IMAGE CAPTION/CREDITSFrom the Washington Post’s always-solid Wizards Blog with Ivan Carter and Michael Lee, comes a story about the drama that went down when Gilbert was told he couldn’t go against the Pistons yesterday:
I spoke with Gilbert Arenas not long after he stormed out of the locker room after being told by team medical staff that he couldn’t play tonight. He was still frustrated but backed off of what he said when he walked out (”Ya’ll don’t have to write anymore. I’m not coming back this year.”)
He said he will be at practice tomorrow and appears to be coming to grips with the idea that they wouldn’t let him play tonight.Arenas went through shootaround and showed up late this afternoon expecting to be cleared but during a meeting with team doctor Marc Connell, who performed the surgery, Arenas was told that the knee still has some swelling in it and Connell wants him to wait at least another week before trying to test it in a game.
Arenas: “I went in there hoping to have them look at the knee and say I could play. Then, (the doctor) told me I need one more week. I understand, he’s the doctor, but it wasn’t what I wanted to hear. It took me a long time to get my mind right about coming back at at all and today, I was there. I wanted to play. Now, how do I know that I’m going to be ready next week? What’s going to change next week? At the end of the day, it might be the right thing, but it wasn’t what I wanted to hear.”
Arenas has expressed fear about re-injuring the knee but said he’s recently come to grips with those fears. And, while he still plans to opt out this summer and seek a max contract, he’s anxious to play this season.
He told me that he watched a movie yesterday (didn’t catch the title) that inspired him. “It had a quote that said: don’t let fear control you,” Arenas said. “And that made me think that yeah, I can’t let fear of getting hurt again keep me from doing what I love to do. I love basketball and I want to play.”
March 24th, 2008 at 9:19 am
fallinup says:
And with that, all of the Fantasy GM’s that held on to Gil this long hoping that he’d come around for the Fantasy Playoffs all screamed a collective, “Sunnuva-Bitch!”…while punching their keyboards.
March 24th, 2008 at 10:27 am
d says:
I love Gil as an entertainer and a ball player, but the Wizards would be dumb to give him a max contract. I just don’t think he’s worth it. But then again, they’ll be on his ‘Torch’ list if they don’t give him max dollars. Either way, this team has survived without him and done fairly well, I’d save the money for something better than a shooting guard in a point guard’s body. It’s not that Gil isn’t good, but he’s overestimating his own worth. Gotta know your role. Save your team the money so they can build around you.
March 24th, 2008 at 10:43 am
doc says:
He nice as hell but I wouldnt give him max money but if Rashard Lewis got 118 he should be asking for it.
March 24th, 2008 at 10:48 am
word says:
I agree with d thats so true, and in this statement:
while he still plans to opt out this summer and seek a max contract, he’s anxious to play this season.
he was obviously lying, he said I’m not playing this season the night before so he is leaving for sure. wizards are better without his contract he is a ball hog and would take antawn’s, butler’s, and blatch’s point away. plus his antics probably annoy a lot of people he works with.
March 24th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
GEE...Spring Break should be a national month long holiday and break! says:
Post 1 lol
For real he should wait about 2 weeks before playoffs, wich is right around the corner anyway. Man I wouldn’t F#$% around with an injury, you got to come back right.
He shouldn’t be anxious as he should really be more prepared for when the time actually comes.
March 24th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Furai says:
Knowing Gil, he’d probably jack up 70 shots a night when he returns to the lineup.
March 24th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
kowtz says:
First Impression: How childish can a pro be????
Logical Thingking: He’s gonna be opting out and asking for max $$$ this summer… he needs to re-up his stock… coming from an injured season would at least cost you $20 Mil in four years…