Gilbert Downtown on a Bike
I have no time to check into this right now. Can anyone else confirm? From Reader Grant, who writes....
So I'm walking back from getting lunch today at 1:30 on Eye Street and these two guys come riding up on bicycles. And I'm looking at the guy in front, and go, holy [bleep], it's Gilbert Arenas on a red mountain bike riding along the sidewalk. And NOBODY recognizes him. I mean, nobody. Streets are busy, he's a big guy, he's only been all over the area's Metro stops for months, and nobody gives him a cheer, tries to encourage him in the rehab ... nothing.
I look right at him, he looks right at me, he winks.
Sadly, my hands were full of food so I couldn't snap a picture, but I'm telling you this happened. The man whose face is everywhere in this town can ride around on a bicycle in the middle of a lunch break and not get noticed or spark a huge mob to chase him down the street.
This needs to be looked into. One of the best players in the NBA in the middle of DC on a summer afternoon and he's not recognized? Is Stern throwing a fit over this? And more importantly, what in the name of Gilbertology was going on that he would be riding a bike, no helmet on, in the middle of a DC summer? More importantly, how did he choose his bike? What manufacturer was it? Was there enough air in the tires? Is he rehabbing? (That's what went through my mind with the second guy behind him, but he wasn't being pushed hard at all and the bike didn't fit). Can you go to sources and find this out? Is this too much of a Celebritology type thing? I don't think so. I think this could be hard hitting journalism....
I need to know Steinberg.
Yeah, I need to know too. Anyone?
By Dan Steinberg |
May 30, 2007; 3:36 PM ET
| Category:
Wizards
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Posted by: Unsilent Majority | May 30, 2007 03:54 PM
I have an explaination as to why no one eas yelling and screaming at Gilbert ...
IT WASN'T GILBERT ARENAS!
Posted by: littles | May 30, 2007 04:11 PM
It can be hard to mob someone riding on something that can go faster than foot speed...
Posted by: also | May 30, 2007 04:40 PM
It definitely was Gil. The tattoo on his right shoulder was distinctive, as he was wearing a loose tank top. And I mean, the smile and the face are distinctive.
The receptionist in my building saw him ride by and came on out. Was like, is that who I think it was? But there was no mad reaction. None.
I can't figure this out. I think we need to go to Gil.
Posted by: Grant | May 30, 2007 04:49 PM
Well Gil does love his white tank tops.
Posted by: Unsilent Majority | May 30, 2007 04:54 PM
Somebody tell him to wear helmet for pete's sake.
Posted by: Baltimore BIker | May 30, 2007 05:09 PM
I believe Gil was riding his bike to Unsilent Majority's birthday bash.
Posted by: onside kick | May 30, 2007 05:30 PM
It can happen- I was on the beach (in San Diego) on Sunday and Amare Stoudemire rode by (without a helmet) on one of those big, chopper-style bicycles. He ended up stopping right in front of me so I was able to get a picture. Nobody was really paying attention to him either.
Posted by: martin | May 30, 2007 06:35 PM
Trade him for Kobe
Posted by: Deepak | May 30, 2007 06:43 PM
Can we ban Deepak for that?
Posted by: Unsilent Majority | May 30, 2007 06:54 PM
Al Thornton is wanted for the murder of Deepak, two birds...
Posted by: BlueberryRuffin | May 30, 2007 07:02 PM
I also saw Gil as I exited the CVS on 15th and K. I said "What up, Gilbert." He replied, a bit startled, "What's happenin." I continued on my walk back to work; he continued on his adventure through the downtown DC streets, helmetless.
Posted by: TommyTime | May 30, 2007 07:11 PM
gilbert and drew cleary (the strength coach) ride all over dc during the summer on bikes...
Posted by: garrett | May 31, 2007 02:02 AM
gilbert and drew cleary (the strength coach) ride all over dc during the summer on bikes...
Posted by: garrett | May 31, 2007 02:02 AM
I knew I had read about this before... Just found the article. From Washingtonian last year:
For exercise, Arenas and Wizards trainer Andrew Cleary ride bikes from DC's Verizon Center through Rock Creek Park to Chevy Chase and Silver Spring, then return down 16th Street. "Coming back through the city is the fun part," Arenas says.
Link: http://www.washingtonian.com/articles/sports/2268.html
Posted by: JS | May 31, 2007 09:47 AM
Okay, so we have established that it was Gilbert, and it does make a little sense that he's not getting mobbed ... but the whole lack of recognition thing just kinda surprised me.
But what about the most important question? Why a red mountain bike? Was there enough air in the tires? Is he being paid to ride that particular bike? Why can't he get the bike adjusted to fit him properly?
Posted by: Grant | May 31, 2007 09:52 AM
No one probably noticed because no one would think that he would be riding downtown on a mountain bike and probably thought it was someone that looked like him. That is why he was startled when someone saw him and called his name. He tries to just blend in.
Posted by: anon | May 31, 2007 01:15 PM
Hibachi!
Posted by: Thom | May 31, 2007 02:18 PM
Gilbert wouldn't go to Unsilent's birthday bash. Best Unsilent could do at his par-tay is maybe Ruffin or Jarvis Hayes.
Posted by: i sit next to Unsilent | June 1, 2007 12:46 AM
I was in DC yesterday and saw him riding across the front of the washington monument. So there ya go...it was him.
Posted by: David | June 3, 2007 11:11 AM
i could have sworn gil doesnt have a tattoo on his shoulder only on his chest and stomach? sooooo.... i believe u cus my lil brother saw caron at the movie theater rite next to the verizon center, so its very possible it was him. but if it was me i would have dropped my stuff and taken a picture, video or talked to him no matter what was happening or was in my hands
Posted by: Elysia | June 5, 2007 04:26 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.
But all the good bike rides are back in Great Falls.