Gilbert Arenas: Role Model Athlete or Stereotypical Thug?

    Those who follow the NBA, and even some that don’t, will remember an incident involving Washington Wizards point guard Gilbert Arenas, a.k.a. “Agent Zero”. It also involved lesser-known teammate Javaris Crittenton. The two got in a conflict about a gambling bet on a card game played while on the team jet. Both of them brought guns into the locker room, trying to intimidate each other. Somehow the word got out that they had guns in the locker room, when guns are prohibited in the arena altogether. The NBA suspended both players for the remainder of the season. The question is: Do the Washington Wizards change their name BACK to the Washington Bullets?

    All jokes aside, the real question is: can Gilbert Arenas be a role model for children in D.C. and around the country, or is he not who he really seems to be? Gilbert Arenas was sentenced to a hefty fine, many hours of community service (none of which can be done in basketball-related ventures), and two years probation.
    He constantly apologizes to the media and his fans everywhere, stating that he is against guns and looking to regain the trust of children and fans in Washington D.C. Is he only doing this for his personal interests; to save his career? Or does he really care about what people think of him. He claims he’s against guns altogether, yet he has a personal gun collection inside his own house.
    However, one thing that shows he’s serious about being a changed man is he will be hanging up the “Agent Zero” title, and starting a new point in his career. When he makes a comeback next season, he will be wearing No. 6, but has the damage already been done to the citizens of Washington?

Tyler