Gilbert Arenas is still acting like a fool...

[Bankshot]

I don't have a problem with what he said.  He was joking, trying to make light of a bad situation.  And if he was fined for saying that, then that's a joke too. And I am in no way an Arenas fan.

[BballTim]

Reportedly, Arenas has been fined, but I doubt he learned anything. 

  He's played about 50 games over the last 3 years, earning over $40M during that time. What's another preseason game between friends?

[Finkelskyhook]

No guns this time:

Following the game, Arenas told reporters [his knee injury, which caused him to miss the game] was all a ruse in order to give Young the opportunity for more playing time.

"I know he's kind of frustrated he's not getting a chance to crack the three position, especially since we're going three guards, so I told him I'd go ahead and fake an injury or say something's wrong with me so you can start," a smiling Arenas said in the locker room.

When asked about the health of his knee, Arenas said, "I'm fine," and indicated he would play on Thursday in the Wizards' final home preseason game against Milwaukee.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/12/AR2010101206902.html

Assuming Gilbert is telling the truth, his heart might have been in the right place, trying to build some locker room cohesion.  However, it's ridiculous to lie to your employer and undermine your coach's authority like that.  

Reportedly, Arenas has been fined, but I doubt he learned anything.  

Why assume he's telling the truth and being serious? Arenas is a well known jester. Sounds to me like he was just being playful with a reporter.

Playful or not, the team took it seriously enough to fine him.  They weren't amused, and regardless of the truth of the statement, Arenas was acting stupid (either for faking an injury, or lying about faking an injury).

I wonder how we'll feel when Jermaine is doing exactly what Arenas says he did for 40-45 games in his non-contract year?

[Roy H.]

No guns this time:

Following the game, Arenas told reporters [his knee injury, which caused him to miss the game] was all a ruse in order to give Young the opportunity for more playing time.

"I know he's kind of frustrated he's not getting a chance to crack the three position, especially since we're going three guards, so I told him I'd go ahead and fake an injury or say something's wrong with me so you can start," a smiling Arenas said in the locker room.

When asked about the health of his knee, Arenas said, "I'm fine," and indicated he would play on Thursday in the Wizards' final home preseason game against Milwaukee.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/12/AR2010101206902.html

Assuming Gilbert is telling the truth, his heart might have been in the right place, trying to build some locker room cohesion.  However, it's ridiculous to lie to your employer and undermine your coach's authority like that.  

Reportedly, Arenas has been fined, but I doubt he learned anything.  

Why assume he's telling the truth and being serious? Arenas is a well known jester. Sounds to me like he was just being playful with a reporter.

Playful or not, the team took it seriously enough to fine him.  They weren't amused, and regardless of the truth of the statement, Arenas was acting stupid (either for faking an injury, or lying about faking an injury).

I wonder how we'll feel when Jermaine is doing exactly what Arenas says he did for 40-45 games in his non-contract year?

I think J.O. will be fine.  In this locker room, I don't think players would get away with taking games off.

[Fafnir]

I think J.O. will be fine.  In this locker room, I don't think players would get away with taking games off.

Depends on KG's health in my opinion. If he's feeling good and the team stays pretty healthy I think you're right.

Injuries to KG or other players could easily push the C's to 50ish wins again as they coast in the regular season again.

[Roy H.]

I think J.O. will be fine.  In this locker room, I don't think players would get away with taking games off.

Depends on KG's health in my opinion. If he's feeling good and the team stays pretty healthy I think you're right.

Injuries to KG or other players could easily push the C's to 50ish wins again as they coast in the regular season again.

Coasting, yes.  Milking an injury, I'm more skeptical of.  Maybe they're two sides of the same coin, but I think teammates would have an issue if J.O. or anybody else missed 30 to 40 games with an exaggerated issue.

[Fafnir]

I think J.O. will be fine.  In this locker room, I don't think players would get away with taking games off.

Depends on KG's health in my opinion. If he's feeling good and the team stays pretty healthy I think you're right.

Injuries to KG or other players could easily push the C's to 50ish wins again as they coast in the regular season again.

Coasting, yes.  Milking an injury, I'm more skeptical of.  Maybe they're two sides of the same coin, but I think teammates would have an issue if J.O. or anybody else missed 30 to 40 games with an exaggerated issue.

I think they're pretty similar, I dunno it depends also on how they approach injuries this year.

[cornbreadsmart]

     So you guys think that Jermaine has miked injuries? I just have always believed him. For whatever reason,I've always looked at him as a good worker.

[cornbreadsmart]

It sure sounds like Gilbert was joking to me. If he was serious he'd be like one of those people that does charity work so they can tell everyone how good a person they are.

[JSD]

I don't have a problem with what he said.  He was joking, trying to make light of a bad situation.  And if he was fined for saying that, then that's a joke too. And I am in no way an Arenas fan.

The team fining him tells me there is *really* something there. Why make a player your trying to market and sell look bad? Having to set an example and punish him like that at this stage is concerning. However, before I knew about the fine I shared your sentiment.

[moiso]

What is the joke you guys think Arenas is telling?  He sounds 100% serious to me.  And I bet he really thinks he did the right thing.  I don't find it amusing at all.  The guy has been an embarrasment for years now.

I think JO has definitely milked injuries in the past. 

[cornbreadsmart]

Okay, guys. Where does Gilbert end up? Where would you like to see him, as an NBA fan? I know many would like to see him out of the league entirely, which I fully understand.

[JSD]

What is the joke you guys think Arenas is telling?  He sounds 100% serious to me.  And I bet he really thinks he did the right thing.  I don't find it amusing at all.  The guy has been an embarrasment for years now.

I think JO has definitely milked injuries in the past.  

I don't understand how you can't see what he said from another angle. Look, I can see it taken both ways, I'm just fairly certain he was kidding.

[JSD]

Okay, guys. Where does Gilbert end up? Where would you like to see him, as an NBA fan? I know many would like to see him out of the league entirely, which I fully understand.

I think it's unpredictable until after the CBA. However, Jamison for GA works and it would allow Cleveland to move Hickson into a starting role.

[Roy H.]

Reaction from Flip Saunders, and Gilbert's apology:

That didn't sit well with the Wizards or Saunders, who said Arenas told him at the morning shootaround that he was sore and couldn't play. Saunders said he addressed the situation in meetings with Arenas and the team. "I told him, 'I'm most disappointed personally, because I believe in you. There has been a trust factor.' I told him, 'You have to be honest with me,' " Saunders said. "In my conversation with both him and in front of the team, was when you guys indicate to me that you're in a situation that you can't play, I can't judge when someone is hurt or not hurt. Only you can tell us that. When you indicate and say that to me, that's what I go by."

Arenas apologized for not being forthcoming with Saunders, but said he was only trying to help a teammate get more playing time. "I was trying to be a good teammate. Nick wanted to play, and since we are guard-loaded, I felt I'd take the day off, and I lied to coach and told him my knee was sore so he could start Nick," Arenas said. "Obviously, no one's taken it well. I was just trying to help out Nick, get some playing time under his belt because he's been working hard at practice. I screwed up again, so I just want to say, 'Sorry.' "

"I messed up again," he said. "I'll never do it again."

Arenas said he probably should've handled the situation differently. "In hindsight, yes, but I wasn't really thinking that this was going to be another media outburst. It's like everything I do now, someone tit for tat, try to blow it out of proportion. At the end of the day, Nick is happy. He got to play, got to show that he can play, and I'm out here taking all the heat again. I made my teammate happy."

He added, "Better way? If I wouldn't have made any comments, you guys wouldn't have known, right? Let's just say I blew it again."

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/wizardsinsider/2010/10/gilbert-arenas-i-screwed-up-ag.html

It's pretty clear from Arenas' words that he doesn't get it.  He thinks the thing that he did wrong was telling the media, rather than lying to his coach and faking an injury.  He undermined his coach and organization, but because he helped out a teammate, he thinks he did the right thing. Stupid. 

By the way, he absolutely wasn't kidding.  He's completely serious in his explanation, and his earlier statements.