Here in the Nation's Capital we have what must be considered the dreadful collection of sports franchises in America. Aside from the hockey Capitals, Washington teams have finished, or are currently sitting, dead last. The Redskins (still sporting the most despicable and racist name in all sports) have recently finished a pitiful 4-12 and lost every game in their division. They have subsequently fired everybody down to the guy who sells foam fingers. There is some cause for modest hope for the Nationals baseball team but, in that Washington has a long standing tradition of making Thunderbirds into Pintos, don't hold your breath.
Then there's basketball. For 45 years the Washington Wizards were owned by the very smart, very decent Abe Pollin. Pollin, who won his only league championship in 1978, actually changed the name of his team from Bullets to Wizards. He said that Bullets carried a negative connotation in a city with a soaring murder rate. (Washington leads the league in irony.) Pollin died in November, 2009 and many will say it was a blessing. At least he didn't have to watch the stupidity playing out in the locker room and the criminal courts.
Everyone knows by now that Wizards star shooting guard (I told you about that irony) Gilbert Arenas, has been arrested and charged with felony gun possession in connection with a locker room dispute involving fellow baller Jarvis Crittenton. Arenas has been suspended indefinitely by Commissioner David Stern. Stern spends most of his waking hours doing the labor of Sisyphus. His chore is to keep 450 overpaid, pampered basketball players off the front pages and out of jail. Lots of luck, Dave.
There is nothing particularly new about athletes in legal trouble (Commentator Tony Kornheiser calls these stories "Jocks in the Stocks"). The aspect of this particular event that causes head-shaking is Arenas' assertion that when the story first broke, the Wizards organization turned their back on him. No kidding! This would be the same Wizards organization that signed a $111 million contract with "Agent Zero" in 2008. Since then Arenas has played in 34 games out of 164 due to injury. Through two dreadful seasons with Arenas on the bench the Wizards remained patient and considerate. Now that he's finally laced up his Gil Zero sneeks the team still sucks. Where's the love for poor Gil? Where's the loyalty for a player who's given so much? If I were current team owner Ted Leonsis I'd drive the paddy wagon to the poky myself. Then I'd drive to my lawyer's office and have Arenas' contract voided for moral turpitude and felony stupidity.
Frankly, is anyone surprised to hear these stories? Professional basketball recruits teenagers from humble or at best modest origins. Boys who have never held a real job or balanced a checkbook are given millions of dollars, provided with role-models like Alan Iverson and Charles Barkley and turned loose in America's biggest cities all winter.
Seriously, I love Sir Charles but he really should be kept away from children and small pets.
The wonder is that more basketball players don't end up in prison or in hospitals.
We cannot and should not deprive young talented athletes of the opportunity to make big money in sports. That's the American dream. If, however, you insist upon acting the fool and endangering others with a gun or a car or your fists, your punishment may be as outsized as your income. We don't ask much. Play your sport. Fiddle with your X-Box and your ipod. Give inane interviews and try to be a role model to America's street urchins...instead of the other way around.
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