Gilbert Arenas is about helping children. Not the millions of starving children around the world. Not the ones who need medical assistance or a father figure in their lives.
No, the Washington Wizards All-Star wants to opt out of his $64 million deal next season so he can sign a $100 million pact to provide for the financial security of his two young children.
What nonsense. Even worse, how insulting that Arenas thinks people will believe such bull. If you want to redo your contract, no problem. It’s a smart business move that we would all do. But taking care of your family?
Agent Zero — that’s a hot airball of an explanation.
Gilbert Arenas VI already has money in the bank when born a century from now. He’ll hear what a great basketball player his great-great grandfather was when looking at the huge painting of the Wizards guard above the fireplace of some mansion. Kind of like the Kennedy children hearing of some ancestor that provided for their rich lifestyle.
But if $64 million isn’t enough, how in the world are the rest of us surviving on $64,000 — a good year for many people? Accepting a job you don’t like for a $10,000 raise and better health benefits is taking one for the family, not going from $64 million to $100 million.
Arenas is waving the money trucks to start circling Verizon Center. By announcing he won’t renew the final two years of his deal in 2008 that would have paid $13 million annually, Arenas is hoping for a new long-term contract that might reach $20 million or more.
Maybe Arenas re-signs with the Wizards, maybe not. Chances are Arenas will go elsewhere. Washington has a slight edge in being able to offer a six-year deal when others can only give five, but that’s very minor.
If the Wizards are smart, they’ll use Arenas’ red flag to sign him now to a new deal. Without Arenas, the franchise returns to the crummy team it was for two decades. Then again, there aren’t any recent championship banners inthe rafters.
Whatever happened to Arenas’ past comments on taking less money to help create a better overall team? Now Arenas wants to head in one direction — Fort Knox.
Maybe fans should start a food drive for the Arenas family. Canned goods are best because they last longer. Might be a cold winter upcoming. Bring some clothes, too. And hey, any coupons would be appreciated, also. Guess Arenas shouldn’t have spent a ba-zillion dollars on that birthday bash last winter. Next year might have to be an afternoon at Six Flags and an ice cream cake.
If this seems too snarky, well, Arenas started it with this baloney over looking at his family’s long-term financial future. No one is saying don’t get everything he can. Just don’t color it as anything but gold fever.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at [email protected].
