Nothing like a $25,000 fine to kick your mouth into gear! Wizards star Gilbert Arenas has been on a self-imposed media boycott this season, given a terse group interview on media day and otherwise refusing to speak to reporters. The league didn't like that, and fined Arenas and the Wizards $25,000 each for breaking media availability rules. In the wake of that announcement, Gil changed his stance and talked to reporters after a preseason win over the Pistons in Grand Rapids, Mich.
Yes, Gil talked to reporters. Technically.
The Washington Post reports that Gil spoke for 95 seconds, offering mostly one-word answers along with a familiar gem. When asked whether he thought the game he'd just finished was a sign of progress for the Wizards, Gil responded with, "Both teams played hard." And then the Twilight Zone theme came on.
It's unclear whether Gil was purposely invoking the famous Rasheed Wallace post-game interview. I wouldn't put it past him, given that Gil's mind works so differently from most ballplayers.
However, I do think it's safe to say Arenas won this round with the media. Gil giving boring answers is only a story once. At some point, if Arenas can hold on to his pose, the reporters will just ignore him. Time is money, and the beat writers of the NBA can't waste precious minutes trying to crack a stubborn star.
