Even in a world long gone mad . . . what an unfathomable, boundary-crossing, guns-in-the-Wizards locker-room Gilbert Arenas-Javaris Crittenton grudge confrontation story!
Covering and following the NBA almost requires mucking from one mire (referee Tim Donaghy betting on games) to the next, resulting in grave consequences to those who have the most to lose.
Judging strictly by newspaper, Internet and talk radio reaction by fanatical and casual basketball fans alike, the outbreak of insanity is incalculably damaging the league’s image and product.
ARENAS, CRITTENTON’S HIGH-STAKES POKER GAME THAT ENDED IN ‘DRAW!’
If for some indeterminate reason, Arenas doesn’t wind up doing hard time for bringing three guns to the work place, thereby violating District of Columbia laws, the Collective Bargaining Agreement and common sense, this wangster still must be ejected from David Stern’s game . . . permanently. Same goes for Crittenton, if it’s determined he reached for one of Gilbert’s guns or was holstering his own heat.
In that Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson got suspended 73 and 30 games, respectively, for going into The Palace stands unarmed, the “upshot” for presenting arms in an intimidating way in the locker room, should qualify Arenas and Crittenton as missing “pieces” to Washington’s puzzle.
Not that it’s a revelation NBA players own guns. Some are even licensed. Numerous players have them in glove or hidden compartments of cars (Scottie Pippen) just in case there’s trouble (Jackson’s Indianapolis parking lot incident) and some cart them into locker rooms.
It took more than a minute for the league and Player’s Association to ban that practice but it still regularly happens, I’m informed.
(FYI: Contrary to union executive director Billy Hunter’s notion that pulling out guns in the locker room and menacing each other is unprecedented in the annals of professional sports, it’s part of ABA lore. The infamous John Brisker and an ex-football player, who was trying out for the Pittsburgh Condors, got into a fight one afternoon and each went to their cars for equalizers. When they appeared at opposite ends of the facility, guns drawn, coach Jack McMahon screamed: “Practice is through for the day.”)
Bulls assistant Johnny Bach told me years ago of walking into their dressing room during the team’s championship seasons and red dots (plural) would appear on his chest. Finally, Phil Jackson ordered players to leave their toys, er, protection at home.
In 2008, Sebastian Telfair carried a pistol onto a Celtics charter and received a measly 3-game suspension.
Meanwhile, we’re all very much aware Delonte West, whose criminal case is ongoing, got nabbed last summer by Maryland police for his extremist behavior of shouldering multiple arms . . . while zig-zagging through traffic on a motor cycle.
If that’s not troubling enough, consider the fact West has depression problems and suffers from mental illness. What prevents him from concealing weapons in his Cavaliers workout bag and sneaking them into the arena or practice complex, and, on a particularly moody blues day, blasting everybody in sight?
Does Cavs’ security check the bags of players and other team personnel when they enter those buildings? Are they required to empty their pockets and walk through a metal detector? Or are they allowed to waltz past guards at the door because they are who they are.
What are teams’ policies throughout the league? What about all professional sports?
Apparently, we already know the Wizards’ guidelines. Obviously, security does not thoroughly check players; otherwise Arenas (and Crittenton?) would not have been able to stash three guns in his combination lock box and remove them when his teammate demanded payment for a gambling debt.
Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld maintains no ammo was turned into local police, only the hardware.
That hardly means Arenas didn’t have bullets on the premises? Another teammate easily could’ve hidden bullets in his locker in case his friend needed them?
What if, Arenas, whose behavior is habitually quirky, making me suspect he has a loose connection, indeed had ammo and came to work one day despondent over something and targeted the first people who came into sight?
What if someone even loonier than Arenas somehow got hold of one of those guns one dark night and came out of the locker blasting away at fans?
What’s the policy throughout the league (professional sports) concerning charters that take off from hangers removed from where the public must endure tight security. Granted, it’s been a while since I’ve traveled by team or league charter. Still, I don’t recall ever going through a detector, or being made to empty my pockets, open my bags or turn on my computer.
As I recall, Telfair wasn’t discovered (by him) until the Celtics’ plane was in mid-flight.
What happens if a player is accused of cheating during a mega money card game — the only way these guys have rolled forever — or some other friction occurs that makes tempers flare out of control?
Charles Oakley and Sidney Green once had a helluva brawl on a Knicks charter. I understand Oakley is a different breed of cat, but he once slapped the spit out of opponent Tyrone Hill for withholding gambling losses.
What happens if a fight gets out of hand on a plane at 30,000 feet in today’s heightened hostile world and a loaded gun is brandished . . . and used?
These are some uneasy thoughts weighing me down since learning of the actions of at least one dumb-dumb Bullet, er, Wizard.
I’m saving my snide remarks for a later day.
On second thought, just this one. It seems NBA players either are covering up their arms with tattoos, or just covering up the fact that they’re armed.