Wizards Insider: January 3, 2010 - January 9, 2010

Adidas "evaluating" relationship with Arenas

Gilbert Arenas is already under investigation for possession of firearms in the District. NBA Commissioner David Stern suspended him indefinitely and the Washington Wizards organization appears to be distancing itself from him in all marketing and promotions. If Arenas weren't already dealing with enough, he now faces the watchful eye...

By Michael Lee  |  January 9, 2010; 3:20 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (110)
 
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Wizards 104, Magic 97

By Michael Lee  |  January 8, 2010; 11:52 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (94)
 
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Haywood holds his own, and then some

The Washington Wizards' 104-97 victory over Southeast Division leader Orlando Saturday night at Verizon Center was filled with standout performances, but none was more impressive than that of Brendan Haywood. The 7-foot center scored 18 points on 6-for-6 shooting and added a game-high 15 rebounds all while contending with Magic...

By Gene Wang  |  January 8, 2010; 10:48 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (20)
 
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Miller set to start

Guard-forward Mike Miller, who has been out since Nov. 21 with a strained right calf, is scheduled to start in Friday night's game against the Orlando Magic, Wizards Coach Flip Saunders said during his pregame media session. Miller is among the best shooters on the team and is coming back...

By Gene Wang  |  January 8, 2010; 6:00 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (40)
Tags: Washington Wizards; NBA; Mike Miller; Caron Butler; Brendan Haywood; Randy Foye; Antawn Jamison; Flip Saunders  
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The latest Wizards trade chatter

As he has all season, Antawn Jamison faced reporters on Friday to answer questions about the latest distraction the Washington Wizards have to contend with. Jamison joked that his New Year's resolution was to have fun, but he hasn't had much to smile about since 2010 began. You can tell...

By Michael Lee  |  January 8, 2010; 2:22 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (117)
 
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Wizards ban gambling on team charter flights

A league source informed me on Friday that the Washington Wizards banned cards and gambling from all team charter flights after a Dec. 21 incident in which Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton got into a dispute over a gambling debt in which guns were involved. As reported in The Washington...

By Michael Lee  |  January 8, 2010; 12:35 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (65)
 
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Wizards' morning brew: Moving on without Arenas

Michael Lee reported on how the Wizards organization has begun distancing itself from Gilbert Arenas since he was suspended indefintely on Wednesday. Video from NewsChannel 4 shows a large banner featuring Arenas being removed from the 6th Street side of Verizon Center yesterday (via Dan Steinberg's DC Sports Bog). In...

By Alexa Steele  |  January 8, 2010; 11:09 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (17)
Categories:  Morning brew  
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Some answers on Arenas

I received an e-mail this morning from a curious reader, Chris Dachi, who had some questions about how Gilbert Arenas's indefinite suspension affects the Washington Wizards going forward. So much still needs to be worked out from a legal standpoint, but there are some things that I can address right...

By Michael Lee  |  January 7, 2010; 1:45 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (227)
 
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Wizards' afternoon brew: the Arenas aftermath

You know it's huge news when it forces the introduction of the new coach of the Redskins to the bottom of the ourse the huge news was that NBA Commissioner David Stern suspended Gilbert Arenas indefintely, saying that Arenas was "not fit currently fit to take the court in an...

By Alexa Steele  |  January 7, 2010; 12:20 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (14)
Categories:  Morning brew  
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Reaction to Arenas suspension from Saunders, Jamison

COACH FLIP SAUNDERS: Our team has gone through a lot over the years. We've gone through injuries and so now we just have to prepare and play. You can't worry about players that you don't have due to injury or whatever. Those guys are professional; they have go out and...

By Alexa Steele  |  January 6, 2010; 7:21 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (162)
 
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Statement from Players Association

Statement of G. William Hunter, Executive Director, National Basketball Players Association regarding Gilbert Arenas: "The Players Association was informed today that Gilbert Arenas has been suspended indefinitely by the NBA as a result of his actions in bringing firearms into his team locker room. Gilbert has acknowledged his regret regarding...

By Alexa Steele  |  January 6, 2010; 6:25 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (12)
 
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New Arenas Statement

Ken Wainstein, attorney for Gilbert Arenas, issued the following statement by his client: "I feel very badly that my actions have caused the NBA to suspend me, but I understand why the league took this action. I put the NBA in a negative light and let down my teammates and...

By Alexa Steele  |  January 6, 2010; 6:17 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (21)
 
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NBA suspends Gilbert Arenas indefinitely

NBA Commissioner David Stern on Wednesday suspended Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas indefinitely, calling the three-time all-star "not currently fit to take the court in an NBA game." Arenas admitted to bringing four unloaded guns to Verizon Center, which violates D.C. gun laws and league rules that prohibit weapons in...

By Michael Lee  |  January 6, 2010; 4:45 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (150)
 
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Wizards' statement on Arenas suspension

"We fully endorse the decision of the NBA to indefinitely suspend Gilbert Arenas. Strictly legal issues aside, Gilbert's recent behavior and statements, including his actions and statements last night in Philadelphia, are unacceptable. Some of our other players appeared to find Gilbert's behavior in Philadelphia amusing. This is also unacceptable....

By Alexa Steele  |  January 6, 2010; 4:17 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (66)
 
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Arenas suspended indefinitely

National Basketball Association Commissioner David Stern issued the following statement today: "The possession of firearms by an NBA player in an NBA arena is a matter of the utmost concern to us. I initially thought it prudent to refrain from taking immediate action because of the pendency of a criminal...

By Alexa Steele  |  January 6, 2010; 4:03 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (123)
 
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Stern has option to suspend Arenas indefinitely

Commissioner David Stern has the option of suspending Arenas indefinitely, which he did in the case of Ron Artest, Jermaine O'Neal, Stephen Jackson and Ben Wallace the day after the brawl at the Palace of Auburn Hills in November 2004. In that situation, Stern had video evidence to support a...

By Michael Lee  |  January 6, 2010; 3:23 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (27)
 
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Brady Campaign statement about Arenas

Paul Helmke, President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, issued the following statement about Washington Wizards basketball player Gilbert Arenas: "If Gilbert Arenas brought firearms into the District of Columbia and stored them at the Verizon Center sports arena in violation of the law, he should be taken...

By Alexa Steele  |  January 6, 2010; 1:19 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (40)
 
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Wizards' afternoon brew: more Arenas reaction

Despite an abundance of distractions, the Wizards beat the 76ers last night, 104-97. Here is Michael Lee's postgame wrap-up. Gilbert Arenas was booed by the Philadelphia crowd, and he goofed around before the game by pretending to shoot his teammates. After the game, he said: "If I really did something...

By Alexa Steele  |  January 6, 2010; 12:57 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (19)
Categories:  Morning brew  
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Wizards 104, 76ers 97

The fourth quarter has been about the flameout for the Washington Wizards in their past four losses to Minnesota, Memphis, Oklahoma City and San Antonio. In those games, the Wizards led by one, were tied, or trailed by one in the fourth quarter, only to lose by double digits...

By Michael Lee  |  January 6, 2010; 12:19 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (19)
 
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Wizards (10-21) at 76ers (10-23), Haywood out, Miller active

Wizards starters: Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison, Andray Blatche, Fabricio Oberto 76ers: Louis Williams, Allen Iverson, Samuel Dalembert, Thaddeus Young, Samuel Dalembert Line: 76ers by 5 Brendan Haywood was dressed in street clothes before the game and missed his first game of the season with a stomach ailment. Coach...

By Michael Lee  |  January 5, 2010; 7:15 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (5)
 
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Miller out, Haywood ill

Mike Miller will not play and Brendan Haywood may not play against the Philadelphia 76ers tonight, Coach Flip Saunders said at the morning shootaround. After saying that the chances of Miller returning from a strained right calf were "50-50," Saunders ruled out using Miller on Tuesday. But the Wizards may...

By Michael Lee  |  January 5, 2010; 2:25 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (53)
 
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Arenas case could go to grand jury today

Courts reporter Keith Alexander writes on The Washington Post's Crime Scene blog: Two law enforcement sources said Tuesday morning that prosecutors planned on presenting evidence to a Superior Court grand jury in the Gilbert Arenas gun case as soon as today. The case would go to the existing panel. The...

By Alexa Steele  |  January 5, 2010; 12:30 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (90)
 
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Mike James defends Arenas

Over the past few days, most members of the Washington Wizards have ducked and dodged questions surrounding the locker room incident involving Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton in which guns were displayed. But on Monday, Mike James defended how Arenas has been handling the latest controversy in his life. Anyone...

By Michael Lee  |  January 5, 2010; 12:06 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (27)
 
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Wizards' morning brew: more Arenas opining

By the way, there's a game Tuesday night. It's in Philadelphia. But in the meantime, the Gilbert Arenas gun story continues to move forward. Arenas met with law enforcement investigators for two hours Monday about last month's incident and why he brought his firearms to Verizon Center. He also released...

By Ed Guzman  |  January 5, 2010; 11:15 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (18)
Categories:  Morning brew  | Tags: Washington Wizards; NBA; Gilbert Arenas; Antawn Jamison; Flip Saunders  
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Report: Sharpton urges Stern to come down hard on Arenas

In an interview with the New York Daily News, civil rights activist the Rev. Al Sharpton called on NBA Commissioner David Stern to come down hard on Gilbert Arenas after the Wizards guard admitted to storing guns in his locker at Verizon Center. "The NBA needs to stand up and...

By Alexa Steele  |  January 5, 2010; 9:59 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (65)
 
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Letterman makes Wizards a late-night punch line

This was probably inevitable since the Gilbert Arenas/Javaris Crittenton gun story has long ago gone national. But during Monday night's episode of the "Late Show With David Letterman," the first one of the new year, the Top Ten List topic was "Washington Wizards Explanations." Counting down, they went as follows:...

By Ed Guzman  |  January 5, 2010; 3:35 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (27)
Tags: Washington Wizards; NBA; Gilbert Arenas; David Letterman; Top Ten List  
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Jamison discusses distractions, trade rumors

Antawn Jamison spoke on Sunday about how difficult the past few weeks have been for the Wizards, with the team in on four-game losing streak and dealing with the latest incident involving Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton. "It's tough alone trying to win games and get things going in the...

By Michael Lee  |  January 4, 2010; 5:01 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (70)
 
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Miller to return this week

Mike Miller practiced on Monday, his third practice in the past four days, but Coach Flip Saunders said that "at best, it's 50-50" that Miller will play against the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday. The Wizards want to be cautious with Miller, who has missed the past 19 games with a...

By Michael Lee  |  January 4, 2010; 4:57 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (9)
 
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Arenas's statement on gun incident

Gilbert Arenas's lawyer just released the following statement on behalf of his client: Washington, DC-- January 4, 2010 -- Kenneth L. Wainstein, a partner in the Washington, DC office of O'Melveny & Myers LLP and attorney for Gilbert Arenas, stated today: "This afternoon, Gilbert Arenas voluntarily met with federal prosecutors...

By Alexa Steele  |  January 4, 2010; 4:10 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (55)
 
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Wizards' morning brew: Arenas's impact

Michael Lee wrote in today's newspaper about how Gilbert Arenas's return to the court this season has affected the team, and Arenas spoke about how challenging this time has been. Arenas and Javaris Crittenton will talk to the U.S. attorney's office today about the circumstances under which guns were brought...

By Alexa Steele  |  January 4, 2010; 10:36 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (64)
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Saunders says report of rift with Arenas "not true"

Flip Saunders disputed a published report of friction between him and all-star point guard Gilbert Arenas on Sunday. Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports wrote a story that mentions that Arenas "barely spoke to Saunders" during training camp and has become "increasingly belligerent and defiant" of Saunders in the past few...

By Michael Lee  |  January 3, 2010; 3:17 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (115)
 
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Spurs 97, Wizards 86

The Washington Wizards started the New Year much like the way they ended it -- with a loss. But after the game, the primary topic of discussion wasn't necessarily losing their fourth game in a row to the San Antonio Spurs, with the Gilbert Arenas-Javaris Crittenton saga unfolding in...

By Michael Lee  |  January 3, 2010; 12:43 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (58)
 
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