Arenas Calls Gun Dispute A Joke

Poker News - January 5th, 2010 - Written By Bonnie

It comes as no surprise that we find ourselves, yet again, reading about a professional athlete and a run in with the law. It seems over the past year, the headlines have been full of celebrities being charged with unsettled debt to a gambling operator, and NBA stars Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton, know all to well just how serious a debt can be taken.

It seems that what was once a friendly game of poker, ended up being a game that cost Arenas $25,000, which was to be paid to order of Crittenton. It appears that Arenas was late on a few payments, which is hard to believe seeing as how his six-year contract with the Washington Wizards gives him a payday of $111 million, but the two decided to handle the debt in a way that has not only landed them in the headlines, but with possible criminal charges.

Arenas allegedly placed several guns within reach of Crittenton and ordered him to choose one. Crittenton responded with pulling out his own gun, which left them both armed and dangerous, pointing fire arms in each others face. Arenas first stated that he had not pointed a fire arm at teammate, but later admitted that he did in fact do so, but the guns were unloaded. Now, he says it was meant to be a joke, and taken way out of context. He also stated the only reason he was in possession of the guns in the first place, was because he wanted to take them out of his home and briefly store them somewhere safe. Noo shots were fired, and it is unexpected that these two players will be facing any formal charges at this time, but the NBA has a strict firearms policy drafted in the latest collective bargaining agreement, prohibiting them from being in an arena.

A trip to the court room would be all to familiar for Arenas, as he has seen before a judge one to many times. Back in 2003, Arenas was charged with a misdemeanor for carrying a concealed weapon. Those charges landed him with a suspension for the opening of the 2004-05 season.

Arenas has formally admitted that he is no stranger to high stakes poker games and participated in regular games during travel. Arenas may want to consider other forms of entertainment during travel, such as Online Poker.