The Washington Wizards guard faces time in prison after his guilty plea for felony gun possession. After making your vote on the his NBA future, back it up in the discussion below.
Will Gilbert Arenas play again in the NBA?
Thu Jan 14, 2010 5:45 PM EST
Leave a Comment:
Saving...
Commissioner Stern has to act with same forcefulness as NFC head Taglibue has with criminal activity by players. Arenas made a big joke about a serious problem, unlicensed firearms in the hands of immature individuals whose infantile narcissism makes them think they are immune from the rules of a civilized society. As Plaxico Burris found out, if you do the crime, you have to do the time. Arenas' career is over.
This whole thing is so ridiculous. So what if he had a gun, it was unloaded and he wasn't doing anything that should be illegal. For Christ sake he didn't even point an unloaded gun at anyone, didn't pistol whip anyone. I agree storing guns at an arena or place of work is not the best idea. Having hundreds of guns is one's right, although also a bit ridiculous. Guns are not toys, and his shenanigans should cost him ten games and pay, mostly because of the message it sends to kids about teasing someone with a deadly weapon. That's really all I have to say - It think society is getting so soft and emotional. The punishments don't fit the crimes and our legal system is turning into a joke. Personally I think Mr. Tiger Woods has committed a far greater crime having destroyed his family and hurting his own children and wife. I think we should ban him from making money and throw his butt in jail long before we do Gilbert Arenas.
Neither man should be allowed to play in the NBA again; period. Having said that, I'm sure he'll get around it somehow and show up again to play for some team, but he shouldn't. Our laws allow anyone to do almost anything and just keep on going doing the same thing over and over and over. Having a gun, in your team locker, loaded or not, is ridiculous.
The NBA is Thugville, anyway, so I don't really care one way or the other. I wouldn't walk across the street to see any of these outlaws.
As for Tiger, I'm sure that Elin has already busted out
Tiger's teeth etc, so she should just finish the job. If I were his wife, I'd make sure that he knew exactly how I felt and it looks as though she's done just that. Tiger will be pecking ish with the chickens, before this is over.
...
....
Since when is a crime defined without malicious intent? Arenas obviously had no malicious intent to hurt anyone! He was simply horsing around with a teammate. While it's true that his joke was inappropriate and could have even become dangerous, jail time would be an absolute absurdity!
I agree: have him miss games and the proportional pay that goes along with it as an example to the fans over whom he has influence. But don't take from this man and his family something he has worked so very hard to attain. He doesn't deserve that kind of treatment. I think it is commendable of Mr. Arenas that he made no excuses for himself, other than he did not know it was a crime, and pleaded guilty. Apparently, Mr. Arenas is someone who is demonstrating to us all how to take responsibility for one's actions.
Although reasonable gun control is of course important, all of you over-zealous gun-control people out there should concentrate on bringing criminals to justice who maliciously use guns (without licenses) to hold up you and your next door neighbor, rather than pouncing on someone who simply made a dumb mistake!
I also agree that Tiger Woods did more of a pre-meditated crime of hurting quite a few people for his own selfishness. Of course, Tiger Woods did not violate the written law made by Man, he just violated his sacred vows and promises to his family, bringing untold misery to all of them.
Good luck, Mr. Arenas.......except on the court when you face the Lakers again (smile).
Well put...except for the Lakers comment :-)
Storing a gun at the workplace is not a great idea?!! You have got to be kidding!!! NO guns at the workplace!!!
Zero tolerance would get my vote.
Jail time? Yes.. I agree. BUT, not over zealous reaction like we are punishing him for killing anyone. Teach him a lesson that society will not condone this kind of behavior. It was irresponsible and stupid. Missing games and a suspension will hit him in the pocket where it will hurt most.
It really does not matter to me if he plays in the future or not but what about Crittenton? He was also involved and his gun was loaded according to accounts published. Should he not have to pay a price also?
The issue is that he pulled a gun on someone. Give me a break, this is criminal, period. He should be banned for life. However, I don't think that will happen. I think the punishment will be minimal. Maybe a fine, though large to us, not to him, and maybe banned for the remainder of the season.
If this had been you or I we would be facing some serious jail time.
Double standard again. Because Arenas is an athlete, it is okay that he carried 4 guns (albeit unloaded) in a public place without a permit. If a regular person did it, he or she will be in jail faster in a hearbeat. But because Arenas is a professional athlete, he will be able to skate it. :-(
Let's leave it up to the commissioner of the NBA, the court and judges decision. The guy's going to pay! Believe me. Just another move by an athlete that was stupid, and it won't be the last.
I totally agree. Look at the football players that have screwed up... spent time in prison and come back to the league. This is for the commissioner and the man above to decide. Let stop throwing stone at other glass houses because you will rent or buy one later.
The guy is a loser! I say take the money away and make him find a real job!
He'll play again. Most people aren't aware that David Stern had his privates surgically removed just before Latrelle Sprewell choked his coach. Stern doesn't have the testicular fortitude to ban anyone for life.
He'll play again. Most people aren't aware that David Stern had his privates removed just before Latrelle Spreewell choked his coach. Therefore, he doesn't have the testicular fortitude to ban anyone for life.
Doubt he will get 5 years and therefore he will get another opportunity. I agree with the comments regarding the stupidity of taking guns to his locker but they were unloaded and had no ammunition. So he is no genius but this is not the worst thing ever done by an NBA, NFL, NHL or any other professional athlete. Suspend him for the year if you must but that would be more than sufficient "Time for the Crime".
You're justifying taking guns into the locker room. Loaded or unloaded... that's flawed logic... It simply is not acceptable and that is the lesson to be learned.
He needs to go to prison.
Why?
Second offense possession of an unlicensed firearm. And that's just what he pled guilty to, he admitted to a lot more.
Yep...the wealthy will get out of it..simple as that. Anyone that says you or I would get the same is in dreamland, we'd be in jail. There are kinds 2 justice systems and he is in the other one.
The sad thing is that he probably will play again. Because NBA teams, like all big business in America, are only concerned with making money. Right, wrong, morality, and law have no part in it.
We all have a right to own guns, we also have a responsibility to know the laws, Areanas has manned up and faced the charge. This should be a Minor infraction and punishment should be minor. I just wonder where are all the gun advocates, we should be supporting this guy.
First off let me say that I believe that he should be thrown under the jail. He will get 6 months max in jail. He will also have to sit out the rest of this year. Washington will get out from under the contract that they have with him but someone that is desperate enough will sign him
Secondly, we all do not have a right to own guns. Felons and mentally disturbed to name just two do not have a right to own guns. Also if the guy were working within the law "all the gun advocates" would have circled the wagons and we would be supporting this guy. What he did was not only against the law but it was also against league policy. Ignorance of the law is not a defense. So what if he stood up and took his punishment, he did say duuu I dont knows its wuz against de laws.
He said the gun's were unloaded. How do we know because he said so. For some that might be enough, for me it is not. I would not believe the SOB that the sun was out unless I confirmed it. Why would he all of a sudden start telling the truth when lying has served him so well over the years? If someone were to aim a gun at me and said it was unloaded I would not believe it. The bullet that hit him would not be from an unloaded gun. As far as I am concerned any and all guns are always loaded!!!
I used to have four box seats to NBA games in the 70's and 80's. I thoroughly enjoyed it when they played basketball. What they do now is not basketball. If you want to see real basketball watch high school and college games. Those are the only games that approach basketball. As one writer above said he would not walk across the street to watch a game, I refuse to turn the TV on to watch the NBA, I sure as h@ll would not walk across the street.
BAN HIM FOR LIFE FROM THE NBA!!!!!! LET HIM GET A REAL JOB, THEY ARE HIRING AT McDONALD'S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Double standard...here we go again,demonstrating to everyone that if you have money you can buy justice according to your terms. Personally I don't want to see him on the floor again but I know that is not going to happen. He should not be allowed to play again for at least the rest of the season.Everything is not a big joke Arenas...GROW UP. Be thankful for what you have and don't take so much for granted.
Double standard...here we go again,demonstrating to everyone that if you have money you can buy justice according to your terms. Personally I don't want to see him on the floor again but I know that is not going to happen. He should not be allowed to play again for at least the rest of the season.Everything is not a big joke Arenas...GROW UP. Be thankful for what you have and don't take so much for granted.
He will play again. The NBA is a thug league. The league allows a rapist (Kobe) to play, why wouldn't it allow a guy who just waves guns around. This is just what the NBA culture is......thugs. The NFL is the same way, they are just far ahead of the NBA in controlling it, punishing it, and keeping it as low key as possible.
Oh, he will play again. Just look at the picture of him and his teamates in the huddle of the game where he pretends his fingers are 6 shooters. NBA players are so arrogant and believe that the law is to be scoffed at. The rest of the world is afraid to be politically incorrect and criticize any of their behavior for fear of a back lash charge of racism. Everyone walks on thin ice around them and nobody wants to follow the letter of the law, if they did, thene there would be no plea deals made. Put him in jail for five years and then ask the question of whether he will play or not, but with no jail time secured by his legal team, he will cry foul very soon , and the world will acquiesce to another case of thuggery. He is fun to watch, will sell tickets and now has an additional attraction, the "gangsta-playah" thing going for him. Stern will do little to disarm this or any other NBA jerk. There is a reason that I won't go to an NBA event, I refuse to endorse this mentality of "personal freedom" that allows personal arrogance to be a reason to celebrate where some people come from and what they have done to improve their lives. we were poor growing up and my mother would roll over in her grave if she thought any of her children would act so immaturely all the while saying, "Look at me and how great I am!" These idiots play basketball, there is no messionic experience to be expected from their boorish behavior and the sooner America just turns their backs on these clowns, the sooner you will see that the answer to your question won't be so obvious.
I think the punishment on Arenas is just too harsh for the crime. I wonder if this is his first problem with the law, and if it is so, I think he should get a break like every other person. At least he did not threating anyones life, he only acted stupid, and ignorant of the law. He ought to be punished, but not complete ban from NBA.
I think the expected punishment to be handed down by the judge of 6 months is way to lenient. This crime is a felony after all. Kids look up to him whether he wants them to or not. If we let him walk we are telling all the kids that look up to NBA players that it is OK to carry a gun if I say it is unloaded.
Ignorance of the law is not a defense. This was also against league rules that are in the collective bargaining agreement that was reached between the owners and players!!! He is a player and is expected to know what he can and cannot do. When you go to work do you get to do whatever you want to just because you did not read the rules of the employer?
No, it isn't his first offense. He had an unregistered gun in California and "didn't know that he had to register it".......so, no...this ain't this first rodeo!
Yeah.. how dumb is that? "I didn't know I had to register the gun." He's obviously smart enough to figure a lie will buy him time and maybe get him a reduced charge.
Guns have no place in the workplace, at the game, on an airplane, on the subway, in school... on and on...
I can't believe people condone this behavior as "acceptable". I believe in gun ownership. I just don't agree that gun carriers... legal or illegal... should be forgiven for getting caught carrying in a totally unacceptable situation... workplace, school or otherwise. Its just never a good idea...
The NBA is thugville? The NBA is one of if not THE best sports league in the US when it comes to character. The NBA has the NBA cares program, which alone shows how well these NBA players give back the community. If any sports league were to be called "thugville" as you eloquently put it, it should be the NHL or NFL. Look at the NHL for instance, people are allowed to fight right on the ice without any regard to who is in the audience or how it could affect the young people in the sport. Also, when the NHL player tried to interact with the crowed, being very pleasant and giving the little girl his hockey stick, the crowed broke out into a fight. The NHL is like a fight with a sprinkle of hockey. Unfortunately, when an NBA player makes a mistake it is just more televised then in any other sport. This is in part because it is more popular, but also because it has the reputation of being "thugville", when this reputation has no real evidence when compared to the other major sports of the US.