The Magic of the Wizards

Raja Bell of the Phoenix Suns had a family emergency, so he was unable to take part in the All Star Weekend's 3-point Shooting Contest. For the second time this year, Gilbert Arenas got the call to replace somebody who couldn't make it. (Maybe he should start renting himself out for dinner parties.)

Gilbert doing the Wizards proud

Against great three-ball shooters like Ray Allen and Dirk, this should have been a disaster. As that idiot Charles Barkley said at least half a dozen times (as though he were imparting great wisdom), Gilbert is a scorer, but not necessarily a great shooter. Dirk and Ray--and Quenton Richardson--should have put him away easily.

Only it didn't happen that way. Dirk got a grace call when he was allowed to have his last money ball, even though the replay showed the ball still in his hands when the clock ran out. That put him into a tie with Gilbert for second place behind Ray Allen, so all three went into the second round.

...where, suprisingly, Gilbert beat Allen handily and came close to catching Dirk. Considering the relative scores of Arenas and Allen in the second round, this competition should've been Gilbert's. Still, in an event you wouldn't think he could compete in, he rocked. Second place in a three-point contest against guys like that is damned good.

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