That is insane.

This article is about 15 years too lame. Those are some older stereotypes.

Some other things to consider:
While it is appalling, and probably impossible to stop, I think it is NOT the right or place of the media to make commentary about this. Especially local media. No one knows the entire story, so why comment on this. Just report the fact and move on to the next story please. Nevertheless, local NBC4 sports reporters were giving their own commentary on how “stupid” they thought Arenas was. That is NOT their place! Plus, they were hailing him a few days earlier before the incident. How fickle the media (and spectators) are.

Next, I think there is a bigger issue here: the subtle, yet intentional way the media is focused on the Black athlete. Now, don’t get me misunderstood. Wrong is WRONG. I do not support violence of any sort, with or without guns. But I am saying that the media is now dictating who is prosecuted and how harsh the penalty. Since most of the media is largely white controlled, I can only view it as nearly racist. Examples: Serena Williams, Tiger Woods, and now Gilbert Arenas. There is a general outrage by the white media concerning how the Black athlete behaves, yet when similar incidents occur from white athletes, their is a blind eye thrown to the incident. Jimmy Connors, Martina Navratilova, and even Andre Agassi committed all kinds of acts on the court that were viewed as insulting, threatening and improper. What of the white golf greats who threw clubs in the water and even cursed while on the course? And basketball is riddled with white boys of yesteryear cursing and fussing in the refs face. Baseball has too many incident to enumerate.
Yet, it is the Black athlete that is increasingly showcased as being savage and untamed (as if to subtly say: we are unfit to play organized Sports).

Even other Blacks committed crimes worse than these. However, I think the prevailing attitude of the media and white America today is one of non-tolerance. Therefore, the Black athlete must wise-up and realize that the bar, the standard for Blacks is different. Black athletes of the past would NOT last one season today!
Remember Dennis Rodman and his “crotch-kicking incident;” remember Charles Barkley and all his antics; remember Allen “please don’t choke me” Iverson? What about Michael Irvin and all his drug problems (on and off-the-field); what about Darryl Strawberry? SOme athletes wouldn’t make it one week in today’s environment.

It is my belief that today’s white-controlled media are furious at the wealth that Black athletes are now generating, (and sadly: flaunting on YouTube, FaceBook, Twitter and more…) thus, white controlled media focus the microscope tighter now than ever before. League owners, Commissioners and even spectators are being hood-winked by allowing the media to control their feelings and emotions about these recent events.
Athletes are people too (regardless of how much money they generate …and how stupid their actions appear).

Finally, I also believe the punitive damages levied by Commissioner Stern are biased and unfair. In a world where one knows what legal ramifications are facing them, why not the same in the NBA? Why indefinitely?
Indefinitely until what? I think the Commissioner is too powerful. I would have been more comfortable with him saying the penalty is 2 weeks or 2 months suspension. Even pot-head Michael Phelps was given a duration of suspension. To tell someone you are gone forever is not fair. It strips a person of their livelihood. No one goes to a court of law in the US and is told you will be held indefinitely (except at Guantanamo Bay). Even a murder is given a sentence of time whether it be 30 or (sadly, 300 years). Criminals know their duration of punishment. If Arenas is being punished, for how long?

There are some serious problems with how our media report incidents of misconduct involving Black athletes, and there are serious problems concerning how sports leagues determine the punishment of Blacks.

I am also sure that someone told him WHY the Bullets became the Wizards and why management might be particularly sensitive on this point. This is the first crisis since Mr. Pollin died, so cut the family a little slack. On a related point, there is an argument that the league acted appropriately. Even when there is a clear violation of the collective bargaining agreement, they should defer action until the authorities have completed questioning. Otherwise there is a substantial risk that they will disrupt the investigation. It is Arena’s on-court gestures (more than the tweets) that made it untenable for them to defer action. Your friend, Steven