Hey everybody, I hope you all enjoyed Thanksgiving.  Sadly, there was no Agent Zero to go with the Turkey this year, but even when he’s injured he still makes news.

- MySanAntonio.com ran a feature today on athletes that blog and as you would expect, they talk about Gilbert Arenas since he’s kind of good at it.

Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas is one of the pioneering blog stars. His blog on NBA.com draws hundreds of comments per entry. Crawford got the idea to start his blog from Arenas.

Blogging has changed Arenas’ life, especially when it deals with not having his words twisted by the media, Arenas said.

“You’re hearing it straight from the athlete and not from a reporter who’s ciphering through it and reading too much into it,” he said.

There’s definitely been some times when he’s caused some mini-firestorms with what he’s said, but you know that you’re not getting your typical jock mumbo-jumbo when Gilbert and I think people appreciate that, even if they don’t always agree with him.

-Someone at the Washburn Review would like to see some changes to the NBA All-Star weekend that would benefit Gilbert Arenas.

NBA All-Star Weekend has P-I-G, Tip/21, and 3-on-3 instead of the NBA/WNBA game, three point contest, and dunk contest. You’re telling me you wouldn’t watch Kobe try to validate his P-I-G victory over Arenas? Hibachi!

I would agree, but let’s get one more dunk contest out of the way first.

- If you’re looking for a Christmas gift idea, I’d highly suggest considering a Chicago Zephyrs throwback from the NBA Store.

The Wizards will be wearing these jerseys on occasion during the season so if you want to add to your Arenas jersey collection, this would probably be the way to do it.

- Let’s start off with the latest on GIlbert’s rehab.  Here’s what he had to say about his progress to the Washington Times:

If this was eight games before the playoffs, and i had to play, I’d be playing. I’m at the same spot where I was last year when I came back that Milwaukee game. So, if I had to, had to play, I would just do it. I don’t know if it would hold up or not, though.

So far no official return date has been established, but a late December/early January return still looks like the most likely option.

- Speaking of legs, here’s Gilbert’s latest commercial from Adidas, prominently featuring his…legs:

- There are some fashions that only a few people can pull off, and then there are some that just make you wonder.

- The newest comic from Garbage Time All-Stars is up at Ball Don’t Lie.  This week’s comic focuses on how Gilbert and Josh Childress are adjusting in these tough economic times.

- The Serious Sports News Network (which, as you know, is very serious) has all the info on Gilbert renting out his house on Craigslist for people who want to check out the Obama inauguration.

- As we all know, Gilbert should be a lock to win the election tomorrow (in a hearts and minds of the people kind of way), but if he wasn’t running, he’d totally vote for Oleksiy Pecherov.

- The Bog has Part 2 of Gilbert’s interview with Comcast Sports Net, where he talks about his upcoming marriage and his plans to elope in Vegas.  At first, it seemed a little out of character for Gil, but on second thought, getting married in Vegas is probably the most Gilbert thing he could do for his wedding.  Well that, or getting married underwater with sharks.

- While you’re at DC Sports Bog, check out this great interview Dan Steinberg has with Bethlehem Shoals, one of the authors of the FreeDarko Presents…The Macrophenomenal Pro Basketball Almanac.  This particular question will come in handy for those who want to be like Gilbert in every facet of life:

What would be the closest approximation an office wage slave could make to Gilbert’s refusal to shoot during an entire game?

Well, that would depend on if office wage slaves are ever accused of “selfishness.” From my personal experience, that would involve being scolded for long lunches, doing other work on the job, and napping on the clock–and answering by starving myself while trying to be a model employee.

And maybe also kicking the crap out of some of my fellow wage slaves so I can handle their tasks for them.

- What do Gilbert Arenas and Kanye West have in common?  More than you’d think.

- Finally, I think we should all heed the advice of the Wizznutzz when dealing with people who didn’t agree with the Wizards giving Gilbert Arenas $111 million:

LOts of people nervous with Gils injuries and new contract , and they think Abe Pollin just gave 200 hundred dollars to a guy in parking lot for a big brown cardboard box that says “Expensive Brand Hi-Fi Video Camera Inside” written on the side in magic marker. I understand you are worried but this is Gilbert Arenas so you understand even if that cardboard box is empty, you can have some hella fun with an empty cardboard box!!!! Like you can make it to a fort, or draw racecar controls on it, or hide from your wife in it. A cardboard box is as fun as your imagination makes it and isnt it better Abe throws his legacy at fun instead of angry mvps and health plans for the line cooks at velocity Grill? What velocity grill been closed for years? Exactly right!

If you’ve been watching SportsNite on CSN recently, then you know that they’ve been promoting a 3-part interview that Chris Miller did with Gilbert Arenas recently.  Last night they showed Part 1 of the interview and during the interview Gilbert claimed that he told Eddie Jordan of his plans during his return game against Milwaukee last season to not arrive to the bench until after the game started, which conflicts with what had been reported when he made his comeback.

DC Sports Bog has the video from the interview so you can form your own opinions on his claims.  To this point, most people aren’t buying the story.

Ivan Carter:

In [the video], Gilbert – in classic Gilbert fashion – talks about his return for the Milwaukee game last season. He states that Jordan knew of his plans. Interesting because I remember it going to down exactly the opposite way. As with all things Gilbert folks, remember that there is history, revisionist history and Gilbert history.

Truth About It:

I find it odd that Gilbert makes a “confession”….I halfway expected there to be giggling and whispers, and perhaps an “oh stop it!” after he said that.

So it looks like no one is buying that, but I think everyone can agree that the foullard Gilbert was wearing last night was something to behold.

- If you haven’t been checking out FreeDarko’s preview for every game this season, you need to.  In their latest installment, they tackle the games happening this February and I found this preview especially poignant:

Feb 28 Washington @ Milwaukee – Citizens of Milwaukee organize a conference to teach Gilbert about the wonderful things the city has to offer. When he’s told that Milwaukee had the first socialist mayor in America, Gil calls bull****, claiming that most politicians get along with everybody.

Of course, anytime Milwaukee and Gilbert are put in the same sentence, it gives me the chance to show this again:

Wasn’t that fun?  Anyways, while we’re talking about FreeDarko don’t forget their almanac (with a foreword by Gilbert Arenas) is coming out next month, mark your calendars accordingly.

- In NBA TV’s preview for the Wizards this season, former Cavalier Eric Snow called Gilbert Arenas “the toughest point guard to guard over the last 5-6 years.”  High praise coming from one of the better defensive point guards of the last decade.