The Golden State Warriors tried to woo him back to his native California, but the truth is that Gilbert Arenas can’t play anywhere else but Washington D.C. No other city offers adulation in spite of hijinks, knee injuries, and wanton blogging.
The only markets where Arenas would stand a chance at raising his celebrity profile are New York and Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Clippers already staked their immediate future on hometown hero Baron Davis, and the NBA doesn’t allow more than one basketball to be in play during games, thus nullifying the prospect of a Kobe Bryant-Gilbert Arenas back court for the Los Angeles Lakers.
That leaves the New York Knicks, where the bright lights of Manhattan would quickly spotlight our beloved Agent Zero on every 8-22 shooting night, every quirky Times Square bike-riding appearance, and every blog entry concerning how much he hates people on the street asking him ridiculous questions. Metropolis works for the anonymity of super heroes, just not basketball players.
In Washington, Arenas enjoys the plush life of affluence and fame, while reveling in the trappings of a thriving city for young professionals and an athlete-friendly media base. Sports writers and bloggers might clown Arenas for his outgoing personality, they might chide him for his erratic shooting, but they will never kill his career. In Washington D.C., Gilbert Arenas will always be welcome with open arms and wallets.
Washington D.C. is a unique place that starves for national relevance removed from politics. It yearns to be regarded as more than a small-town sports market best suited for class field trips and business conferences. Diamond City wants to be the jewel of the sports world. And why shouldn’t it? It has just as much history as Boston, and while it doesn’t have the glamor of New York or Los Angeles, it certainly comes off a lot more honest in its advertising. Politics not withstanding, of course.
Never before have a city and a player been so evenly matched; so innately made for each other. It’s a love affair that both have waited a long time for, and one that deserves a long term commitment.
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