Gilbert Arenas, you will be missed (by one fan, at least)

The first time I really started caring about the Washington Wizards was during the 2004-2005 season. That was the first year in forever that they were actually good. They had this guy on their team- Gilbert Arenas- who could just blow by anyone. No one could stop him. I remember watching Game 5 of their series against the Bulls. I remember that buzzer-beater shot Arenas hit over Kirk Hinrich to give them the win and eventually send them into the second round of the playoffs for the first time in about 20 years. The opening sentence of the article in the Washington Post the next day went something like this- "The Washington Wizards blew a 20 point halftime lead and then a six point lead with 30 seconds left. But Gilbert Arenas bailed them out. Hey, that's what superstars do." For the first time in forever, the Wizards had a bona fide superstar on their team, and things were looking up.

And this wasn't just your average, generic superstar. Arenas seemed to get it like no other NBA player could. He knew how to connect with fans, because, he said, he was still a fan himself. It wasn't about the money or the fame for him. It was just about playing the game he loved. Back then, he seemed like the nicest guy in the world. I remember hearing one story about how he heard about this little boy whose home had been destroyed in a fire and whose parents had been killed, and just took him in and paid for everything. I heard another about how some random fan sent him a message on Myspace, and not only did Gilbert respond, he actually got the kid a job as Wizards ball-boy. He started a program where for every point he scored in a home game, he'd donate $100 to a needy DC school. He had that crazy blog where he would tell the truth exactly as he saw it- no platitudes, no hesitation. Who couldn't love him?

On the court he was pretty good too. In 2006, the Wizards played in one of the most exciting playoff series ever against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Even though they lost in the first round, it was okay because Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler were just going to get better and Antawn Jamison was in his prime. Back then, it seemed like they had the whole world in front of them. Then, they had that amazing start to the 06-07 season. I remember seeing Gilbert score 60 points against the Lakers- he was unstoppable man- then, after promising to drop 50 on the Suns, he actually scored 54 against them. I remember watching him hit two ridiculous game-winning threes (in the same week!), and just walk off the court as if nothing had happened. I still imitate his arms raised, back to the basket celebration when I play basketball with my brother or friends. For a while the Wizards had the best record in the Eastern Conference and Arenas was the front runner for MVP. When asked about the team's success, Gilbert said that their "swag was phenomenal". Who else but Gilbert would say something like that?

And then, in one second, on one play, it all came crashing down. Arenas got injured and was out for the year, and the Wizards ended that season getting swept by the Cavs in the playoffs. Then, being the idiot he is, Arenas tried to return from his injury after only like three months when he should've waited at least seven months. What followed were two seasons in a row lost to injury.

And then Gun-gate happened. This time you couldn't excuse it as just Gilbert-being-Gilbert. Arenas had always tiptoed the line of decency with his inane comments and weird pranks. That's just who he was. But this time, he'd gone way too far.

People asked me why I still liked him. Why was I still a fan of someone whose jersey I was too ashamed to wear to school? Why was I a fan of a thug, a lunatic? The reason is because of all those times he carried the team on his back to victories. Because of all those clutch shots he hit. Because of all those memories he provided. Because, for five years, Gilbert Arenas WAS the Wizards. I realize I'm being irrational here. This guy wasted three whole seasons for the Wizards. He screwed up everything for this franchise. But you have to take the bad with the good. John Wall, if you can provide even half the happy memories that Gilbert did, I'll be satisfied. I hope you can help me move on.