Gilbert Arenas
Arenas plays for the Washington Wizards and was suspended yesterday with out pay after he made his hands into mock pistols at a game the night before. (Embedded video of the mock pistols at the above link).
Aren't familiar with this story? Let me fill you in.
The story is that on a plane back from a game sometime in December, Arenas was playing cards with a teammate. The teammate won and Arenas owed him X amount of $$. Later, before a practice at home in the locker room, teammate confronted the Arenas about the money owed, and Arenas pulled the guns on him. Teammate then pulled his own gun on Arenas.
So, Peter Vescey of the New York Post writes the story, Arenas denies it, but does admit that he had two handguns in the locker room . His place of work. He says they were not loaded. There's apparently some question of this. Or maybe after the fact it's hard to prove? Who knows.
I heard this, and I thought ... why hasn't he been fired yet? Guns are not toys. Threats are real. Threats of violence are not funny and do not encourage teammwork. This story broke January 1st. The head of the league had to get involved yesterday after Arenas repeatedly mouthed off about it via Twitter and made the ridiculous hand gesture at Tuesdays game.
Where are Arenas' coaches? Where's the owner of the Wizards?
To add insult (or irony) to this, The Wizards were formerly known as the Washington Bullets, but after gun violence plagued THAT team, the name was changed. Arenas has no place playing professional basketball. He's a thug. If he wants to play like a thug he should go play on the street.
And yes, I do think him admitting to having the guns in his locker is reason enough to cut him. Texas is a conceal and carry state, and I am not against guns lawfully obtained. But guns are typically, usually, not allowed in a place of employment, and the employer can and will fire you for breaking that rule.
If after the investigation it is determined that he did in fact pull those guns on a teammate, he should not only be fired, but he should be punished by the law.
Aren't familiar with this story? Let me fill you in.
The story is that on a plane back from a game sometime in December, Arenas was playing cards with a teammate. The teammate won and Arenas owed him X amount of $$. Later, before a practice at home in the locker room, teammate confronted the Arenas about the money owed, and Arenas pulled the guns on him. Teammate then pulled his own gun on Arenas.
So, Peter Vescey of the New York Post writes the story, Arenas denies it, but does admit that he had two handguns in the locker room . His place of work. He says they were not loaded. There's apparently some question of this. Or maybe after the fact it's hard to prove? Who knows.
I heard this, and I thought ... why hasn't he been fired yet? Guns are not toys. Threats are real. Threats of violence are not funny and do not encourage teammwork. This story broke January 1st. The head of the league had to get involved yesterday after Arenas repeatedly mouthed off about it via Twitter and made the ridiculous hand gesture at Tuesdays game.
Where are Arenas' coaches? Where's the owner of the Wizards?
To add insult (or irony) to this, The Wizards were formerly known as the Washington Bullets, but after gun violence plagued THAT team, the name was changed. Arenas has no place playing professional basketball. He's a thug. If he wants to play like a thug he should go play on the street.
And yes, I do think him admitting to having the guns in his locker is reason enough to cut him. Texas is a conceal and carry state, and I am not against guns lawfully obtained. But guns are typically, usually, not allowed in a place of employment, and the employer can and will fire you for breaking that rule.
If after the investigation it is determined that he did in fact pull those guns on a teammate, he should not only be fired, but he should be punished by the law.
Comments
I disagree with you about the guns in the work place issue.
Most employers don't have a policy about firearms in the work place and those that prohibit them in many cases shouldn't.
How many times have you stopped some place on the way to or from work?
Should firearms be left in cars where they are vulnerable to theft or should the person keep them with them?
Most of the lockers can be secured so He took the appropriate measures regarding that.
I do agree if he pulled the firearms on someone he should be punished but not for carrying weapons to work.
I'm with you, Stacy. I don't understand why the Wizards themselves aren't more disturbed by the idea that their players are getting into disagreements that result in guns being drawn in the locker room. (BTW, remember what the Wizards used to be called? The Bullets!)
I think it is pretty sad that it is a part of the CBA. I think that our society has, for too long, just for their athletic ability without tying it to their moral, ethical or legal behavior.