Yesterday, Agent Steinz caught up with Fred Smoot to talk about a vast array of topics.  Mostly, the conversation centers Fred Smoot (which isn’t a big surprise if you know anything about Fred Smoot), but they manage to spend some time talking about one of Fred’s neighbors, who happens to be subject of this blog.  Here’s what he said about Gilbert’s new contract:

He’s worth every dollar, man. I think over the years he’s proved to be one of the best point guards by far in the league. And more than a point guard: he’s a scorer, he can play off the ball, he can play defense, and I think the Wizards did keep their guys together. If you want to make a run, you’ve got to keep your guys together.

Fred also dropped some information on what he’s doing with all that new money he has.

I actually need to stop by his house, because I rode by his house not too long ago and I think he put an oasis in his backyard, he’s got his pool and his waterfall back there….I seen a piece of mountain in his backyard the last time I passed through there. So when they finish carving into that mountain, I can go back there and see what he got going.

For those of you keeping track at home, Gilbert’s going to have a pool, a waterfall, and a mountain in his backyard.  All he needs now is a ride or two and he can probably get his backyard certified an official Six Flags amusement park.  Then again, he could probably get some nice ticket revenue on the pool alone.  Check out this info Dan found out about the new digs:

Oh, did I mention that Chris Knoche was on ESPN980′s Sports Reporters on Wednesday, and he said that he heard from a kid on the work crew that Gilbert’s putting three bull sharks in a massive aquarium that’s part of his new million-dollar outdoor pool complex.

Yowza!  That makes working out pitbulls on a treadmill downright normal in comparison.

Now, put that report together with this info that Gilbert provided some months ago on the pool:

I’m building it right now in my backyard: a replica of Hugh Hefner’s pool, only a little better. It has a grotto and everything, but with flatscreen TVs, a kitchen and a bathroom. No bunnies.

At this point, my biggest concern is whether or not Gilbert will actually ever swim in this pool.  Between the sharks, and the TV’s and all the other amenities, why would you even bother swimming?

Ever since we learned that Jerryd Bayless would be wearing #0 at Arizona, the comparisons between the two have been non-stop.  Aside from sharing a number and an alma-mater, they both share very similar playing styles and they both are remarkably productive.  But as Jerryd starts on his NBA journey, it looks like he wants to be his own man:

Just like Gilbert Arenas before him, Portland combo guard Jerryd Bayless wore No. 0 during his days as a Wildcat at the University of Arizona.

Also, just like Arenas, Bayless’ stock dropped on Draft night. While Agent Zero was projected as a mid-to-late first round pick and fell to No. 30, the 6-3, 200-pound Bayless was slated as a top-five pick and ended up not getting selected until Indiana scooped him off the board at No. 11 before trading him to Portland.

Even though No. 0 was available on the Trail Blazers’ roster, Bayless opted to take a new digit, No. 4, when he started his career as a pro. I asked him about the change and he said there was “no reason.” My guess is that he wanted to make a name for himself and avoid the Arenas comparisons that would surely surround him had he stuck with the big “o.”

So it looks like we can lay off the comparisons from now on, but if Jerryd starts rolling around Portland in a tricked out Escalade, all bets are off.

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!

ESPN is reporting that Wizards’ forward Antawn Jamison signed a $50 million deal that will keep him in Washington for the next 4 years.  As you probably remember, Gilbert said he would take less money to keep Antawn in town.  Now that Jamison’s deal is done, Antawn expects Gilbert to put his money where his mouth is:

“He said he’d take less money if they got me, and they got me.  So I think everything will get worked out with Gilbert.”

Now that Jamison’s deal is done, Ernie Grunfeld can focus all of his efforts on trying to make a deal with Gilbert in the little time he has left before he heads off on his trip.  No one’s really sure how these negotiations will go since there’s no precedent for Gilbert representing himself, but if it’s any consolation, Jamison thinks the deal will get done sooner rather than later:

“Once he heard that I had reached a deal, he congratulated me, and I said ‘I can’t wait to congratulate you tomorrow.‘”

Does Antawn know something we don’t or is he just exceedingly optimistic?  We’ll see tomorrow.

There’s going to be lots of wild and crazy rumors flying around about where Gilbert is going, what he’s going to get paid, and what flavor Skittles he prefers over the next few weeks as free agency gets closer and closer.  The first rumor comes from the New York Daily News:

Gilbert Arenas isn’t leaving Washington, despite opting out of the last year of his contract, which would have paid him around $13 million next season. Arenas and the Wizards have secretly agreed on a new multi-year deal, according to a GM friend of Washington executive Ernie Grunfeld.

Only time will tell if this “secret agreement” is real or fake (I’m hoping Gilbert accidentally spills the beans in his next blog), but I’m sure this snippet will stir some debate in the coming weeks.  As Tom Ziller noted at FanHouse, it’s interesting that the New York Daily Times is reporting this rumor rather than someone closer to the story like Washington Post or Washington Times.  It’s just something to keep in mind as you discuss the rumor.  But when you discuss the rumor, make sure you whisper, because it’s a secret.