Gilbert Arenas Puts His Teammate On Blast
The Wizards were suppose to be the comeback team of the year, they were suppose to challenge the Magic, Celtics and Cavaliers, they were suppose to be contenders. Instead the team formerly known as the Bullets were derailed by injuries and sputtered off to a slow start. Instead of Michael Lloyd Miller and Randy Foye anchoring one of the strongest benches in the league, they have been oft injured or filling in for injured stars.
For the most part we were all willing to give the Wiz a reprise because of the injuries but now their problems seem deeper than the injury report. The Wizards have now turned on each other. Nothing destroys chemistry faster than fighting between two of their superstars fueled by losing and Gilbert Arenas calling out one of his teammates in the Washington Times.
“For the most part, we all get along,” Arenas said while voluntarily speaking to reporters after practice for the first time this year. “There are, what, 15 players on the team? Fourteen do. … At the end of the day, if 15 players don’t want to go and it’s only 14, you’ve seen ‘Remember the Titans.’ It’s the same thing. We’ve just got to play.”
The one player he is referring to Mr. Tough Juice himself, Caron Butler. Hibachi’s issues with Butler reportedly stem from Gilbert’s perception that Butler can not or will not adapt to the new offensive system. Arenas’ believes that Butler waste scoring opportunities by driving or hesitating instead of catching and shooting and we know that Gilbert has never had an issue finding his shots. Butler responded by questioning Gilbert’s maturity.
“Honestly, I have never had a problem with nobody on the team. It’s frustrating when you’re losing games, but when you’re frustrated, do you point the finger? Do you blame other people? Or do you try to get better and see ‘What can I do?’ That’s where maturity comes in.”
The Wizards absolutely can not be successful if there is in house fighting, especially between arguably their two best players. When asked who should solve the in house fighting Gilbert responded.
“Me and Antawn [Jamison]. That’s our jobs [as captains].”
Gilbert is right it is up to the team’s leaders, the captains to step up and squash any in house problems. However, news flash Gilbert, Caron is a captain too, not just you and Antawn Jamison and conveniently forgetting Caron does nothing to squash any perceived problem. It is said that winning cures all and we have seen what the Wizards can do at full strength but unfortunately, victories have been few and far between in the District of Columbia.
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November 24th, 2009 at 11:35 am
Steve A says:
Memo to the Wizards: You aren’t relevant.
November 24th, 2009 at 11:46 am
Jeronimo says:
Why is this Arenas guy still making the news? Basketball-wise he’s done nothing in two years. At this point he’s as good as Steve Francis as far as I’m concerned.
November 24th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
zaboo says:
@Jeronimo – It’s Mr. Stevie Franchise to you sir.
November 24th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
UncheckedAggression says:
Alright, that’s it. Get Caron the hell outta there. He doesn’t deserve this shit–Arenas needs to wake the fuck up. I like Butler’s game too much to see it wasted on that pathetic team. The Wizards seriously aren’t any better with Gil running the team than the past 2 seasons. If he thinks the problem is someone else, I just don’t know what to say about that.
November 24th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
zaboo says:
Can somebody work out a trade scenario bringing butler to the rockets? maybe involve tmac and new york?
November 24th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
GayforRudy says:
You gotta love how the relevant piece of information is never pointed out… Gilbert (who has played roughly 30 games over the last three seasons) is calling out someone. This is the same P.O.S. who could’ve played last year but didn’t have the heart because his team was out of playoff position. F this Puss.
November 24th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
eyes says:
It could be that Nick Young isn’t playing any minutes whatsoever. FLIP. Mike Miller needs to come off the bench. Javele needs to play. This team obviously is older than they were a few yrs back. Gilbert has to go back to what got them relevant in the 1st place. He’s trying to be something he isn’t. A pass 1st pg. Again Management & Coaching fault. He’s healthy and just has to have the Green Light. Remember this team w/o him last yr. Him alone gives them a chance to win a playoff series. I like Jamison and Tough Juice but they cannot carry a team like Gilbert. Him having lots of turnovers is expected in him looking to facilitate. Bring in a true pg. Foye plays way to much. Blatche is going to be promising for ever. Trade Arenas now for something and rebuild. Gilbert you do what you do & let us all continue to hate,love,blog,critique or whatever. You are a star in this league. He already overcame the biggest battle & that was getting healthy. Thanks to Wiz doctors it took 3 surgeries. That in itself is a travesty. They’re needs to be a overhaul w/ most of these team physicians. They have caught up with technology & science or maybe they could care less if the investment is hurt or not. Go back to being Agent Zero and I’m sure everything will fall into place. What do you have to lose. Firing Eddie Jordan doesn’t seem to be working. It’s rarely the coach. The players have to perform.
November 24th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
The English prof says:
To the author,
The first line in your article suggests you need some help with your grammar.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/youmeus/learnit/learnitv152.shtml
you’re welcome
November 24th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Landova and Landova says:
Anyone consider this might have something to do with his marital problems? Gil was always quirky, but he wasnt crazy. He’s acting kinda crazy right now imo.
November 24th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
Caron Butler is one of my favorite players and I hate to see him waste the best years of his career playing next to the bitch that is Gilbert Arenas. Caron could be the missing piece for a few teams out there but instead is left rotting away in DC. The Wizards make me sick with the talent they have and still can’t win.
I agree with eyes post 7 although I still don’t see the potential in Nick Young. The Wizards need to play Javale and Foye more and do something about Arenas. I doubt they can trade him but they might need to pull the Chris Wallace and let him go for peanuts to a team willing to take on his robbery of a contract.
November 24th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
POPPI GEE says:
Yea if that continues most def. a trade and I smell Houston being involved along with the usual suspects NY and the Warriors.
November 24th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
kg fan says:
caron > arenas
November 24th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
D.H. says:
my fantasy teams will love you if Butler is traded.
November 24th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
kevin k says:
you are taking 19 shots a game while shooting 39%… you are killing my fantasy team Gilbert.
November 24th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
Jake says:
Gilbert, NOT “this years D-Wade” (as stated by DIME) – this years AI instead
November 24th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
jeremy says:
clearly you guys haven’t been watching wizards games this year because as bad as gilberts been (if you consider averaging 23 6 and 4 bad), carons been twice as worse.
November 24th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
UncheckedAggression says:
Twice as worse? What the hell does that even mean?
And we’re talking about how ridiculous Gil’s claims are and how Butler has NEVER been a bad influence on any team that he has been a part of. Gil is getting his way now and guess what? The team fucking sucks. They’ve got the pieces on this team and Gil can’t find a way to win. He needs to shut the fuck up and adjust. If he’s got a problem with a fellow captain, he needs to take it up with him instead of speaking out like this.
November 24th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
sunni says:
i agree with getting caron to a better team…hes solid, and can help any other team win..gil will never win a championship as a captain
November 24th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
That's what's up says:
He’s the one who’s playing like Aren-ass, not Butler
November 24th, 2009 at 3:58 pm
Hugo says:
what? I had always dreamt about brining butler to the mavs. An expiring josh and barea would be enough to get him? That would be great. Kidd, butler, marion, dirk and dampier would be 1st on the west.
November 24th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
Jake says:
Maybe, but I think the Mavs would hold onto JJ because Kidd is on his last legs and Caron aint a 2 guard he’s a small forward.
November 24th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
karizmatic says:
Look for Caron to get traded by all star break.
November 24th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
LakeShow84 says:
Bottom line amongst on any team in any sport is you keep all that in house..
ESPECIALLY if ur a captain..
Butler pulled his card on the maturity comment.. he shouldnt be a captain if hes going to speak to the media on a teammate like that..
November 24th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
UncheckedAggression says:
Haha that’s great. It’s Butler that shouldn’t be a captain. Genius.
The funny thing is, Caron just pointed out exactly what the majority of fans noticed right away. Butler just sent out a warning to Arenas that he was making an ass of himself.
November 24th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
eyes says:
@8
Thank you very much. I’m signing up for LAME UNIVERSITY as we speak. Leave the 1800-JOKE LINES ALONE. Do you have a grammar badge? I’ve fixed my grammar but you still have your problem. Did you grade it? Don’t forget to use red ink next time.
November 24th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
GayforRudy says:
Very strange how “eyes” worries about the comments but doesn’t care about the readers. This is a world wide website. Use spell check before posting an article dick.
November 24th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
GayforRudy says:
Oh yeah and 1-800-Go-F-Yourself
November 24th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
"Tha Boddy" R.I.P Abe Polin 1923-2009 says:
Hey DIME mind if we get some love for the late Washington Wizards Owner Abe Polin who passed away earlier today…He was the longest tenured NBA owner at the moment and has done great things for the Washington DC Area…You will be missed man you made Chinatown the right kinda town your way
R.I.P Abe Polin!!!
November 24th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
LakeShow84 says:
lol @ all the spell checkers..
U’z guiz b stoopid tryppn..
November 24th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
Dagomar says:
Arenas is a big part of the problem in Washington so far this season. His stats are brutal and he’s a drag on his team until he can get back up to 100%. Even at his best he never played a total game on both ends of the course. He never surrendered the ball willingly or happily adapted to the role the Wizards have long needed him to play. Caron isn’t the problem right now; Gilbert is.