2 members of the NBA Washington Wizards alledgedly brought a whole new meaning to the term 'an NBA shoot-around' on Christmas Eve. It's been widely reported that 2 of the team drew handguns on each other in the locker room. According to the New York Post, their premiere player Gilbert Arenas and Jarvaris Crittenden almost turned the Wizards locker room into the OK Corral during a dispute over a gambling debt. Who knows if it is true, but it's quite ironic that the Wizards' owners changed the name of the team from the 'Bullets' in the 90s!
So while the Wizards are not getting it done on the court (Won 10, Lost 21), they are certainly the most exciting off it, with a higher than league average 'shooting percentage' and a pretty decent 'run and gun' offense! How can their TV and radio announcers and commentators ever use those well worn basketball phrases again without a chuckle or two!
The question is, if you or I brought a gun to the workplace (OK, probably not me as I work from home!) wouldn't we get fired instantly? Probably. That's even true here in the wild West (Arizona), where I can happily take a pistol into a bar...as long as I don't have a beer!!
But in Washington DC, the laws are far more intolerant of carrying weapons. In fact, I'm not even sure that you can carry or store a gun in DC unless you are in law enforcement...or now, it seems a player in the NBA.
It seems that these 2 have not been reprimanded by their team or the NBA (yet), and neither have had to face inquiries from law enforcement (yet). But 2 people waving guns at each other could be construed as 'Assault with a Deadly Weapon', if that is indeed what happened. Both players insist that they have done nothing illegal and that the matter has been blown a little out of proportion.
Gilbert Arenas, speaking after a game on Saturday said that he used "bad judgment" in bringing guns into the Washington Wizards locker room. He also denied that he gambles and said there are misconceptions in the various stories about a dispute between himself and teammate Javaris Crittenton.
I guess we will see if they face criminal charges, team fines or reprimands; but the question is, why do they need guns in the first place? Are they so famous, so important that they need personal protection? I don't know many people who would recognise them off the court. And if they do percieve themselves to be in danger, then surely they can afford professional security or protection? I think, if this story from the Post is at all true, that it's more ego related than anything else...
I assume that this alleged incident is being investigated, but it could prove to be an expensive 'misjudgment' for Arenas. Depending on the outcome of any investigation, the Wizards could invoke a standard NBA player contract clause (on morals and behaviour) and try to void the remainder of Arenas' six-year, $111 million deal. Ouch! That might be more painful than getting shot!
