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OPINION: Gilbert Arenas Will Now Learn David Stern’s Wrath

Written by Dr. Boyce Watkins on January 2, 2010 1:23 pm

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I have a bit of experience dealing with NBA commissioner David Stern.  During an appearance together on “Keep Hope Alive with Rev. Jesse Jackson,” Stern and I were on to debate the findings of a research study which showed that NBA referees call more fouls on black players than white ones.  I’ve never liked David Stern very much, and I didn’t like him that day.  In some ways, Stern has turned the NBA into the ultimate plantation, controlling the behavior, dress and actions of athletes like they are a pack of dysfunctional hood monkeys, instead of the rational human beings that most of them are.  But I have to give credit where credit is due.  During the interview with Rev. Jackson, I was amazed at how David Stern took the high quality research of an incredibly well-trained University of Pennsylvania statistician and made him look like a common quack.  In just a short sequence of sound bites, Stern neutralized 10 years of post-secondary education at the best universities in the world, and turned lies into the truth.  Although Stern couldn’t break down my arguments, he ate the U. Penn Professor (who had very little media training) for lunch and didn’t even pick his teeth afterward.

That’s what David Stern does, he’s a monster.  He has crushed any player or entity choosing to disrupt his brand, and he runs one of the tightest corporate ships in America.  He even wiggled his way out of a gambling scandal by an NBA referee who admitted to fixing games.  Again, I don’t like David Stern, but I am impressed with the way he handles his business.

RELATED: REPORT: NBA’s Gilbert Pulled Gun On Teamate In Locker Room Argument

In light of his past, I am sure we’ll all be affected by how David Stern handles the recent situation with NBA star Gilbert Arenas. According to media reports, Arenas allegedly pulled a gun out on teammate Javaris Crittenton in a dispute about an unresolved gambling debt.  Of course everyone is denying that anything happened, but the NBA always gets to the bottom of things.

After hearing about Gilbert Arenas’ current “situation,” I thought about the scene in the movie, “Menace 2 Society,” where a cop is sitting across the table from Larenz Tate.  In the scene, the cop stares Tate down and says, “You know you done f*cked up don’t ya?”  Arenas has clearly messed up, and his standing as an NBA superstar is now in serious jeopardy.  David Stern doesn’t take kindly to anyone who undermines the brand of the NBA, and he will likely put the hammer of heaven and earth down on Arenas if his behavior can be proven.

RELATED: NBA Player Delonte West Arrested On Gun Charges

David Stern is on a mission and he is likely to succeed.  His goal is to create a strong global presence for the NBA, with just as many fans in China and Japan as he has in the United States.  In fact, I suspect that China has now surpassed the US in NBA viewership.  When I visited Shanghai in 2005, nearly every Chinese boy played basketball and the NBA finals were on all the television sets on the campus on which I was teaching.   Stern is set to take over the world, and he is not going to allow Gilbert’s antics to get in the way.

Expect to see long suspensions and huge fines.  You will also see Gilbert’s face removed from many of the promotions for the NBA and the Washington Wizards.  Rules will be changed, committees will be created, and additional oversight will be approved.  Stern is going to get every bit as “gangsta” on Gilbert Arenas as Gilbert might have been on his teammate.  The last thing that David Stern wants on his watch is for one NBA player to shoot another player in the locker room; that would be disastrous.

My personal opinion:  If Gilbert Arenas did engage in this kind of behavior, he needs to be slapped.  Grow up homeboy, you’re not a little kid anymore.  Life is too short to be stupid.

Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Professor at Syracuse University and founder of the Your Black World Coalition.  To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered directly to your email, please click here.

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  • http://www.blackplanet.com/lakerdude19/ lakerdude19

    Comparing Stern to a plantation owner is highly inappropriate, Watkins. He is not a monster, he is a juggernaut. He’s a commissioner’s commissioner.

    You referred correctly to the NBA as a corporation. So please give me an example of another corporation that doesn’t have a dress code? Every corporation controls the behaviors and dress actions of their employees, regardless of how “rational” they may be.

    Comparing him to a plantation owner borders heavily on race-baiting. But something tells me that’s what you were going for.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/bigbfoeva/ bigbfoeva

    you got a majority black COMPANY who gotta do whatever they racist boss tell em. Man hes a straight up slave owner man we need a black comish who truly understands how we are even with UNLOADED guns! Restore the game of basketball to its rightful people! My boy Arenas gonna be lucky he aint shot by the KKKomishes po po friends.

    Phuc the lakerDUDE man he don’t know nothin bout the game that BLACKS invented

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/PriestSouthDetroit/ PriestSouthDetroit

    Actually, you’re wrong bigbfoeva, the game was actually invented by a white man, who was born in ontario canada,and then took the game to Massachusetts.

    His name was dr. james naismith.

    Let some knowledge sink in dawg.

    http://www.kansasheritage.org/people/naismith.html

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Jack_Stephen1/ Jack_Stephen1

    all these other pro athletes and rappers getting in trouble for sh it involvng guns and this dumba55 does this?! how stupid can one be?! too many of these ni99as are a danger to themselves!

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Sub-Negro/ Sub-Negro

    Well this nigga was dumb for bringing the guns to his locker. But if neither Jarvaris or Gilbert claim that they did pull the guns out then this could get interesting.

    @lakerdude19 dress codes in the NBA are dumb as hell. It’s a way to control a player. When I watch an NBA game I don’t give a damn abotu what they mite wear before the game not like i can afford it anyways.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/deshawn121/ deshawn121

    im black and a supporter of commissioner stern. the dress code was a great way to force young black boys to try and become MEN and look professional. its sad that Race baiter like you boykins are allowed to speak on forums and start idiotic debates about referees calling more fouls on black players when the dominiant race in the league is black.
    you are a jealous and hateful person that looks to insert race in everything, its his league why shouldnt he control whats goes on in it? you are just upset that he dont go to fake black leaders about what he should do about his black players as if we are still segregated, also he dont buckle and give in to fake black leaders demands when they try to insert race in to anything pertaining to the league.
    why dont you start your own league if you dont like the way hes running things.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Jeffrey1975/ Jeffrey1975

    The situation at hand is two employees bring firearms not only to a place of buisness that prohibit such items but to there place of employement. Ask yourself, would you keep a “firearm” to your job? With that, that is where my concern begins and ends. Remember, you gotta think about the consequences of your actions. What if the firearms went off and someone was injured to say the least? I am a firm supporter of owning firearms but there is a place for them. Now, how will Stern address the problem. I gotta admit but I do not like the guy and for one reason, his total control over the NBA. As for some of the policies that have been put in place, I understand. Be as it may, Stern has done more on a buisness level for the NBA than most. So if players do not agree with some of the rules, take it up with the union and stand together. If not, stay in school and become something else. Being an athlete is not the only thing in the world you can make money from legally. So, look at it from this perspective, the NBA, being a corporate buisness that is campaigned throughout the world sole purpose is to make profits through entertainment. It is not an underground rave, club, or concert for just grown folks. It is targeted for families, children, and much much more. Yes, I have a problem with the dress code, and yes I believe that more referees are corrupt. It still does not permit stupid acts such as with the two players involved. Just a thought.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/3iiiE/ 3iiiE

    emotionz

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/javon707/ javon707

    I think there should be a dress code and nba players should be held to accountable for their actions on the court and off. they are representing a business. they are paid millions to be professionals. leave the hood mentality in the rear view mirror.

    @ southpriest

    youre absolutely right. I was about to tell him but you beat me too it.

  • http://www.blackinfo.net/?p=10207 Gilbert Arenas Says He Pulled Gun On Teammate To “Play A Joke” | Black Info.Net

    [...] OPINION: Gilbert Arenas Will Now Learn David Stern’s Wrath [...]

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/chocolate_sauce1/ chocolate_sauce1

    @Bigbfoeva – a white Canadian man named Dr. James Naismith invented basketball in 1891. If you are going to defame an entire race of people, at least get your facts correct.

  • http://www.blackinfo.net/?p=10311 Gilbert Arenas Suspended Indefinitely By The NBA | Black Info.Net

    [...] OPINION: Gilbert Arenas Will Now Learn David Stern’s Wrath [...]

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/brushlick/ brushlick

    what is it that you don’t under stand? the guy has no license to carry a hand gun? he is in violation of the law. and Washington dc has the strictest hand gun laws in this nation and Washington dc has been run and the laws for the last 30 years have been made by black people? now a black man breaks the law made by black people and n****rs whine about it? i mean really you people are a mess no wonder why you ancestors sold you asses into slavery to Europeans and Arabs. you are just f**king sorry!

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