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 Bullets, Wizards and Too Much LovePosted on Jan 7, 2010
By Mark Heisler Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect new information. It wasn’t the Gunfight at the NBA Corral that turned Gilbert Arenas’ life into a bittersweet story. That happened a long time ago—at birth—but that’s how it works in a subculture ruled by stars, in which everyone prefers the sweet to the bitter. Arenas was giving off distress signals, or wiggy signals, or something-isn’t-quite-right signals long before he and Washington Wizards teammate Javaris Crittenton were alleged to have pulled guns on each other in an argument about Arenas’ refusal to pay what he lost in a card game. If what happened was bad enough, it probably wasn’t as bad as the version the press ran with, lowering the level of this saga to yet another farce. The report that the players drew their guns came from one story by the New York Post’s Pete Vecsey and David K. Li, which attributed its account to an Atlanta friend of Crittenton, Kendrick “Bookie Ball” Long, who said Crittenton told him what happened. Advertisement The Post quoted “league security sources” for the specific assertion that the players actually pulled their guns. However, it’s common to camouflage sources who ask to be protected, so the Post may well have had a source, not two or three, who was close to Crittenton and happy to put it on Arenas. Arenas, who was refusing to pay $1,100 he had lost in a card game a few days before, was alleged to have brought four unloaded pistols to the Verizon Center and put them in Crittenton’s cubicle with a note that said, “Pick one,” regarding it as a joke. Crittenton then crumpled up the note, laughing, got his own gun, loaded it and actually chambered a round. However, the witnesses told the Post that Crittenton didn’t point the gun at Arenas as both continued to treat it as a joke. Nevertheless, the most sensational story has eclipsed all others. The incident may always be remembered as the time two players drew down on each other. Arenas has more to worry about than having been placed on an indefinite suspension that NBA Commissioner David Stern is expected to make season-long at a cost of $9.9 million of Gilbert’s $16.2 million salary. Arenas’ situation is similar to that of the New York Giants’ Plaxico Burress, now serving a jail sentence after his pistol went off accidentally in a club, shooting him in the thigh. Burress got two years, convicted only of illegal possession of a firearm, which is what Arenas is clearly on the hook for. However, even with the case going before a grand jury and Al Sharpton jumping in to demand a harsh penalty to show African-American youths the error of their ways, Arenas may not get the full “Bonfire of the Vanities” treatment Manhattan D.A. Robert Morgenthau gave Burress. Burress was a talented screw-up on the football field who tried everyone’s patience. Arenas has tried everyone’s patience, too, but remains a beloved kind of screw-up, diminishing any hue and cry for D.C. authorities to lock him up. In the aftermath, New Jersey’s Devin Harris said 60 to 75 percent of pro basketball players carry guns. If you cut his lower figure by half, but add in all the armed members of entourages and the professional bodyguards whom many stars hire, that’s a lot of firepower for a basketball league. It’s not a recent phenomenon. Charles Barkley recently said he still carries a gun at age 46, 10 years after retiring, noting: “People know we got money, they know our schedule but I feel safer with it. I’ve carried a gun since 1984. I understand it’s dangerous, I understand if I pull it, I better use it. But I’ve never, ever come close to using it.” That’s fortunate, given Barkley’s history of late-night incidents, including one in which he threw someone through a plate-glass window. Stars in all sports now feel entitled and paranoid at the same time, seeing the public as adoring and available on the one hand and demanding and dangerous on the other, from groupies to macho challengers and stalkers. No one should begrudge their feelings of entitlement, at least, because we gave them to them. Dr. Robert Millman, a professor of psychiatry at Cornell Medical School, calls it “acquired situational narcissism,” suggesting that being obsessed with yourself isn’t so neurotic when the world does, in fact, treat you as a superman. In my experience, most people, whether or not they realize it, become groupies around stars. Hard-boiled press guys stammer in their presence. Titans of commerce pay them huge fees to speak to their employees (and hang out with them). Women fasten themselves to them, and not just the ones at arena exits. It shouldn’t be surprising that with super-entitlement comes super-fear of losing it and super-skepticism about people’s motives. The easy way to avoid trouble is by avoiding trouble, but there’s nothing common about common sense in lives as peculiar as these. Boston Coach Doc Rivers likes to invoke the 12 o’clock rule his mother taught him: Nothing good happens after midnight, so be in by then. His players listen the way Doc probably listened at their age. If adulation awaits, who are they to hide? Why did they become stars in the first place? If you haven’t noticed, stars aren’t like us. They were once, and will be again, but while they’re stars, they’re what we make them ... rich and crazy.
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By PatrickHenry, January 13, 2010 at 3:52 am Link to this comment
By norman michael harman, January 11 at 6:09 pm #
First off, I believe all professional athletes are grossly overpaid as are hedge fund managers and most if not all of Wall Street.
As a recipient of a public school education and with two children in public school, one in elementary and one in middle school, I am well aquainted with the strengths and weaknesses of teachers in PG county Maryland.
As you implied there are many who will go the extra mile, are inspirational and deserve merit pay increases. Unfortunately, I have know of several who are simply ‘marking time’ and fail miserably in decorum, tact and leadership by example.
BTW, the Oral speech pathologist in our schools (she covers several) is pretty lame. She has failed to address my sons eating disability whatsoever and acts suprised that his issue falls under her disipline. Thats a rant for another post.
Report thisBy ardee, January 13, 2010 at 2:32 am Link to this comment
Blackspeare, January 12 at 11:19 pm
I have a better idea, as you raise this issue, as you claim the factual side,perhaps the obligation to prove your point lies with you and not me…..
While the CEO of Wallmart makes more in an eight hour day than do all of his workers in a year I find a rant against the salaries of those who control the future of this nation through the education of our children more than a bit suspect.
But thanks ever so much for playing..I look forward to your corroborating evidence.
Report thisBy Blackspeare, January 12, 2010 at 6:19 pm Link to this comment
ardee…
The statistics in your link are based on starting salaries. Find a site that shows teachers’ salaries after 10 years on the job, then add to that the benefits and the accrued retirement packages and I am sure even you will change your tune!
Report thisBy ardee, January 12, 2010 at 3:01 am Link to this comment
Blackspeare, January 10 at 3:00 pm #
Ardee…
There you go again——using the exception as the rule.
***********************
Hmm, the link I provided showed the entire nation with respect to the salary of teachers…some exception proving rule there…Please do better.
Teachers make a wage, CEO’s make many ,many millions, sometimes billions. Teachers directly impact the future of our nation by educating our children. CEO’s are oivervalued teacher’s undervalued. Your hatred of unionism in general distorts your view I fear.
Report thisBy norman michael harman, January 11, 2010 at 1:09 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
to Blackspeare and Patrick Henry:
First of all my wife’s work is not “exemplary,” it’s required, due to an oversized
Report thiscaseload which, in turn, is due to an excess of need and a deficit of resources.
There are far more children in need of help than there are SLPs to provide that
help.
Also, her case is most definitely the norm not the exception: “In at 9, out at 3,
on the tennis court by 4,” is a joke - and a lame one at that. I’m 63 years old
and have known quite a number of teachers over the years - some were very
close friends - and they all had to same tale. Yes they get “days off,” (just like
basketball players, soldiers, firemen, factory workers, etc.) most of which are
spent catching up on paperwork. And the “Summers off” are only financed if
you have your bi-weekly salary apportioned out to cover your off time.
Otherwise, “Summers off” would amount to a forced, temporary, unpaid layoff.
Have you ever considered when it is that teachers grade papers, fill-out
student timesheets and evaluations, write curriculum schedules, attend endless
faculty/administrative meetings, and oh yeh, I almost forgot, attend regular
educational-upgrade classes to keep up with the latest research in their
respective fields? These are all necessary and required aspects of the
educational system and, for the most part, are done during the teacher’s own
time.
As to “benefits,” yes, her health insurance is partially paid by the system. This
means her health insurance only costs her $450/month instead of $800 - and
it is one of the few reasons she stays in such an underpaid, underfunded, and
thankless profession.
I’m not sure what you mean by : “I’m juts(sic) a little jaded because teachers in
general refuse to become more productive without receiving significant pay
increases . . .” but if you’re suggesting there’s something wrong with teachers
because they insist on being paid for extra work, what the hell are you doing
defending a bunch of prima donna athletes who hire high-powered sports
agents and lawyers to get bigger and bigger salary contracts, whether their
“workload” increases or not?
Do you really believe that a bunch of overpaid lunkheads tossing a ball around
is a more valuable attribute to society than teachers?
By Blackspeare, January 11, 2010 at 8:01 am Link to this comment
norman michael harman….
I’m sure your wife enjoys her job and provides a valuable service——correcting speech pathologies is extremely important. However, bye your own word, you said her salary is decent and when you admit that it means it’s really good! Oh, and you forgot to mention the benefits—-like health care at al. The fact that your wife spends additional time on the job is exemplary, but what’s important is the salary plus benefits and the ability to live better. As for not knowing teachers or their pay scale——-my first wife was a HS teacher in a large US city and she and her cohorts knew how to work the system. In at 9, out at 3 at the tennis courts by 4! After about 5 years in the system the need to take work home diminishes substantially. My ex-wife actually was chair of the program committee so she only taught two classes and most times left at 2:30. Oh, did I mention the summer vacation time and numerous days off.
I’m juts a little jaded because teachers in general refuse to become more productive without receiving significant pay increases to wit: extending the school day to 5pm and eliminating much of the time off similar to that in the European schools.
Report thisBy PatrickHenry, January 11, 2010 at 3:41 am Link to this comment
By norman michael harman
Your wife may be the exception but she is not the rule.
Report thisBy norman michael harman, January 10, 2010 at 3:17 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Do any of you people actually know any teachers? Do any of you have any idea
how much time the average teacher puts in that they’re never paid for? How
about the amount of money (their own) they regularly spend on classroom
supplies?
My wife is a speech language pathologist in the Maryland Public School system.
Totaling up her paperwork hours (done on her own time) outside of classroom
hours, she puts in roughly 60- 65 hours a week. She’s paid for 35. She spends
hundreds of dollars a month buying teaching supplies for her kids, she is never
reimbursed.
Her salary looks decent until you count up all the extra time and expenses.
And you guys are defending multi-million dollar salaries for a bunch of barely
Report thiscoherent dimwits running up and down a basketball court tossing a ball at each
other. You guys are even more pathetic than the over-indulged players.
By Blackspeare, January 10, 2010 at 10:00 am Link to this comment
Ardee…
There you go again——using the exception as the rule. Yes, there are areas in the US where teacher’s salaries are lower, but not seriously low when you add in the benefits. You have to ask yourself if teacher’s salaries are so poor, then why is there a glut of teachers on the market with more graduating from college——the waiting list where I live is substantial and they’re happy to get a substitute job, which by the way isn’t a bad paying day job!
Report thisBy PatrickHenry, January 10, 2010 at 8:29 am Link to this comment
Thuggy players acting out.
I am an advocate for concealed carry laws, especially if millionare thugs are carrying them.
As for the off topic of teachers salaries, they don’t do so bad here in Maryland with a 2-3 month vacation, every holiday imaginable and various vacations and sick leave during their 9 month term.
It has been my experience that there are several good teachers in the system, a fair share of bad ones and those who just want to boss someone.
http://www.teacher-world.com/teacher-salary/maryland.html
Report thisBy ardee, January 10, 2010 at 5:09 am Link to this comment
Blackspeare, January 8 at 2:08 pm #
Ardee…
First of all teachers are not under paid——that is just continuing propaganda from the unions/associations. Teachers make an appropriate salary.
If a teacher cannot afford a home in the area in which she/he teaches, is that an example of an appropriate salary? I wonder how you are the arbiter of what is appropriate after all?
But perhaps my words were clumsy and my point oversimplified…Teachers are an undervalued resource!
For a look at a more in depth discussion of this issue, at least from the standpoint of fact based research, which, by the by ,also shows that teachers wages are not as low as one might surmise:
http://www.calnews.com/Archives/1YB_II_sal.htm
“The starting teacher salary in the United States as a whole was $24,507, with a climb of 53.6%. “
I wonder if blackspeare thinks that salary as appropriate…whatever such a comment really means..Perhaps one might view his opinion through the prism of his denigration of unions…..
Report thisBy norman michael harman, January 8, 2010 at 12:21 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
over-sized, over-aged, over-paid little boys playing a kid’s game for the
Report thisentertainment of other over-sized, over-aged, (in most cases) under-paid little
boys. what a waste of time, money, lives and screen space.
By Blackspeare, January 8, 2010 at 9:08 am Link to this comment
Ardee…
First of all teachers are not under paid——that is just continuing propaganda from the unions/associations. Teachers make an appropriate salary. In the same context sport figures are not overpaid. but are salaried commensurate with their market draw. As long as fans are willing to shell out the cost of tickets those salaries will continue. And furthermore, sports is a business, teaching is a career and as a late president said; “The business of America is business.”
Report thisBy Outraged, January 7, 2010 at 10:49 pm Link to this comment
Re: Hammond Eggs
Your comments (one at a time)
“Obama should take serious note of this incident and that of Plaxico Burress.”
Seriously…. In other words, from what I understand from your comment is that PRESIDENT OBAMA shouldn’t concern himself with the world events which are of concern to the free world, but instead should be transfixed upon bogus sporting events….? Am I understanding you correctly?
“The Republicans will try to equate Obama with these rich, narcissistic, over indulged punk/athletes.”
Are you saying YOU are a republican then…. or what?
“There is still a lot of racism in the United States. Most of it is not of the KKK kind.”
I disagree. What “other kind” of racism is there if the current racism “isn’t of the KKK kind”...?
“The Republicans are highly skilled at whipping up this kind of resentment. “Law and order”, “welfare queens” and now Burress and Arenas. Are you tired of these N-words?, the Republicans will ask using coded language.”
Really…? I’d say yes, especially regarding that “coded language” acclamation. However, when you combine your last comment with your NEXT one…. well, something is obviously amiss. Your next comment:
“A lot of Americans will respond “yes”. None of this is necessary because Obama can be easily defeated simply by hammering away at his multiple betrayals.”
Huh….? (what would those be… btw, you ARE on “our side”.... right?) of course, you added:
“Call him a Judas; call him a liar, and he and the congressional Democrats will be hanging upside down in the electoral butcher shop.”
Sounds to me like you’d LIKE to see that happen. That’s what it sounds like to me. Is this your “New Year’s Resolution” or simply wishful thinking for you and those LIKE YOU… Additionally, for the record….. who would “you and those like you” be?
It’s simply too deep for me. I can’t figure it out, nope…. not at all, you’re too smart for my blood, you got me. Now…. where the hell did I put my “Obama is a socialist” sign?”
Report thisBy Hammond Eggs, January 7, 2010 at 2:03 pm Link to this comment
Obama should take serious note of this incident and that of Plaxico Burress. The Republicans will try to equate Obama with these rich, narcissistic, over indulged punk/athletes. There is still a lot of racism in the United States. Most of it is not of the KKK kind. The Republicans are highly skilled at whipping up this kind of resentment. “Law and order”, “welfare queens” and now Burress and Arenas. Are you tired of these N-words?, the Republicans will ask using coded language. A lot of Americans will respond “yes”. None of this is necessary because Obama can be easily defeated simply by hammering away at his multiple betrayals. Call him a Judas; call him a liar, and he and the congressional Democrats will be hanging upside down in the electoral butcher shop.
Report thisBy TK, January 7, 2010 at 2:02 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
If one campares the teachers salary to that of Gilberts with endorsments, ardees lament only deepens. It’s the same as a teacher pulling a gun on a fellow teacher for around two bucks.
Report thisBy TK, January 7, 2010 at 1:45 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
I’ve always been turned off by those that use teacher salaries as a guiding symbol of inequity but this time ardee may be on to something.
Report thisWhen Gilberts endorsement money is factored with his player salary, he makes anywhere from 300 to 600 times more per year than his former LAUSD Grant High School teachers and maybe more. Given the same scenario and replacing the hoopsters with the teachers, it’s like a teacher pulling a gun on a fellow teacher for two dollars.
By Been Down So Long.., January 7, 2010 at 12:08 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Lets see, Billionaire Ball players, Sluts, and Gossiping health tips… Having Alternet.org aspirations perhaps???
Its been a long 8 or nine years heaven knows but lets get back to basics: ‘Its the WARS stupid’..
Thank You….
Report thisBy montanawildhack, January 7, 2010 at 5:51 am Link to this comment
I’ve never read an article concerning sports or a sports page in my life and I’m not going to start now…....
Report thisBy ardee, January 7, 2010 at 2:28 am Link to this comment
I have long been bothered by our penchant for objectifying people, whether sports star or politician. Further I believe paying someone tens of millions for his athletic ability when highly competent teachers are severely underpaid is a sad commentary on our culture.
Report this