Arenas sorry for Team USA vent; thins air in house

Kim · Oct 2, 2006

I didn't know there were billboards in dc (and I've lived there), and I didn't realize Arenas was that weird. He's a strange cat, but a very damn good baller who's in peak condition.

espn link

WASHINGTON -- Take a deep breath, and get ready for the latest in Gilbertology: Washington Wizards point guard Gilbert Arenas is thinning the air in his house.

"I had my house converted to the Colorado altitude, so I am always above sea level," Arenas said Monday at the Wizards annual pre-training camp media day.

Say what? He's going to live at high altitude in the nation's capital?

"You know, that's kind of weird," Arenas said.

He'll get plenty of nods with that statement, but, yep, he's really doing it. Instead of going to the mountains to train -- as some endurance athletes do -- Arenas has hired a company to simulate those conditions in a home environment.

"I had to put a tent in one room, and then they are going to come during training camp and fix the whole house," Arenas said. "Then I have a portable tent I'm taking on the road."

Arenas hopes the living arrangement will give him more energy in the fourth quarter of NBA games, when everyone else is getting tired from breathing the same old heavy air.

"How I start the game is how I finish the game," he said.

There's always something up with Arenas, whether it was his revelation last year that he played online poker during halftimes, or the multitude of ways he finds to keep chips on his shoulders. No wonder coach Eddie Jordan said last week that he hadn't spoken much to Arenas this summer because he could stand only so much "Gilbertology."

Despite the extra-curriculars -- or maybe because of them -- Arenas is one of the best in the game. He was fourth in league in scoring last season, averaging 29.3 points, and made his second consecutive All-Star team.

Even so, there's a feeling he's never really been given his due. That's why he wears the No. 0 -- he was supposed to get zero minutes at the University of Arizona. Yes, he was an All-Star last season, but only as a late replacement for an injured player.

Fuel was added to the fire this summer, when Arenas was among the final cuts for the U.S. world championship team. The convenient excuse was that he had a strained groin, but Arenas said he essentially withdrew after learning that he probably wasn't going to make the team anyway.

Shortly afterward, Arenas vented his frustration, telling The Washington Post that he was going to exact revenge on Team USA assistant coaches Nate McMillan and Mike D'Antoni by scoring 100 points each on their respective teams, Portland and Phoenix.

On Monday, Arenas apologized -- not a bad idea if he wants to make the Olympic team in two years.

"I said some things, and I vented out against Phoenix and Portland, but those teams actually had nothing to do with anything," Arenas said. "That was wrong of me. I really want to say sorry for it and I want to say sorry to Mike D'Antoni. That was the immature Gilbert two months ago. I'm growing as a person, and I'm ready to be a leader for the Washington Wizards."

Even so, Arenas said the snub means he will be more motivated this year.

"There always someone out there who keeps me going," he said, "and I like it."

Washington teammate Antawn Jamison, who made the U.S. team, was disappointed that Arenas went public after getting cut. Then again, Jamison admitted, the snub will probably help the Wizards.

"Once again, he found a way to have a chip on his shoulder, and its going to be exciting to see what he pulls out of the hat this year," Jamison said.

That wasn't all of the Arenas news Monday. He's on huge new downtown billboard -- "Every kid, every NBA player dreams of having their own billboard up," he said -- and he said he got himself in shape for training camp with a week of boot camp with "a military dude in San Francisco."

The regimen included running up and down the city's steep hills, sometimes on soft sand with 40-pound medicine balls.

"I wanted to cry a couple of times," Arenas said. "While you're doing it, you're like, 'This is murder. This guy is killing me.' As soon as you're down, I was like 'Wow, I feel energized.'"

Just wait until he tries the same workout in his high-altitude house.

Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press
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m_cable · Oct 2, 2006

Favorite Arenas story:

When he was deciding whether to sign with the Wizards or Clippers, he reportedly flipped a coin ten times to decide. The coin came up Clippers seven times, but he decided to go with the Wizards because he likes "to go the other way."

Gil-bear is truly one of a kind.

c1utchfan925 · Oct 2, 2006

its scientifically proven that if you live in a higher altitude your body creates more blood cells to collect oxygen. what he's doing will be better for him in the long run..gl to him and his method.

IROC it · Oct 3, 2006

c1utchfan925 said:

its scientifically proven that if you live in a higher altitude your body creates more red blood cells to collect oxygen. what he's doing will be better for him in the long run..gl to him and his method.
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Fixed.

The problem with this theory is that the Nuggets have won what? Squat! And they live in this year round.

Shouldn't the Rockies and Broncos be champs every year as well? Avalanche?

I know some teams from higher altitude have won it all... but it involves talent and strength of schedule, etc.

Air Langhi · Oct 3, 2006

Anthony Gonzales of OSU does the same thing and he said its made him better.

rockbox · Oct 3, 2006

IROC it said:

Fixed.

The problem with this theory is that the Nuggets have won what? Squat! And they live in this year round.

Shouldn't the Rockies and Broncos be champs every year as well? Avalanche?

I know some teams from higher altitude have won it all... but it involves talent and strength of schedule, etc.
Click to expand...

The problem is they shoot at high altitude also where the ball is lighter. It throws off their shot when they are at sea level.

Note: I just made that crap up but it sounded good.

steddinotayto · Oct 3, 2006

although he sometimes comes off as kinda weird, i love Arenas. He's a hard working MF even though he's still getting paid millions.

Mordo · Oct 3, 2006

I am completely with Gilbert on this. That's dedication. He sounds like a perfectionist that will do whatever it takes.

emjohn · Oct 3, 2006

c1utchfan925 said:

its scientifically proven that if you live in a higher altitude your body creates more blood cells to collect oxygen. what he's doing will be better for him in the long run..gl to him and his method.
Click to expand...

It's also scientifically proven that elevated RBC count drops back to normal levels within a week or two of returning to sea level.

Evan

rezdawg · Oct 3, 2006

IROC it said:

Fixed.

The problem with this theory is that the Nuggets have won what? Squat! And they live in this year round.

Shouldn't the Rockies and Broncos be champs every year as well? Avalanche?

I know some teams from higher altitude have won it all... but it involves talent and strength of schedule, etc.
Click to expand...

It doesnt increase your talent level...

rockbox · Oct 3, 2006

emjohn said:

It's also scientifically proven that elevated RBC count drops back to normal levels within a week or two of returning to sea level.

Evan
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Which is why he is bringing the tent along on road games.

smoothie · Oct 3, 2006

it's an interesting idea. i'm sure it will increase his stamina. let's just see if he has a better season then last.

Davidoff · Oct 3, 2006

-placebo-

This kind of crap is all in the persons head...

micah1j · Oct 3, 2006

Da-Glyde said:

-placebo-

This kind of crap is all in the persons head...
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Exactly.

rezdawg · Oct 3, 2006

Da-Glyde said:

-placebo-

This kind of crap is all in the persons head...
Click to expand...

The production of red blood cells is not in the person's head.

Davidoff · Oct 4, 2006

Yes, but the idea that he will gain NOTICEABLE increases in his stamina are..

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Arenas sorry for Team USA vent; thins air in house

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