I was looking through some of my old magazines today and I dug up an issue of ESPN the Magazine from 2003 that has artice on none other than Gilbert Arenas, Boy Wonder (GABW).  Sadly, I can’t seem to find an online version of the article for your consumption, so until then enjoy this passage from the article:

Now, although he still wears that zero on his chest, no number matters more to Arenas than 31.  It is a searing reminder of wrongs perpetrated–and a portent of retribution to come.  Arenas has never stopped thinking of himself as Boy Wonder, even over the past two years.  But others continue to question his ability and maturity; clearly, to the world, he’ll always be 31.  So he has adopted the new number, absorbed it: 31 is Arenas’ new touchstone.

Mentioning the number to him unleashes a storm, because the only thing more wicked than Boy Wonder’s first step is his memory.  Sitting with his girlfriend, Laura Mendoza-Govan, he has some words for several teams that ignored him.

Celtics: With three first-round chances to pick a point guard, they drafted Joe Johnson, Kedrick Brown and Joe Forte.  “If I could choose one team to score 100 points against,” says Arenas, “it would be Boston.”

Blazers: “They told me if I was there at 19, the wouldn’t hesitate to take me.”  They took Zach Randolph.

Kings: “I heard they said I couldn’t shoot.  They took Gerald Wallace.  Have you seen him shoot?  A monkey could shoot better.”

Magic: “Jeryl Sasser–He’s terrible.”

Why did Boy Wonder fall so far?  Maybe because the 6’3″ guard was projected to be an undersized 2, his position in college.  Or maybe because he was healing from a separated shoulder when he worked out for those teams.

Or not.  “A–holes,” he says.  “They don’t know talent.”

And you thought the stuff that he said nowadays was controversial!