This New Years there have been so many interesting sports business stories that I have had trouble deciding what to blog about. First, there was the ridiculous decision of the Indianapolis Colts coach Jim Caldwell to rest his All-Galactic QB Peyton Manning which enabled the Jersey Jets to end the Colts' magnificent unbeaten season. The club's goal, we were told, had always been to win another Super Bowl, which they might well accomplish. An unbeaten season was not in their playbook. Quick - name every winner of the Super Bowls. While some readers can do that, every sports fan can name the two clubs that had undefeated regular NFL seasons (the Dolphins in 1972 and the Patriots in 2007). Winning all 16 would have made this year's Colts immortal, and guaranteed that they would be a question on Jeopardy for decades to come.
Then there was Mike Leach, the coach of Texas Tech, who decided to show a college sophomore that he was boss. Afflicted with a mild concussion, Adam James was banished to an unlit locked room. Of course, Leach was fired by Tech, although some Texas politicians undoubtedly thought his treatment of James might be adopted for use on suspected terrorists.
The most interesting story involved another gunslinger, Gilbert Arenas, who decided it was a good idea to store his four guns in his Washington Wizards locker room at the Verizon Center. (Why do you need four guns? You only have two hands.) He admitted everything when interviewed by the DC Police who are charged with enforcing the parts of Washington's strict gun laws that were not struck down by the Supreme Court last year. Arenas explained to the public that he wanted to keep the guns out of his house so his daughter would not find and use them. That seems to be a commendable aspiration, but it does not quite explain why he brought them to work. He also denied brandishing a gun when involved in a verbal tussle with teammate Jarvis Crittenton. That, he said, was only a joke, just not a funny one.
Arenas is in big trouble. Plaxico Burress was sent to jail for two years for shooting himself in the thigh with an illegal gun he had tucked into his waistband. At least Arenas was smart enough to keep his guns unloaded. If he somehow escapes criminal prosecution, Sheriff David Stern, the NBA Commissioner, should -- and will -- banish him from the game for a while at least. (This week Arenas was asked about Stern. His response: "He's mean.") The alternative is to require all NBA players to go through body scanning machines like the ones they will install in the airports in the aftermath of the Christmas Day terrorist fiasco.
Arenas is clueless: "If I really did something wrong, I would feel remorse in what I did, but I didn't do anything," he said. "You can slander me, or whatever, it doesn't matter. I'm still alive. I'm playing basketball. I'll take all the hits right now. The truth is there; there is no point in getting angry and mad." (By the way, since anything said about Arenas is on the web or in the media, the aspersion, if any, would not be slander, but libel, as all my Torts students know. And truth is an absolute defense.) Aaron McKie, Delonte West, Sebastian Telfair, Lonnie Baxter, Chris Wilcox and Gilbert Arenas have all faced gun charges in the last five years. Arenas is now a recidivist.
Here's where Sarah Palin comes in. Since even Rev. Al Sharpton has called for a severe penalty, Arenas needs someone who will stand up for him. The erstwhile Governor of Alaska and Republican Vice Presidential candidate is a strong proponent of the Second Amendment. Ms. Palin used to go moose hunting, you know. Gun possession is one of those inalienable rights we Americans cherish even if, on occasion, those guns kill people. Sarah should come to the Nation's Capital and speak out in support of Arenas' right to tote. She could sell some books at the same time. It would be wonderful theater that would help us get through this particularly blustery winter. She could wear one of those spiffy red outfits she has left over from last year's campaign.
In fact, the entire Republican hierarchy should rally to Arenas' side. It would divert attention from the fact that they have become a herd of stubborn elephants. (Remember when Nancy Reagan championed the anti-drug slogan: "Just Say No?" The Republican Party apparently has adopted that slogan as its easy answer to all Obama initiatives.)
Basketball is a tough game to play on the professional level. I think that basketball players are the finest professional athletes. There are times, however, when their conduct raises real questions about their common sense. Even without bullets, they are killing their game.
““Wall Street's Pervasive Cultural and Ethical Effects Reach The NBA?
Things have indeed changed in the NBA as the gambling debt that led to the alleged showdown between Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton was actually a credit default swap.
It seems Arenas and Crittenton had entered into an individualized swap contract that may or may not have been triggered when the Wizards suffered their 17th loss of this young season to the Phoenix Suns on December 19th.
Since the swap contract was not standardized and was not run through a central clearinghouse there seemed to be some disagreement over the terms of the agreement. Talks between the two parties regarding a possible settlement had been ongoing. Arenas, as the counterparty was arguing for a 50% payout. Crittenton was holding fast to 25%.
However, negotiations had begun to break down by the 21st Crittenton was facing increasing pressure as spreads were being effected on his side. "The Street" could readily see that things were heading toward a physical settlement, hence the drawn guns.
If you understood any of the above satire/parity then you are not only an NBA fan, but most likely a white collar criminal specializing in extremely complicated financial transactions.
If you didn't get it, trust me it was hilarious and "spot on." The white collar criminal laughing like "Thurston Howell III" would tell you.
Politiwit.com
You can't do much home defense when your firearms are at work, after all, so this Take Your Guns to Work thing doesn't make any sense to me.
"a lie repeated often enough becomes the truth"
glenn beck
information czar fox news
the view 5/20/09
"when the truth is found to be lies"
jefferson airplane
Are you sure of your "facts"? I don't think it happened quite the way you portray it.
speech, sale at walmart
he is afro-american
thats why sarah and the republican/conservatives wont touch this one.
"a lie repeated often enough becomes the truth"
glenn beck
information czar fox news
the view 5/20/09
"when the truth is found to be lies"
jefferson airplane