WASHINGTON — The investigation of Gilbert Arenas and the guns he brought to the Verizon Center took a much more serious turn Friday amid a report that the Washington Wizards point guard and teammate Javaris Crittenton allegedly drew on each other during a locker-room argument over a gambling debt.
Arenas responded with a flurry of messages on Twitter, at times making light of the news but also making one tweet that read somewhat like a denial: “I understand this is serious . . . but if u ever met me you know i dont do serious things im a goof ball this story today dont sound goofy to me.”
The NBA and the Wizards would only confirm that an investigation is taking place — and it’s being led by law enforcement, not the league.
The New York Post reported Crittenton became angry at Arenas for refusing to make good on a gambling debt. That prompted Arenas to draw on Crittenton, who then reached for a gun.
• The injury-depleted Portland Trail Blazers lost another player when guard Steve Blake was hospitalized with pneumonia.
The team said Blake was expected to remain in the hospital for several days. He is averaging 7.6 points, 2.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists.
Who to go on despite protests
POMPANO BEACH, Fla. — A South Florida child-abuse prevention group wants the NFL to reconsider booking The Who for the Super Bowl halftime show.
Child objects to Pete Townshend performing because of his 2003 arrest by British police on suspicion of possessing child pornography. He was eventually cleared but placed on a sex offenders registry for five years as part of a formal police caution for accessing a website containing images of child abuse.
“I’m a fan of the band, I grew up with The Who,” the group’s founder and CEO Evin Daly said. “Pete Townshend is the only issue, and the issue is that he’s a former registered sex offender. It sends the wrong message to American families.”
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said Townshend and The Who will perform in the Feb. 7 halftime show at LandShark Stadium in Miami.
“U.K. police cleared him since he was doing research for a project on child abuse,” McCarthy said.
Footnotes.
Boise State football coach Chris Petersen agreed to a five-year contract that will keep him at the school through 2014.
• Four Tennessee basketball players, including starting senior forward Tyler Smith, were suspended indefinitely after they were charged with gun possession and other counts after a traffic stop near campus. Junior guard Melvin Goins, junior center Brian Williams and sophomore guard Cameron Tatum also were suspended.
• Snowboarder Kevin Pearce, a top-ranked halfpipe rider with a good chance of making the U.S. Olympic team, remained in critical condition at a Utah hospital after suffering a head injury while training Thursday.
• Rafael Nadal defeated David Ferrer 7-6 (7-3), 6-3, and Robin Soderling ousted Roger Federer 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (7-1), 6-2 in the semifinals of the season-opening Capitala tournament in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
