
- Gilbert is still making the rounds on his tour through the Philippines. He had a nice interview with the Manila Bulletin where he talks about the U.S. Olympic Team and some of his favorite things.
- A fan that met Gilbert while he was in China passed along his story to D.C. Sports Bog. If you were worried that Gil might start slacking now that he’s got a phat contract, you have nothing to fear. Check out this detail from the fan’s story:
“On the way up, I tried to play it cool and not let him know that I recognized him,” Irving wrote to me in an e-mail, “but I eventually [I] said, ‘You know I’m going to tell all of my buddies about this.’ He laughed and stuck out his hand to shake mine.”
Gilbert got off the elevator before Irving. But the next morning, a still-jetlagged Irving woke up at 5 and went down the gym. “Arenas was also awake, already working out with his trainer,” Irving wrote. Irving left him alone. But then came their third meeting, at the Shangri-La’s amazing breakfast buffet, where both men were there just after the buffet opens at 6:30. And finally, before Gilbert picked out his food, Irving asked for what he said was the first autograph of his life. At which point we learned three things:
- Stateside, people have things to say about Gilbert as well. Stet Sports Blog looks into the motivation behind Gilbert taking less money and here’s what Dick Vitale had to say about Gil’s new contract:
The Washington Wizards and Gilbert Arenas hooked up on a six-year, $111 million dollar deal. Where are all the experts now, those who questioned Arenas when he was a second-round draft pick? We analyze, analyze, analyze these kids when they come out of college, but sometimes you can’t measure the heart and determination of the athlete. Arenas has played with a chip on his shoulder to show the evaluators made a mistake by letting him slip out of the first round.
Awesome baby!