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On Arenas and Delonte...
Written by Amin Vafa   
Thursday, 07 January 2010 14:40
The big news in the NBA for the past few weeks has been the off-court issues with Gilbert Arenas. It seems like ages ago when the big story in the NBA was the off-court issues with Delonte West. The stories are similar: two guards with rough early lives, both careers hampered by medical conditions (one physical, one psychological). Sure there are similarities, but these two incidents are more different than they are the same.

However, after Gilbert's punishment yesterday, an indefinite suspension, many people believe that the punishment was too harsh, while Delonte seemingly got off scott-free. Indeed, one of the reasons Stern cited for the suspension was Agent Zero being "unfit" to play on the court at this time. If you get technical, Delonte's medical condition often makes him unfit to play on the court. And as for the weapons, Gil's weren't loaded while Delonte's were. Hypothetically, wouldn't the psychological condition, coupled with the loaded weapons make Delonte more of a candidate for suspension?

Today on The Basketball Jones, JE Skeets pretty much nailed why these situations are different. 1) Gilbert brought his weapons intothe Verizon Center, and guns are banned from NBA facilities. Delonte's incident was off the court and occurred during the off-season. 2) Delonte and the Cavs have kept the situation under wraps and made sure there were no media field days and outbursts. The Wizards did pretty much nothing to keep Arenas from talking to the media, getting on Twitter, or doing whatever else he did other than keep his mouth shut.

As one of my good friends says, "Don't poke the bear." In this case the bear, David Stern, was already angry and was poked in the eye by Arenas. If Gil and the Wizards worked together better to keep this situation from escalating, there's a good chance the punishment would have come after the legal proceedings were completed. Unfortunately, Gil forced Stern's hand with the infamous finger/gun photo, and here we are today. Stern also seemed to be setting an example with Gil, showing the rest of the league that not taking responsibility for your actions in unbecoming of an NBA player, and it will be punished harshly.

Now this isn't to say Delonte shouldn't be punished for his actions. His illness isn't an excuse for what he did, as many accuse Cavs fans of believing. It is, however, probably the main reason he sought to arm himself as heavily as he did this summer. But since he and the Cavs have been able to show some control in the situation, the league seems to be biding its time until the legal proceedings for West are finished in February. Delonte will likely be suspended, but it is unknown for how long. Both he and the Cavs know that Delonte's "good behavior" since the incident will help bring him back to the team as quickly as possible after whatever punishment he receives.

Now the lost story in this whole situation, something that's making itself known today, is what happened with Javaris Crittendon. He was an integral part of the story when all the information came out over a week ago, but it's been all Arenas since. Well it appears as though whatever joke Gilbert was playing on Javaris wasn't received well. Crittendon allegedly brought his own gun to the Wizards' facility and loaded it. This to me seems like the worst of all these scenarios. Loaded gun. On NBA property. Especially in DC, home to some of the strictest gun laws in the country. If the information about him is true and the punishment is carried out proportionately, don't expect to see Crittendon play in the NBA ever again.

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Comments (10)Add Comment
Caveat
written by mervdiddy, January 07, 2010
I'm not defending Gilbert, as he's an idiot. But one of the points you overlook is that Delonte's weapons were in fact loaded.

There are two variations of the weapons possession transgression - one that occurred on NBA property, the other that occurred with loaded gun(s). Gilbert's was on NBA property, Delonte's was loaded, and Crittendon's was apparently both. Yet only Gilbert warranted immediate action by the league?

West has a criminal record (drug possession) and a history of violence (inciting a fight with a ref in training camp), and he was caught by police while speeding with THREE loaded weapons. Yet there's silence.

We don't even know what the hell happened in the Wizards locker room other than that Gilbert had unloaded guns on display for some unknown reason that is the source of wide contention.

Again, I'm not justifying his behavior in any way, but it seems absurd that Gilbert gets an immediate suspension while the NBA waits for an investigation in the case of Crittendon and West.
You're right and you're wrong
written by Amin, January 07, 2010
I did mention in the article that Delonte's weapons were loaded (end of 2nd paragraph). West does have a criminal record. As does Arenas. In 2003, he had ANOTHER felony gun possession charge against him.

I was actually surprised that West didn't get immediate punishment, but I think it's because it has been league policy to wait until the league process finishes. Arenas was punished because he was making light of the situation. If West pretended to ride in on a motorcycle and made shotgun hand gestures at games, I would like to think the same would have happened to him.

The reason Arenas's suspension was indefinite, I believe, is because it makes it open ended. If Stern punished him with a 25 game suspension for this, he wouldn't have been able to suspend him for the same offense later. This allows him to punish him now for mocking the seriousness of the situation, then make a definite timeline when the legal action goes through.
Simmons' Points...
written by TBRock00, January 07, 2010
Two things (I'm sure you can guess where I first heard them)

1) Isn't it possible that the Wizards didn't say/do anything to keep it under wraps because they want Arenas to dig his own grave and allow them to void his terrible contract?

2) What about the theory that this is Stern's short term way to handle the high stakes gambling that seems to occur with alarming regularity?
MORONS
written by Damone, January 08, 2010
You people are idiots who try to compare the two. Arenas pulled his gun on another individual inside a building not too mention a state with very strict gun laws. Delonte did not pull his gun on anyone, he also has a bipolar disorder, Arenas does not and should know better he not a gangster. Delonte with his disorder feels every now and again that people are out to get him. You writers are ignorant to say the least and well should really rott in hell. Two different situations Arenas a moron, Delonte medical history not so good lets look at the facts before we throw out opinions. MORONS
...
written by MYoung23, January 08, 2010
Delonte West has no criminal record. He was never convicted of drug possession. That charge was dropped. http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/...rrest.html

Yelling at a referee is not a "history of violence". West has no history of violence.

When Delonte West was arrested he had been off his medication for weeks maybe months. By the time he arrived at Cavaliers training camp he was emaciated and not looking healthy.

West has a serious mental illness and it is a real mitigating factor in his case. Even on medication and with counseling it is something he struggles with every day.

West's gun case is analogous to other cases such as Sebastian Telfair, Stephen Jackson and Alan Henderson. The precedents set in those cases are between 3-7 games. Arenas' case in which he violated a clear NBA policy about guns makes it completely different.

Get your facts straight and do some critical thinking before you write this nonsense.
...
written by RandyB, January 08, 2010
MYoung and Damone you are both crazy. You are just Cavs propaganda artists. Delonte had guns in extreme measures he should have been suspended immediately. The fact that Delonte didn't get immediately suspsended may have effected the way Areans acted AFTER his incident by not taking what he did seriously. You favortism for Delonte has nothing to do with what he did, and 100% so the Cavs can win basketball games in the rigged games they play in.
DC is a State?
written by mervdiddy, January 08, 2010
Thanks Delmone, that was news to this moron. smilies/wink.gif
@mervdiddy
written by BrendanB, January 08, 2010
well played
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