OT: Stern gets medieval on Arenas's ass

[Rastapopoulos]

I'm a huge gun control advocate, but this is absurd:

“Although it is clear that the actions of Mr. Arenas will ultimately result in a substantial suspension, and perhaps worse, his ongoing conduct has led me to conclude that he is not currently fit to take the court in an NBA game. Accordingly, I am suspending Mr. Arenas indefinitely, without pay, effective immediately pending the completion of the investigation by the NBA.”

This might be what he means:

But also, I'm pretty sure this didn't help Gilbert's case:

Arenas was asked after the game what he feared more, law enforcement or David Stern?

"Stern is mean," Arenas said. "I think he may make his decision before [the legal process plays out]. Most likely he's getting a lot of pressure, because of all the stories going around, to act. . . . I've looked at some of the charges brought against other people and they were [suspended] three to five games."

 

[BlazersBlood]

It's not that absurd. It just says indefinitely, not infinitely.

 

[BBert]

I find this official statement by the Wiz amusing, or at least odd.

Some of our other players appeared to find Gilbert’s behavior in Philadelphia amusing.

 

[hasoos]

Looks like we need a merge with the other thread.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I find this official statement by the Wiz amusing, or at least odd.

So - are they saying "get a sense of humor Stern" or are they saying "hey, can you suspend them too, and save us MORE money?"

 

[BBert]

It's not that absurd. It just says indefinitely, not infinitely.

I had suspended for the season without pay in the 'pool.' He'll get on the court much sooner if he is 'properly' contrite and kisses Master Stern's ass.

I'm not sure I know all the facts so I'm not saying what is appropriate.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Just like what Marbury did for basketball shoes I bet it won't be long before Arenas announces that he's coming out with a cheap line of plastic hand guns for inner city youths.

 

[Mediocre Man]

How much do you think the Wiz hopes he gets banned. I am sure they would love to be off the hook for that money.

 

[RR7]

Well, right after that, they said this is also unacceptable. So not sure what is so odd about that. They were coming down on their own players for joking around with Gilbert.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Luckily for Gilbert, there is a pretty strong union behind him.

 

[hasoos]

How much do you think the Wiz hopes he gets banned. I am sure they would love to be off the hook for that money.

Ha ha ha ha you know it. 4.5 years left on a 6 year 111 million dollar deal. Every game suspended is a bonus to their pocketbook, even if they don't rid themselves of the whole contract.

 

[BBert]

Well, right after that, they said this is also unacceptable. So not sure what is so odd about that. They were coming down on their own players for joking around with Gilbert.

Oh, I understand they want to take a stand and send a message to their other players. I just thought it was an odd thing to say in a press release -- that their other players thought this serious incident was funny. Definitely they want to send out a message to the fans and the players that they think it was unacceptable.

 

[RoyToy]

Stern had to do this.

 

[Blazer4life]

I think that its obvious the Wizards would hope for an indefinite suspension. They now they messed up when they signed Arenas to that huge contract. 2 years wasted on injuries (the 2nd year he could've came back at the end of the season but instead shut it down), this year potentially wasted on this. They know he is not worth the money. This might be a chance to get out from underneath his albatross of a contract.

 

[hasoos]

Luckily for Gilbert, there is a pretty strong union behind him.

If he ends up going to the pokey good luck with that. They can bust the contract based upon breach of contract at that time.

 

[BBert]

Stern had to do this.

Absolutely he had to.

 

[Paxil]

In all seriousness... who works somewhere were the bringing 3 guns to work as a joke thing would fly?

 

[Blazer_Hippie]

Isn't there anyone on Arenas' payroll that could tell him how he needed to behave through all this mess... stupid...

 

[hasoos]

In all seriousness... who works somewhere were the bringing 3 guns to work as a joke thing would fly?

Bringing firearms to work = Instantly fired where I work. Corporate policy.

 

[Blazer_Hippie]

Bringing firearms to work = Instantly fired where I work. Corporate policy.

I once got suspended a week for telling a bitch where I worked to "Fuck Off"...I imagine I woulda been fired if I threatened her with a gun.

 

[Further]

At my last job I fired a guy for cutting out a picture of a gun and taping it to someones computer with a note that read "boom boom cocksucker"
That's the real world. GA should be out at least the rest of the season. At first I did not think so, but the more I think about it, the longer I think he should be suspended.

 

[hasoos]

I once got suspended a week for telling a bitch where I worked to "Fuck Off"...I imagine I woulda been fired if I threatened her with a gun.

Wow man were there witnesses? In those situations if no witnesses I just deny the whole incident occured. It has worked before!

 

[Boob-No-More]

In all seriousness... who works somewhere were the bringing 3 guns to work as a joke thing would fly?

Especially if you allegedly pull one on a co-worker over a gambling debt.

Arenas broke league policy, team policy and potentially multiple local laws. Even if he is found not guilty of violating any laws, just having the guns in his locker violated league policy and justifies the suspension.

Besides, indefinitely means just that - no definitive time period. It could be two days, or two years. All it means is the length of the suspension isn't defined at this time and will be determined as more facts are learned.

PDX_xB

 

[hasoos]

Well now that we have beat that to death, now for the basketball side of things, which is now more positive.

Is it now not true that the Wizards need a PG?

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Wow man were there witnesses? In those situations if no witnesses I just deny the whole incident occured. It has worked before!

He almost got away with it, but when his boss took him into the office to describe the situation, it went awry...

Boss: Hippie, we received some disturbing accusations against you.

Hippie: Oh really?

Boss: Yes. Cheryl in accounting says --

Hippie: --Fuck that lying bitch!

Boss: ...thank you, Hippie. You just made my job easier.

Hippie: Glad to help. Lying in the workplace is horrible.

Boss: Indeed. Please collect your things on your way out.

Hippie: Fuck! That lying bitch got me fired!

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Well now that we have beat that to death, now for the basketball side of things, which is now more positive.

Is it now not true that the Wizards need a PG?

An experienced scoring PG?

 

[MikeDC]

"Stern feels like he's been taunted by (Arenas)," NBA source says. "He's done for the year....at the very least.

Good to know that multi-billion dollar industry leaders make decisions on such sober grounds

Along the same lines:

“We fully endorse the decision of the NBA to indefinitely suspend Gilbert Arenas,” the Wizards responded in a statement on Wednesday. “Strictly legal issues aside, Gilbert’s recent behavior and statements, including his actions and statements last night in Philadelphia, are unacceptable. Some of our other players appeared to find Gilbert’s behavior in Philadelphia amusing. This is also unacceptable. Under Abe Pollin’s leadership, our organization never tolerated such behavior, and we have no intention of ever doing so.”

Is just a really silly sounding public scolding of the Wizards players by the Wizards management. It sounds like the kind of bullshit you hear from teachers in high school. “Hey you! don’t laugh at that! You’re not allowed to think that’s funny!”

All this is not to say it’s appropriate conduct on Arenas’ part. In fact, I’d be all for voiding his contract and setting him back $80M or so over it.

But above all, I favor it because it’s in the league’s interest to send that message about what Arenas does to the league.

It is in the interest of the league to have Commissioner Stern, who punishes guys because they’ve given the league a black eye. It is not in the interest of the league to have Vice Principal Stern, who gives the sense that he punishes guys worse because he feels taunted and slighted, rather than because they’ve given the league a black eye.

 

[illmatic99]

On Yahoo:

From Agent Zero to Agent Zero Pay

 

[hasoos]

"Stern feels like he's been taunted by (Arenas)," NBA source says. "He's done for the year....at the very least.

Good to know that multi-billion dollar industry leaders make decisions on such sober grounds

Along the same lines:



Is just a really silly sounding public scolding of the Wizards players by the Wizards management. It sounds like the kind of bullshit you hear from teachers in high school. “Hey you! don’t laugh at that! You’re not allowed to think that’s funny!”

All this is not to say it’s appropriate conduct on Arenas’ part. In fact, I’d be all for voiding his contract and setting him back $80M or so over it.

But above all, I favor it because it’s in the league’s interest to send that message about what Arenas does to the league.

It is in the interest of the league to have Commissioner Stern, who punishes guys because they’ve given the league a black eye. It is not in the interest of the league to have Vice Principal Stern, who gives the sense that he punishes guys worse because he feels taunted and slighted, rather than because they’ve given the league a black eye.

True enough. It is a preliminary injunction though, this isn't the full blown punishment. It seems to me that when Indiana had the brawl in Detroit, that it took months for them to go past the preliminary decision to the final decision, and then there was the Union to deal with, and an appeal before the playoffs. Being as how the Wizards will probably not make the playoffs, he might not bother to appeal except for financial reasons.

 

[BBert]

An experienced scoring PG?

Oh man, KP needs to be all over this. We should be able to seriously help that franchise. Out of the goodness of our hearts, of course.