Wojnarowski: "Agent Zero is all about Agent Zero"

by Mike Prada on Apr 29, 2007 4:10 PM EDT in Agent Zeroisms

As we probably all know at this point, Gilbert Arenas' "big announcement" was that he was named as the cover boy for NBA Live 2008. With a smile as wide as a giddy schoolgirl, Arenas called the news "big, and said that "it makes my whole rehabbing that much better."

The spectacle didn't sit well with Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski, who ripped into Gilbert in a blog entry earlier today. Wojnarowski, who clearly suffers from the classic sportswriter's disease of accepting a faulty self-fulfilling prophecy as truth, wonders whether such behavior is acceptable for a "franchise player" like Gilbert.

This was the wrong time, the wrong place, for Arenas to be celebrating his favorite topic -- himself. All that Saturday should've been about was encouraging his teammates to make an improbable bid to get back into the series with Cleveland. After all, that's what franchise players say in the playoffs.

Here's what they don't say: "I have to pat myself on the back for that one. I have the copies of the game and I have been giving them to all my teammates. I let them know that next year, October 2, they have no choice but to look at me. Your kids, brothers, sisters, they have no choice but to look at me. I'm not only in the game, I'm on the cover of it."

It just amazes me sometimes how many sportswriters, and writers in general, react to a personality that does not fit the dominant archetype. Since when do franchise players have to conform to acting a certain way when they are injured and their team is in the playoffs? Just because past stars do it one way doesn't mean that everyone should.

Wojnarowski probably forgot how Gilbert's been on the bench for every playoff game, or that, as Gilbertology mentioned, he talked about his team later in the press conference. There's also the fact that, instead of redeeming himself after being cut from USA basketball, Arenas has decided he's not going to play this summer, instead rehabbing in order to help the team improve next year.

It's a legitimate question to ask whether Gil exercised poor judgement in delivering the news at this point. But to go one step further and question his commitment to the team, without asking any members of the Wizards what they thought of the press conference? That's the same type of action that leads to writers creating their own definitions and archetypes of "franchise players" in the first place.

As long as he's not pissing any of his teammates off, who cares whether Gilbert doesn't exactly fit the mold of a typical star? It may annoy you, the writer and the fan, but unless it's actually bothers the team, I implore writers like Wojnarowski to keep their personal opinions to themselves.

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Comments

I think Adrian is right

I mean, D-Wade had the decency to wait until after the playoffs to announce he was going to be on the cover.

Oh wait...

No siento mi cara.

by Jake Whitacre on Apr 29, 2007 7:35 PM EDT reply actions

Agent Zero is no HERO!

Franchise player????? yeah as much as you would consider Randy Moss to be a franchise player. Arenas doesn't even care about the wizards-just himself. This isn't about Arenas becomming the new age of players, it's about arenas beig sucked into his own greed-yes the greed no one thought he would or could achieve. But even so, shame on anyone who thinks that Arenas is the leader of this team. Maybe on the court, but I wouldn't consider him the leader of this team when off of it. One thing i always learned is that basketball is a 5 man game. If arenas thinks he can do it all by himself, then have him quit the wizards and go join memphis. I can't wait pradamaster when your heart gets broken because agent zero decides to go hollywood like shaq and join the clippers(he'd join the lakers, but i don't think he'd get the fame he wants). I hate this guy as a person.

by aimelloforpres08 on Apr 29, 2007 10:26 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah

Because when Gil opts out in 2008, aimelloforpres08 will be here saying "I TOLD YOU SO"

I guess I'll see you then.

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Mike Prada on Apr 29, 2007 10:41 PM EDT up reply actions

I see what you're saying

I'll agree with you that Arenas isn't the leader of the team, but I don't think that he's necessarily a cancer or a bad chemistry guy. You have to remember that he's only 25, so he hasn't fully matured into the player and leader that he will be a few years from now.

Does he still have some growing up to do? You betcha. Will he actually do it unlike several other shoot-first PGs of the last decade? Remains to be seen, but I think he's a got a good enough head on his shoulders to do it. If nothing else, his strong work ethic should keep him above water.

No siento mi cara.

by Jake Whitacre on Apr 29, 2007 11:07 PM EDT up reply actions

And honestly

I'm not sure I agree with Arenas' judgement or timing, but there's a difference between being wierd and being a clubhouse cancer or a selfish jerk. If we were to eliminate all selfish people in sports, there wouldn't be anyone left to play the game.

Really, my biggest objection is to the implication that there's a correct way for a "franchise player" to act, as if now suddenly Arenas needs to shape up and become someone different because he's a "franchise player." Why can't a star just be himself for once?

You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.

by Mike Prada on Apr 29, 2007 11:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Clippers?

For what it's worth, Gilbert chose Washington over the Clippers several years ago when he signed his big deal.

by finkad01 on Apr 30, 2007 1:28 AM EDT up reply actions

petition

someone posted a link to a fire eddie jordan petition. can we get a fire wojo-whatever his name is petition going? seriously, this it is this kind of uninformed, obviously biased, poorly researched piece of writing that makes sportswriters look bad. its obvious that this guy used only the quotes from the press conference that supported his opinion, and didnt bother to interview ANYONE who has an informed opinion on this issue. so what if arenas is not the wizard's off court leader? hes 25 years old for gods sake! is amare stoudamire the leader of his team? no! is allen iverson the leader of his team? no! yao ming? to anyone who criticizes arenas' character; do some research. the guy does as much charity work as anyone in the NBA. hes a little arrogant, but thats just the way he is, and his teammates dont mind, so nobody should mind.

by joshp on Apr 29, 2007 11:02 PM EDT reply actions

Eh

I, for one, am happy for some positive Wizards news.

Also, I'm taking the EJ approach to all this: just Gil being Gil...

by miestersean on Apr 30, 2007 4:49 AM EDT reply actions

Who cares?

Maybe it looks bad but I never once thought it was a slight to his teammates. Maybe Adrian needs to read his recent blog where he pimps all of his wizards.

One side note, Can I have my MVP vote back? DWade might have been right on Dirk. I thought the criticism of Dirk in last year's finals was unwarranted. He hit plenty of big shots and beat the Spurs in Game 7 on the road. He missed those FTs against the Heat in game 3 but still came up big in other spots.

However, he looked small and weak last night. AGAIN. During the 4th quarter crunch time, he was throwing up BRICKS that barely drew iron. He hit 2 3s late but the game was over. The Mavs would have won that game if they continued to run their offense through Stackhouse and JTerry instead of Dirk. Or if Josh Howard would have shot the ball once in the final period.

I think the Mavs might win 3 in a row. Dirk needs to stay on the block, playing the 4 with Diopp or Dampier in the game. Dirk at the 5 is killing them on defense. I have hated BDavis's game ever since the 2002 World Championships but man he is balling right now. He is the best player in this series and it is not even close.

What? They don't have TV in the D-League? Don't watch me, watch TV.

by Mac G on Apr 30, 2007 11:37 AM EDT reply actions