Gilbert Arena's Suspension: Fair Punishment or Too Harsh? (how much, high school) - Northern Virginia - Virginia (VA) - City-Data Forum

normie · 01-07-2010, 07:03 AM

In the game against Philadelphia Gilbert Arenas was joking around with his teammates and pretended his fingers were guns. As a result, he was suspended indefinitely without pay by the NBA commissioner.

So.... what do you think of this? Was it a fair punishment or too harsh?

Gilbert Arenas indefinitely suspended by NBA - NBA - Yahoo! Sports (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-wizards-arenassuspended&prov=ap&type=lgns - broken link)

normie · 01-07-2010, 07:09 AM

Here's my two cents:

I've always liked Arenas because he jokes around and I think that's a healthy way to deal with life. I deal with all sorts of problems by joking about them. But... there are times when joking is inappropriate and disrespectful. If you don't learn that lesson early on in life, life has a harsh way of teaching it to you eventually.

Arenas should have known better, and he deserves the punishment. I was surprised they even let him play that night. He should have thanked his lucky stars and been on his best behavior instead of pushing his luck.

TF81 · 01-07-2010, 07:40 AM

Since it's indefinite, he could be reinstated tomorrow, or kept out the entire year. So I guess fair, not enough, or unjust can only be determined when the definite length is known. I think that will hinge on if charges are pressed in the District for bringing weapons in - much like how Mike Vick was given the "indefinite" tag by the NFL and not until after the legal system took its course was there ever a time-frame put on it. I honestly think Crittenton should have a similar punishment... but at least he's kept quiet. Arenas already admitted his guilt, but then killed his case for remorse by making light of it.

robbobobbo · 01-07-2010, 07:50 AM

He wasn't suspended for pointing his fingers! He was suspended for bringing 4 real guns (unloaded) to the locker room and placing them on the bench next to Crittenton and placed a note of "pick one" as his way of joking about resolving their dispute.

Guns in the locker rooms is against NBA rules and probably broke DC law (prosecutors are looking into it).

The NBA decided to suspend Arenas after he kept acting like it was a joke to the media, and then did the finger-pointing-as-gun shtick. From reports I heard, they felt he was making light of the gun offense.

Caladium · 01-07-2010, 08:12 AM

Sorry, normie, don't quite agree with you on this one. Yes, he should have known better to make light of a very serious situation. But I think the suspension was wrong. Mostly I think it was wrong because the terms are so vague and because it was given to him too late. It should have been handed to him the moment they found out he brought guns into the locker room (not to mention into DC, considering he did not have a license to have guns in DC).

Getting back to the vagueness of the suspension, "indefinite" is at once too harsh and too wombly. I can see suspending him for one game. Or even for a few games... but it should be a concrete punishment.

ajzjmsmom · 01-07-2010, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robbobobbo

He wasn't suspended for pointing his fingers! He was suspended for bringing 4 real guns (unloaded) to the locker room and placing them on the bench next to Crittenton and placed a note of "pick one" as his way of joking about resolving their dispute.

Guns in the locker rooms is against NBA rules and probably broke DC law (prosecutors are looking into it).

The NBA decided to suspend Arenas after he kept acting like it was a joke to the media, and then did the finger-pointing-as-gun shtick. From reports I heard, they felt he was making light of the gun offense.

Thanks for clarifying this, I too thought I heard on the news it was because he had guns in the locker room.

adolpho · 01-07-2010, 10:11 AM

He is in very deep. His career is in Jeopardy.

normie · 01-07-2010, 10:18 AM

So what's the prediction as far as how long the suspension will last? I'm predicting he'll be back after a few games. Like it or not, he's a good player (and that seems to be what really matters these days).

reebo · 01-07-2010, 10:47 AM

From what I read, the NBA and the Wizards were waiting to determine what they were going to do until the investigation was over or law enforcement decided how they were going to proceed. But after Arenas showed such stupidity and lack of awareness of his actions before the Philadelphia game, Stern decided to suspend him because he was unfit to play. He wouldn't have been suspended yesterday if he'd shown some awareness of the gravity of the investigation and some class.

As people have said, if Arenas was Joe Schmo in a regular workplace, his butt would be fired and he would already be in jail for bringing firearms to work. I don't think Arenas is dangerous, but his lack of understanding about what he did and how it's perceived in the community shows just how out of touch with reality he is. Not that that's surprising. All along their careers, from high school on, elite athletes learn that the rules don't apply to them.

normie · 01-07-2010, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reebo

All along their careers, from high school on, elite athletes learn that the rules don't apply to them.

It's a problem with celebrities in general. Think of Brittany Spears or any of the other young actresses who shoplift or drive drunk and don't take their court dates seriously. I guess you really have to throw the book at them just to get the message across that there are just some things you don't do, no matter how much of a celebrity you are.