Jamie Mottram's Sports Blog - www.misterirrelevant.com

Not only have the Wizards secured their second straight playoff appearance for the first time since the days of the brothers Malone, (Ed. note: Turns out Jeff and Moses are not of relation.) but Gilbert Arenas plays online poker at halftime during games. For real. The story was on the AOL Welcome Screen last night. Here's the quote from the professor of Gilbertology himself ...

"I just have a different way of approaching things. I'm a little offbeat. I think of myself as the Dave Chappelle of the NBA, that nobody knows about. Like, at halftime, while everybody's getting ready, I'm playing poker online. It's just a mental challenge, to keep my mind going."

Whatever he's doing, it seems to working as the former second round pick (in the draft where Kwame Brown went no. 1 overall, mind you) is averaging 29 per game and has significantly increased his output in each of his five NBA seasons. However, it sounds like his status as team captain is tenuous ...

"He's OK," [Coach Eddie] Jordan said. "I have different ideas for that next year, so we'll see. Right now that's all I want to say on that."

Added co-captain Antawn Jamison, the team's true locker-room leader: "On the court he's been phenomenal, he's done everything you can ask of a captain. But off the court? We've still got a little bit more work."

Be that as it may, Arenas has steadily emerged as my favorite NBA player since John Paxson (don't ask). The story linked up above contains no fewer than five reasons why that's the case ...

· He mentors a boy who lost his family in a fire.

· He throws his jersey into the stands after each game -- home and away.

· He bowls in the 200s, and his high score is 277.

· He was working out in the Verizon Center just 12 hours after getting bounced from the playoffs by Miami.

· He plans to film commercials this summer and put them online, because "I don't think they're going to be able to be on the TV."

I really hope that last point is true. If so, we may have the Clinton Portis of the NBA on our hands. All this, and he was a guest on SBL earlier this season, telling us the Wizards should change their name back to Bullets. Bravo!

Bonus Links: He has a competitive beef with Paul Pierce, grabbed Antonio Daniels' man boob, and may or may not be nicknamed "Black President."

Update: I just discovered a blog named Gilbert's Arena that uncovered this strange-but-maybe-true tidbit ...

"He bought 2 extra treadmills so his pitbulls can jog next to him when he's on his treadmill. FYI, I am willing to pay for video of this, if anyone can obtain it."

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• #5 Comment from tophac 
  5/1/06 3:02 PM | Permalink

  Once and for all Gilbert Arenas is showing the rest of the NBA what they have undeniably   been missing.  This guy is an extremely overwhelming talent that deserves to be showcased  in the playoffs.  Should  The Wizards make beyond this round it won't  be for the  lack of committment  shown  by Arenas.  He's  lifted his game and those around him have responded accordingly. For either The Pistons or Miami  having to face Arenas won't be a comforting thought, should  he keep this  pace.  
• #4 Comment from dcsportsguyEntry Author 
  4/21/06 9:37 AM | Permalink

  Run TMC! My day just got better.
• #3 Comment from zachls5 
  4/18/06 5:02 PM | Permalink

  and the warriors' had the audacity to give him up. perhaps that's why GS hasn't seent the playoffs since the days of Run TMC.
• #2 Comment from josejorge110 
  4/18/06 4:30 PM | Permalink

  I also heard on the Jim Rome show that whenever a heckler tells Arenas that he sucks, Arenas looks the heckler in the eye, says thank you and bows.
• #1 Comment from monponsett 
  4/18/06 10:57 AM | Permalink

  When I was at Salve Regina, my coach was none too pleased by my halftime habit of downloading porn videos. To each their own...