Washington Wizards Fight Club All-Stars

 The recent fight between Andray Blatche and JaVale McGee is the fourth altercation between Washington Wizard teammates in the short history of the team formerly known as the Baltimore Bullets. A franchise that distanced itself from violent imagery seems drawn to combative players.

 I've put together a list of my starting five Wizards based on the best pick in each altercation. Since no worthy small forwards have fought in the Wizards organization, I had to use a little creative license to fill that roster spot.

 At center, Brendan Haywood. The ex-Wizards big man fought poetic teammate Etan Thomas. Twice. Haywood reportedly body slammed Thomas to the ground at the Verizon Center after Thomas took a swing at him. Haywood also ripped out two of Thomas' dreadlocks (extension, I hope, for Etan's scalp's sake). For the sheer brutality and mayhem, Haywood gets the edge as our center.

 Andray Blatche gets the nod at power forward. Who knows what really happened at the club last week when Blatche fought Ja'Vale McGee. But Blatche issued an apology while McGee has remained silent. I take that as admission that Blatche probably started and finished the action. So Blatche is our pick. Plus, he might bring blondie to the post-game festivities. Win-win for us.

 At point guard, the 6'3" legend Rod Strickland. His 6'7" teammate Tracy Murray was allegedly recorded on a phone call speculating to their mutual female friend that Strickland was gay. Strickland heard the tape and took action. He went to Murray's Charlotte hotel room hours before game time and knocked on the door. When Murray answered, Strickland cold cocked him, blackened his eye and gave him 7 stitches as a reminder to keep his mouth shut. By taking decisive action and going Pacquiao on a four inch taller foe, Strickland shows the tenacity and savvy to be the starting point guard on the Wizards Fight Club All Stars.

 At shooting guard, our man is gun toting, pistol joking Agent Zero, Gilbert Arenas. He's not really a fighting type guy. He's not even really that tough or mean. But he joked around with guns and then poked fun at cops and NBA commissioner David Stern for not laughing along. If that ain't the ringleader for a fight club, I don't know who is. If you're going to have some be a "shooting" guard, he may as well pack a gat.

 Small forward is tricky to fill because the only real candidate in any of these Wizard on Wizard altercations is Tracy Murray and he clearly can't fight since he let a man four inches smaller bruise and bloody him with no retaliation. So my pick is current Wizard 6'7" Josh Howard.

 When 7'0 giant Brad Miller violently knocked down Howard's teammate, 6'3" Devin Harris, Howard ran across the court and exacted revenge on the much bigger foe. He also dared outrage a nation of red state patriots by refusing to "celebrate" the Star Spangled Banner. Howard is rough and ready for the Washington Wizards Fight Club All-Stars.

 Who's got next in D.C.? Will Yi Jianlian blindside newcomer Rashard Lewis? Is John Wall gonna have to choke a Hinrich?

Gilbert Arenas Fined For Fake Injury

 Gilbert Arenas has been fined an undisclosed amount for faking a knee injury and lying to Wizards coach Flip Saunders about it. Saunders called Arenas actions "unjustified" and the Washington Post reports that Arenas apologized to the team after practice today. 

 Arenas claimed that he faked the injury so that teammate Nick Young would get more playing time during the Wizards' preseason home opener against the Atlanta Hawks. 

 Here's video of his post game comments where mentions that he "sacrificed playing tonight so (Young) could get some time."

 

 Arenas has probably learned the lessons of not waving guns as a joke and not tweeting quips about police investivations into his felonious activities. He probably doesn't even own any guns any more.

 But Arenas hasn't found a way to close his mouth when it counts most. Why tell the media that he lied to his coach? In what scenario would that ever be a good idea? 

 When he was charged with wielding a gun in the Wizards' locker room last season, he didn't seem to understand that the law and the league were taking his jokes seriously until he was on his way to incarceration. 

 The Wizards were likely looking forward to last night's home opener as a way to show their fans that last year was buried in the past and that this new squad led by rookie John Wall would be more focused on the game of basketball and more serious about winning. 

 Arenas crushed those intentions by again choosing to follow his own misguided ideas instead of falling in line with the plans of Coach Saunders as well as G.M. Ernie Grunfeld. 

 To his credit, Nick Young took advantage of his increased minutes with 24 points on 10-14 shooting and the Wizards won 107-92. 

 Maybe Arenas' sacrifice is about trying to show the Wizards that they don't really need him and will be even more inspired to trade him. But what team wants to pay $70 million to a guy who disregards his coach on a whim? If Isiah Thomas was still with the Knicks, maybe. But beyond that, not even the Clippers will go that route. 

 Arenas came to this year's training camp with a new number, new beard and claims of a new serious attitude. Yet ain't nothing changed. The guy who publicly laughed at his coach, Eddie Jordan, for pleading for more defense is still blowing off his coaches. The guy who played online poker during halftime still isn't focused on winning championships. And the guy who embarrassed the Wizards last year is embarrassing them again and the season hasn't even started yet.

     

5 NBA Stars On The Rebound In 2010-11

 Andrew Bogut shows us that his right arm is doing fine as he heads back into action in training camp with the Milwaukee Bucks. After his horrific injury, it'll be great to see him on the court again. He reports only occasional pain in his elbow and is set for a full training camp and season. Hopefully he'll pick up where he left off as one of the best centers in the NBA.

 Blake Griffin's knees must be feeling good since he was jumping around for photos on media day. He's recovered from a broken left knee cap and is ready to taste his first regular season NBA action. May the basketball gods ease up on the Clipper curse so Griffin can elevate to his potential.

 Gilbert Arenas is back and Agent Zero is dead. I'm not sure if David Stern killed Agent Zero or if Gilbert did it himself. Either way, Arenas is wearing number 9, sporting a beard and smiling for no one. Agent 9 averaged 22.6 ppg with 7.2 apg and was having his best season in three years when he was suspended last year. He hadn't missed any of 32 games after only playing fifteen total games in the two previous years. If Ron Artest could bounce back to a championship, maybe Agent Zero can find similar success.

 George Karl returns to lead the Denver Nuggets after a bout with neck and throat cancer cut his season short last year. He's in good health and expects to be able to fully resume all coaching duties. "I told the team that I probably can't yell at them for more than three or four minutes at a time," he said. "So they're probably excited about it." Karl is now challenged with trying to keep Carmelo Anthony focused on his immediate future in Denver. It's good to see Coach Karl back even if his team may finish this upcoming season in rebuild mode.

 Mo Williams begged the Cavs not to trade him on June 23 when he tweeted "Pls don't trade me, I'm not ready to go. I'm begging. My work ain't done yet. I'm on both knees....pls. I'm serious." 

 Two weeks later, LeBron decided that his own work with the Cavs was done & left Williams as empty as the rest of Cleveland. 

 "This summer was very, very stressful for me," Williams said. "I really lost a lot of love for the game this summer." 

 Instead of embracing his new role as the main cog in the Cavs' offense, Williams feared playing on a team that won't win as much. 

 "We were winning basketball games," he said. I was coming home every night a winner. Who can't love that? That is what playing a role on a team is all about." 

 Now that LeBron has taken over the Mo role for the Heat, Williams can take over where James left off in Cleveland. His future has never been brighter and if he opens his eyes, he'll see it.

    

Agent Hero & The Animal Friends

  What do Gilbert Arenas, Ron Artest & Dennis Rodman have in common? OK, besides the fact that they are among the most heavily suspended players in NBA history?

  All have dedicated time & money to the cause of animal rights. Gilbert is currently in PETA's "Ink, Not Mink" campaign with Rodman & vegetarian Amar'e Stoudamire. The 3 players appear shirtless & covered in tattoos, encouraging people to adorn themselves with body art instead of animal parts.

Dog lover Ron Artest appears with his pit bull named John Henry in ads motivating people to have their dogs spayed or neutered to help control animal population and keep shelters from overflowing with animals. "I got most of my animals from the Humane Society," he said. Ron Ron walks it like he talks it. 

Candace Parker represents women of basketball in her anti-fur ads with her dog Fendi. She said, "I really feel like it's very cruel what they do to animals, and I love my dog and couldn't imagine anybody harming her."

 These athletes are taking time to speak out for those who can't speak for themselves. It's not about the shoe or the soft drink. And in the cases of Rodman, Artest & Arenas, these ads show that there is much more to them than isolated basketball related incidents.