Ivan Carter and Dan Steinberg were both present for Gilbert’s press conference this afternoon so they’ve got all the quotes for your reading pleasure.  Surprisingly, Gilbert didn’t provide a lot of notable quotables today, but as he explains, there’s a good reason for that:

“All of those little things I’ve done in the past are going to come to a halt.  I think I’m up to the task. I just need to cut out some of the foolishness I do.  You know?  But, I think it’s a good thing. I create hype, I create excitement but some of that other stuff I know I have to calm down.”

It looks like the bizarre, swag-filled, era of Hibachi! is giving way to a more mature Gilbert ready to earn his $111 million contract.  But can he live through on his promise?  Here’s what the two guys on the beat had to say about Gilbert’s attitude shift.

Ivan Carter:

I don’t want to sound cynical or anything but when it comes to Gilbert Arenas, I’ve learned to take what is said at any given moment with a grain of salt. To me, it’s all about what he and this team does next season and the two or three seasons beyond.

Dan Steinberg:

He was stupefyingly bland. Intentionally. And he hinted that more blandness was to come. I, of course, do not believe him, but still, this was a dull press conference.

So the jury is still out on how legitimate this transformation is, but if his declaration of where he wants to take the Wizards means anything, I’d say he’s ready to do whatever it takes:

We just have a great group of guys. I know everybody’s here to see me, but it’s about this team. They’ve done a great job, and we’re gonna put a banner up there, a championship banner, we’re gonna do it for Mr. Pollin. That’s what kind of talent, that’s what kind of team, that’s what kind of belief we have….We have to start today, and these three guys up here [Abe Pollin, Ernie Grunfeld, and Eddie Jordan] are going to be the reason….They’ve got to lead us. We’re just gonna follow their drums.