him in the middle of the investigation blaming vague "ongoing conduct"? Seems weird to me.
Well, there was this:
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/9690/gilbertarenas0110580.jpg
Edit: Apparently, in the post game interview he was quoted as saying "Stern is mean." I don't really know what's going through his head, but it's not the right stuff.
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/9690/gilbertarenas0110580.jpg
Edit: Apparently, in the post game interview he was quoted as saying "Stern is mean." I don't really know what's going through his head, but it's not the right stuff.
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From what I understand until recently it was illegal to own a gun in DC until recently. So he can have the guns.
The guns are registered in Arizona, so those guns are not legally registered to him in Washington DC, or Virginia where he lives (at least I think I ready that he lives in Virginia.
He's been brought up on gun charges in the past I believe. That could also be the reference to "ongoing actions"
This is investigation is not just about guns. The incident happened over a GAMBLING debt. The FBI has been investigating gambling in the NBA since the Donaghy incident.
Also he stored his guns, basically at his "office". Now it might not be in your employee manual where you work that firearms are not allowed at work, but I think it's an unsaid understanding that bringing guns to work is NOT ok, can we agree on that?
So, yes he has broken gun ownership laws, I'm assuming he's broken policies within the Wizards organization and the NBA for haivng guns at work. Personally I think his story about not having guns near his newborn, so he put them in his locker room is a flat out LIE. That's ridiculous. Buy a gun safe.
How many of you that own guns, and had a wife that you found out was pregnant, and your first thought was..........ok I need to take my guns and store them in my desk at work. It's absolutely ridiculous.
Not to mention that this incident happened over GAMBLING, I don't blame Stern for suspending him until the investigation is over. By gambling they may have meant that it was a bet between him and Crittenton, but the word "gambling" has been thrown out there, and it doesn't look good.
The only thing I would say is in a situation like this at an office if someone is being investigated internally, or externally for something typically they will be put on PAID administrative leave, until the investigation concludes. So, suspended without pay until the dust settles and all the truth comes out is a bit stiff, but its' the NBA's perogative.
The guns are registered in Arizona, so those guns are not legally registered to him in Washington DC, or Virginia where he lives (at least I think I ready that he lives in Virginia.
He's been brought up on gun charges in the past I believe. That could also be the reference to "ongoing actions"
This is investigation is not just about guns. The incident happened over a GAMBLING debt. The FBI has been investigating gambling in the NBA since the Donaghy incident.
Also he stored his guns, basically at his "office". Now it might not be in your employee manual where you work that firearms are not allowed at work, but I think it's an unsaid understanding that bringing guns to work is NOT ok, can we agree on that?
So, yes he has broken gun ownership laws, I'm assuming he's broken policies within the Wizards organization and the NBA for haivng guns at work. Personally I think his story about not having guns near his newborn, so he put them in his locker room is a flat out LIE. That's ridiculous. Buy a gun safe.
How many of you that own guns, and had a wife that you found out was pregnant, and your first thought was..........ok I need to take my guns and store them in my desk at work. It's absolutely ridiculous.
Not to mention that this incident happened over GAMBLING, I don't blame Stern for suspending him until the investigation is over. By gambling they may have meant that it was a bet between him and Crittenton, but the word "gambling" has been thrown out there, and it doesn't look good.
The only thing I would say is in a situation like this at an office if someone is being investigated internally, or externally for something typically they will be put on PAID administrative leave, until the investigation concludes. So, suspended without pay until the dust settles and all the truth comes out is a bit stiff, but its' the NBA's perogative.
I wholeheartedly agree about bringing guns to work but the NBA is a different beast with their ironclad contracts and union rules and if there isn't a specific ban on it odds are its a-ok. I'm actually pretty sure that was even confirmed in the past week that having the guns in the locker room was ok, but obviously not pulling them on one another.
That said, the gambling investigation is a good point. And hopefully in the next CBA they'd put a sensible gun clause in if one doesn't exist.
That said, the gambling investigation is a good point. And hopefully in the next CBA they'd put a sensible gun clause in if one doesn't exist.
I don't know if I should get into all of this, but here goes:
First of all, while what Arenas did was in poor taste, if he had done this in his game room at home, it would hardly be as big of a deal. If the guns were truly unloaded, then what these two guys did is essentially pull unloaded guns on each other, and honestly, worst things have happened in the NBA in not so distant past. I'm not trying to dismiss it, but he didn't charge the stands and beat up a fan.
Secondly, NBA players basically have a personal storage area in their locker where they can place valuables and such. He didn't bring a gun into the office and put it on his desk, and it wasn't tucked into his shorts during practice. I wouldn't be surprised if more players store weapons in their locker, and had Arenas not pulled them out, we wouldn't have known about it. I'm not saying that it's right, but it's probably the case. And as far as safety is concerned, unloaded guns aren't all that dangerous when they're stored discreetly in a locked case.
Lastly, I don't know if what Arenas did was against any actual gun control laws. The agencies in those areas are investigating that right now, and if he did break the law, he'll be charged, and rightly so. If we're talking about a minor thing like him thinking that he could store an unloaded gun because he misunderstood a recent change in DC gun laws (which is what his story is), then he's not likely to do serious time because of it. We're not talking about Plaxico Burress carrying a loaded, concealed weapon into a nightclub, tucked into his sweats.
What the guy did was stupid, and he deserves to be suspended. That much is sure. I don't really even understand why he has four handguns to begin with. But I hesitate to demonize the guy for breaking a gun law by storing unloaded guns in his locker, if that's in fact the extent of his crime. I'll get right in line as we call him an idiot who doesn't know how to be responsible and who got too rich too quick, just like the bunches of other idiots in professional sports who do idiotic things because they can. But I don't think he should/will be kicked out of the league forever, and I doubt that storing unloaded weapons in his locker is reason enough for the Wizards to terminate his contract. That still remains to be seen, of course, but I'm not going to call for the guy's head just yet.
First of all, while what Arenas did was in poor taste, if he had done this in his game room at home, it would hardly be as big of a deal. If the guns were truly unloaded, then what these two guys did is essentially pull unloaded guns on each other, and honestly, worst things have happened in the NBA in not so distant past. I'm not trying to dismiss it, but he didn't charge the stands and beat up a fan.
Secondly, NBA players basically have a personal storage area in their locker where they can place valuables and such. He didn't bring a gun into the office and put it on his desk, and it wasn't tucked into his shorts during practice. I wouldn't be surprised if more players store weapons in their locker, and had Arenas not pulled them out, we wouldn't have known about it. I'm not saying that it's right, but it's probably the case. And as far as safety is concerned, unloaded guns aren't all that dangerous when they're stored discreetly in a locked case.
Lastly, I don't know if what Arenas did was against any actual gun control laws. The agencies in those areas are investigating that right now, and if he did break the law, he'll be charged, and rightly so. If we're talking about a minor thing like him thinking that he could store an unloaded gun because he misunderstood a recent change in DC gun laws (which is what his story is), then he's not likely to do serious time because of it. We're not talking about Plaxico Burress carrying a loaded, concealed weapon into a nightclub, tucked into his sweats.
What the guy did was stupid, and he deserves to be suspended. That much is sure. I don't really even understand why he has four handguns to begin with. But I hesitate to demonize the guy for breaking a gun law by storing unloaded guns in his locker, if that's in fact the extent of his crime. I'll get right in line as we call him an idiot who doesn't know how to be responsible and who got too rich too quick, just like the bunches of other idiots in professional sports who do idiotic things because they can. But I don't think he should/will be kicked out of the league forever, and I doubt that storing unloaded weapons in his locker is reason enough for the Wizards to terminate his contract. That still remains to be seen, of course, but I'm not going to call for the guy's head just yet.
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Well, its very how many people are shot by "unloaded" guns.
I'm not after his head and I leave it up to the investigating agencies to decide if he should be charged with anything. I'm not likely to argue with whatever the NBA decides, either.
Fortunately, no one was hurt and I don't think Arenas should be out of the league. I just think it was dumb to pull one out for no good reason, unloaded or not. I sure wouldn't want a gun pointed at me, period.
I'm not after his head and I leave it up to the investigating agencies to decide if he should be charged with anything. I'm not likely to argue with whatever the NBA decides, either.
Fortunately, no one was hurt and I don't think Arenas should be out of the league. I just think it was dumb to pull one out for no good reason, unloaded or not. I sure wouldn't want a gun pointed at me, period.
I'm not too familiar with the law and such, but apparently gun is not something to joke around with your friend (or co-worker for this) with. Even gun enthusiasts should agree with that statement.
Besides, looking at his "apology" statement (which after his "pre-game act" last night should be pretty obvious that he didn't write it nor does he believe in it) and how he commented on it post-game, Mr. Arenas just doesn't get it.
Just like a bratty kid, he needs to be punished seriously before he knows it's a serious matter.
Besides, looking at his "apology" statement (which after his "pre-game act" last night should be pretty obvious that he didn't write it nor does he believe in it) and how he commented on it post-game, Mr. Arenas just doesn't get it.
Just like a bratty kid, he needs to be punished seriously before he knows it's a serious matter.
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The only thing Gil is seriously guilty of here (aside from bad manners) is bad PR for the league. That's what the suspension is about. I wouldn't pull out a gun as a joke, loaded or otherwise, but I'm not going to sit here and say Gil is a bad person because he did. It's behavior that I wouldn't take part in myself but it's not against the law.
David Stern has been trying to clean up the image of the NBA for the past 10 years or so with the age rule, the dress code, and strict penalties for anyone doing anything remotely 'thugish' on or off the court. That's what this is about. Gil should know better than to joke around with guns at all, especially anywhere near an NBA arena. But I get the feeling Gil is a guy who will always ignore his better judgment for a joke. Isn't he the one that put a shark tank in his house? That's not exactly safe for the kids either. Anything connecting the image of guns to the NBA must drive David Stern crazy. I know that and I don't even play in the NBA. Until Gilbert figures that out, he's going to stay suspended.
David Stern has been trying to clean up the image of the NBA for the past 10 years or so with the age rule, the dress code, and strict penalties for anyone doing anything remotely 'thugish' on or off the court. That's what this is about. Gil should know better than to joke around with guns at all, especially anywhere near an NBA arena. But I get the feeling Gil is a guy who will always ignore his better judgment for a joke. Isn't he the one that put a shark tank in his house? That's not exactly safe for the kids either. Anything connecting the image of guns to the NBA must drive David Stern crazy. I know that and I don't even play in the NBA. Until Gilbert figures that out, he's going to stay suspended.
I wouldn't say this makes Arenas a bad person, but it's just even more evidence showing how ignorant he really is. I think the suspension is a lot about image, but I think it's perfectly reasonable considering it is Arenas' fault for hurting the NBA's image and then he makes it so much worse by mocking the league's reaction to it.
Is it some heinous offense that he brought (supposedly) unloaded guns to his workplace? No, but as it's been said many times, if this was the average person who brought guns to their workplace and stored them there, not many people at that workplace would argue with that person getting fired because of it. It's just horribly unprofessional and if it's true that he was flashing his piece as some kind of joke, that's not cool. I've been exposed to guns for most of my life and let me tell you, even when you know for a fact that a particular gun is unloaded, the anxiety of it being pointed at/near you or being non nonchalantly waved around doesn't really go away. The number one rule my father taught me when he introduced me to guns is to always treat the gun as if it's loaded and ready to fire. Now being irresponsible with guns is not a hell worthy trespass, but pulling that stuff on company grounds (so to speak) is a big deal as far as your employment is concerned.
Is it some heinous offense that he brought (supposedly) unloaded guns to his workplace? No, but as it's been said many times, if this was the average person who brought guns to their workplace and stored them there, not many people at that workplace would argue with that person getting fired because of it. It's just horribly unprofessional and if it's true that he was flashing his piece as some kind of joke, that's not cool. I've been exposed to guns for most of my life and let me tell you, even when you know for a fact that a particular gun is unloaded, the anxiety of it being pointed at/near you or being non nonchalantly waved around doesn't really go away. The number one rule my father taught me when he introduced me to guns is to always treat the gun as if it's loaded and ready to fire. Now being irresponsible with guns is not a hell worthy trespass, but pulling that stuff on company grounds (so to speak) is a big deal as far as your employment is concerned.
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