Gilbert Arenas & Javaris Crittenton draw guns on each other in locker room

[Halu Sination]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=Aj_XYOiu77aNaHaLCYE1GrKLvLYF?slug=ap-wizards-guns&prov=ap&type=lgns

WASHINGTON (AP)—Washington Wizards teammates Gilbert Arenas(notes) and Javaris Crittenton(notes) reportedly drew guns on each other during a locker-room argument over a gambling debt.

Law enforcement is investigating the presence of weapons in the locker room, and the NBA is not taking action now.

The Wizards said on Friday they are cooperating with authorities and the NBA and “take this situation and the ongoing investigation very seriously.” The team had no further comment.

Arenas, a three-time All Star, tweeted on Friday about the developments.

Wizards teammates Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton drew guns on each other during a Christmas Eve locker room argument over a gambling debt, according to The New York Post. Citing an anonymous source, the newspaper reports in it's Friday, Jan. 1, 2010, edition that the standoff was sparked when Crittenton became angry at Arenas for refusing to make good on a gambling debt.

“i wake up this morning and seen i was the new JOHN WAYNE. … Media is too funny,” he wrote.

About 2 1/2 hours later, his tweet was more straightforward: “i understand this is serious..but if u ever met me you know i dont do serious things im a goof ball this story today dont sound goofy to me.”

The investigation into possible firearms in the locker room at the Verizon Center revealed the alleged Dec. 21 dispute between Arenas and Crittenton, Yahoo! Sports reported Friday, citing unidentified sources.

Crittenton became angry at Arenas for refusing to make good on a gambling debt, according to a New York Post report citing an unidentified source. That prompted Arenas to draw on Crittenton, who then grabbed for a gun, league security sources told the Post. The newspaper said the dispute occurred on Dec. 24, and Arenas denied pulling a gun on Crittenton.

“There is an active investigation by D.C. law enforcement authorities, which we are monitoring closely,” NBA spokesman Tim Frank said in a statement on Friday. “We are not taking any independent action at this time.”

On Christmas Eve, the Wizards said Arenas had stored unloaded firearms in a container in his locker and the NBA was trying to fully learn what happened.

On Tuesday, Washington police said they were investigating a report that weapons were found inside a Verizon Center locker room. On Friday, D.C. police said it was assisting the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the investigation.

Players’ union executive director Billy Hunter called the matter “unprecedented in the history of sports.”

“I’ve never heard of players pulling guns on each other in a locker room,” he told the Post.

The NBA’s collective bargaining agreement allows for players to legally possess firearms, but prohibits them at league facilities or when traveling on league business.

Arenas, in the second season of a six-year, $111 million contract, was suspended for Washington’s season opener in 2004 because he failed to maintain proper registration of a handgun while living in California in 2003.

He scored 24 points in Washington’s 110-98 loss to Oklahoma City on Tuesday. He’s averaging 22.7 points. He was limited to 15 games the past two seasons following three operations on his left knee over 1 1/2 years.

Crittenton is out with an injured left foot and hasn’t played this season.

[Halu Sination]

UPDATE: Arenas denies the reports and is threatening to sue the NY Post for false information

http://www.csnwashington.com/pages/landing_09/?blockID=110543&feedID=2992

The New Year seems to be starting off on a controversial foot for the Washington Wizards.

A report in the New York Post early Friday morning claimed that Gilbert Arenas and teammate Javaris Crittenton drew guns on each other in the locker room following a dispute over a gambling debt.

Comcast SportsNet's Chris Miller is reporting that Arenas did not point a gun at Crittenton and that Crittenton himself did not have a weapon.  Miller has confirmed a Yahoo! Sports report that an incident between the players occurred before practice on December 21 and that the disagreement was over a bet.

When asked about it by the NY Post after Tuesday's game with the Thunder, Arenas denied pulling a gun on his teammate, but did clarify to whom he had shown the guns.

"Yes, I showed them to someone. I showed them to team security when I handed [the guns] to them and said 'give them to the police,'" Arenas told reporters at the time.  "Yes, I took them out of this locker room.  I had to take them out to get them out of here to give to security."

On his Twitter account Friday afternoon, Gilbert Arenas tweeted: "i wake up this morning and seen i was the new JOHN WAYNE..lmao (laugh my ass off) media is too funny.

A few hours later Arenas added another statement via Twitter: "i understand this is serious..but if u ever met me you know i dont do serious things im a goof ball this story today dont sound goofy to me."

Both players could face fines, suspensions or both if the allegations are verified.  Arenas' six-year, $111-million contract signed in July '08 could also be threatened.  The following conduct clause is part of the NBA Player's Association uniform player contract.

'A team can terminate the contract if the player at any time fails, refuses, or neglects to conform his personal conduct to standards of good citizenship, good moral character (defined to mean not engaging in acts of moral turpitude, whether or not such acts would constitute a crime).'

The Wizards released the following statement Friday afternoon: "The Washington Wizards take this situation and the ongoing investigation very seriously.  We are continuing to cooperate fully with the proper authorities and the NBA and will have no further comment at this time.”

Billy Hunter, executive director of the Player's Association, told the NY Post: "This is unprecedented in the history of sports. I've never heard of players pulling guns on each other in a locker room."

Last week the Wizards confirmed that Arenas was being investigated for having unloaded guns in his lock box at the Verizon Center, a violation of NBA policy and the CBA. Arenas explained that he brought the guns to his locker to remove them from his home and his three young children. He turned the guns over to Wizards security and then DC police.

A DC police spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday that the police were assisting the US Attorney's Office with the investigation. Gun laws in DC are among the toughest in the country. There's currently no provision for a private citizen to have a gun at work under DC law.

http://www.sbnation.com/2010/1/1/1229392/gilbert-arenas-gun-wizards-crittendon

Just over an hour ago, Gilbert Arenas tweeted the following, "i wake up this morning and seen i was the new JOHN WAYNE..lmao media is too funny." Now, we have a more official denial, as the Washington Post's Wizards beat writer, Michael Lee, reports that Arenas said, "I saw the story. Very compelling stuff. Some real O.K. corral stuff," in reference to the New York Post article, and added, "That's not the real story."

Lee also reports that Arenas is considering a lawsuit against the New York Post. Again, investigations are ongoing and details are still emerging, but it seems that between Yahoo's initial report, the New York Post account, and now Arenas' denials, it could take a while before we actually find out the truth. In the interim, more "Bookie Ball" please.

[Chamillitary Click]

[Lunatic]

LOL at this shit if it's true. Dumb asses.

[Chamillitary Click]

exactly the reason why these athletes should not have fire arms.

they can walk around with all the security in the world, but give them guns to "protect themselves" & you're just asking for situations like this lol.

could have been REALLY, REALLY bad if things got too heated.

[sprite]

could have been REALLY, REALLY bad if things got too heated.

haha these guys aren't gonna do shit, they were probably listening to too much rap in their headphones before the game

all these NBA players are wannabe thugs don't you know already

[7even]

blacks are nuts

['EclipZe]

why would a NBA player carry a gun with him anyways...

[Halu Sination]

why would a NBA player carry a gun with him anyways...

You'd think these guys would learn from Plaxico and stay the fuck away from shit like this.

[7even]

why would a NBA player carry a gun with him anyways...

You'd think these guys would learn from Plaxico and stay the fuck away from shit like this.

They are black...

[Shallow]

why would a NBA player carry a gun with him anyways...

You'd think these guys would learn from Plaxico and stay the fuck away from shit like this.

They are black...

You guys are idiots. This was nothing more than peaceful protest. No one was hurt except for those lefty pinkos trying to destroy the constitution. These fine young Americans were merely supporting the 2nd amendment. When the Mexicans or Taliban, or Mexicans and Taliban together, finally invade the US you'll all be lucky to have Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton with their guns a blazin' protecting your freedom. If Obama wasn't such a bitch he'd give them both medals.