Face 2 Face with Roy Firestone

Episode Number: 335

Episode Title: Gilbert Arenas

Description: NBA All-Star, a Warrior and a Wizard, Gilbert Arenas is one of the Superstars in the NBA. Starting his career with Golden State Arenas signed with the Washington Wizards in 2003. In 2004, Areans and Larry Hughes were the highest scoring backcourt in the NBA. In 2006, Arenas' 29.2 points per game was the 4 th highest average in the league.

Transcript:

WHETHER THEY ARE WHITE OR BLACK THERE IS ALWAYS PEOPLE WHO MAKE MONEY ON OTHER PEOPLE'S IGNORANCE. DOESN'T THAT MAKE YOU WONDER LATE AT NIGHT WHAT HAVE I DONE TO MY BODY REALLY? I WANTED TO CONTROL THE GAME. I COULDA AND SHOULDA BEEN DEAD YOU WERE RECRUITED AS A DEFENSIVE BACK AT SOUTHERN MISS. (LAUGHS)

HDNet PRESENTS FACE TO FACE WITH ROY FIRESTONE.

TODAY'S GUEST IS WASHINGTON WIZARDS STAR GILBERT ARENAS NOW YOUR HOST ROY FIRESTONE WELCOME TO FACE TO FACE I'M ROY FIRESTONE. IN ANY OF THE ARENAS THIS ARENAS IS A VERY, VERY UNIQUE STORY HE IS GILBERT ARENAS OF THE WASHINGTON WIZARDS AND HE IS OUR VERY SPECIAL GUEST ON FACE TO FACE SO MANY THINGS WE COULD TALK ABOUT AT THE TOP BUT EVERYONE ALWAYS TALKS ABOUT RAGS TO RICHES, IN THIS LEAGUE JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY IS RAGS TO RICHES BUT YOUR STORY IS UNBELIEVABLE FIRST OF ALL WELCOME AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND YOUR ALSO A HOME BOY CAUSE WE GO, WE PLAY IN THAT GYM, MY KIDS PLAY IN THE GYM WHERE YOU WERE AT GRAND HIGH SCHOOL IN LOS ANGELES PROBABLY THE BEST PLAYER EVER FROM THE VALLEY SINCE GAYLE GOODRICH, MAYBE BETTER. BUT IT WASN'T ALWAYS HEY JUST PLAY THE GAME GET THE CONTRACT YOU SIGNED FOR 65 MILLION YOU AND YOUR DAD IT WAS JUST THE TWO OF YOU BECAUSE OUR MOM UNFORTUNATELY HAD A DRUG PROBLEM AND YOUR FATHER ALMOST IN REVERSAL WE HEAR A LOT OF THE PLAYERS YOUR FATHER WAS THE MENTOR IN YOUR FAMILY. LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW HARD WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A LIFE IF WE CAN I MEAN I DON'T THINK OF IT AS HARD. YOU KNOW WHEN YOUR LITTLE YOU KNOW YOU JUST TRY TO MAKE A GREAT SITUATION OUT OF YOU KNOW WHATEVER IT IS SLEEPING IN A CAR IS HARD. YEAH IT IS BUT TO ME I WAS ALWAYS AT THE PARK. YOU KNOW WE WERE SLEEPING IN THE CAR AT THE PARK SO I'M THE FIRST ONE TO GET ON THE SWINGS YOU KNOW FIRST ONE YOU KNOW TO PLAY IN THE GRASS WHEN THE SPRINKLERS COME ON YOU KNOW SO I DIDN'T REALLY, THEN YOU I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW YOU KNOW SO LOOKING BACK ON IT OH MAN YOU KNOW THAT WAS HARD BUT AT THE TIME I WAS JUST HAVING FUN. I ALSO HEARD STORIES ABOUT YOUR FATHER WHO WAS AN ACTOR STRUGGLED, A LOT OF BIT PARTS, TRIED TO FIND ANY KIND OF INCOME 75$ PART THAT WOULD BE GREAT YOU KNOW BUT YOU WERE SO TOUGH AND I'M NOT TRYING TO OVER DRAMATIZE IT BUT I'M JUST TRYING TO TELL THE FOLKS THAT HE WOULD GRILL HOT DOGS ON AN IRON YEAH JUST SO HE COULD HAVE FOOD FOR YOU GUYS TO EAT. WE DIDN'T HAVE GAS YOU KNOW SO RAMEN NOODLES WOW. ALL KIND FO STUFF, THAT'S HOW WE COOKED OUR FOOD YOU KNOW ON THE IRON PLUG IT IN AND GET TO COOKING YOU KNOW AT THE TIME WE WERE JUST TRYING TO SURVIVE AND YOU KNOW MANAGE. WHEN YOU LOOK BACK AT THIS LIFE AND IT'S TRULY AN AMAZING STORY I MEAN OBVIOUSLY YOU WEAR THE NUMBER 0 AND OF COURSE I THINK ONE OF YOUR SLOGANS IS 0 TO HERO YEAH THE NUMBER 0 STARTS OFF FROM THE FACT THAT PEOPLE THOUGHT YOU HAD ZERO CHANCE OR ZERO MINUTES AT ARIZONA WHERE YOU WEREN'T EVEN SUPPOSED TO GET A SCHOLARSHIP IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE FACT THAT AT THE LAST MINUTE SOMEBODY KICKED OUT AND COULDN'T PLAY, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE EVEN GOTTEN A SCHOLARSHIP AT THAT SCHOOL. THERE IS A BIT OF A FOLK STORY TO THIS, IT'S ALMOST CINDERELLAESQUE YOU KNOW AT THE END OF THE DAY I TELL MY DAD NO MATTER HOW HARD IT IS FOR SOME REASON I GET ON THROUGH, SOMEHOW I MANAGE TO GET THROUGH, SQUEAK THROUGH BUT YOU KNOW I GET THERE JUST LIKE IN COLLEGE, JUST LIKE IN THE NBA JUST LIKE THE USA TEAM. SOMEHOW I JUST WEEZE MY WAY INTO THERE I'M GOING TO TALK FOR A FEW MOMENTS ABOUT GETTING TO THE NBA CAUSE YOU HAD A LOT OF CONFIDENCE GOING IN. YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO BE TOP 5, 10, MAYBE 15 AND YOU WENT OUT AND BOUGHT AN SUV ALL TRICKED OUT WITH ABOUT 4-5 DVD PLAYERS AND T.V. MONITORS AND THEN YOU WENT IN THE SECOND ROUND, NOT THAT THERE IS ANY GREAT YOU KNOW DISGRACE BUT #31 OVERALL AND IT REALLY HIT YOU. YOU CRIED. YES. YOU KNOW COMING OUT OF COLLEGE WE END UP LOSING IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP YOU KNOW THOUGH I WAS A HOT TICKET COMING IN SO YOU KNOW JUST LIKE ANY 19 YEAR OLD FIRST TIME YOU GET MONEY YOU WANT TO GO AND GET THE FANCY CAR, YOU KNOW T.V.S YOU KNOW EVERYTHING YOU DREAMED OF YOU KNOW PUT IT ALL IN THE CAR YOU KNOW GOT A HOUSE YOU KNOW ON WHEELS. IS IT TRUE YOU WANTED TO BRING THE CAR BACK BECAUSE YOU SAID OH MY GOD I'M 31 I DON'T DESERVE THIS CAR. YES, I BOUGHT (INDISCERNIBLE) AND I'M WAITING ON THAT DRAFT DAY LOOKING YOU KNOW FROM THE MARINA PLACE AND YOU KNOW WENT ALL THE WAY INTO THE SECOND ROUND, YOU KNOW STARTED CRYING CALLED THE ASSISTANT COACH AT ARIZONA RODNEY TENSION AND I SAID YOU KNOW IS THERE ANYWAY I CAN COME BACK TO SCHOOL? WOW. AND YOU KNOW WHATEVER I DID, I DON'T THINK I DESERVE THIS HE'S LIKE YOU KNOW DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT, JUST DO WHAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING PLAY HARD, YOU KNOW PLAY SMART AND YOU GET TO WHERE YOU WANT TO GO SO, I THREW ALL MY JEWELRY OUT THE WINDOW THREW MYSELF ON OUT THE WINDOW. REALLY? ARE YOU SERIOUS WHEN YOU SAY THAT? DID YOU RUN BACK AND GO GET IT? IT DIDN'T MEAN ANYTHING ANYMORE YOU KNOW THAT WAS JUST I GOTTA PROVE EVERYBODY WRONG WHAT'S REALLY REMARKABLE ABOUT GILBERT IS FOR THE FOLKS WHO DON'T KNOW HIM, HE HAS MULTILAYERS TO HIS PERSONALITY WHICH WE ARE GOING TO GET INTO IN A FEW MOMENTS BUT YOU REALLY ARE A FAN AT HEART. YOU HAVE A HUGE JERSEY COLLECTION. AND THEN YOU ALSO BUY YOUR OWN JERSEYS AND HAND THEM OUT TO THE FANS INDISCRIMINATELY IN THE STADIUM. IN THE ARENAS. TALK ABOUT FIRST OF ALL THE FACT THAT PLAYERS MAY HAVE LOST TOUCH WITH FANS YOU KNOW THEY DON'T GO OUT FOR SHOOT AROUND MUCH ANYMORE YOU KNOW AT 6:45 ON A 7:00 GAME THEY DON'T SIGN AS EASILY AS, AND OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE TWO SIDES TO THAT STORY TOO YOU KNOW FANS SELL THEIR AUTOGRAPHS AND STUFF. BUT YOU REALLY HAVE ALWAYS MADE A POINT OF REMEMBERING THAT YOU ARE A FAN AND REMEMBERING THEM AND I THINK THAT'S WHY IT IS EASIER FOR ME BECAUSE I AM A FAN, SO I KNOW WHAT I WOULD WANT. YOU KNOW WHEN I WAS LITTLE YOU KNOW I ALWAYS WANTED TO GO TO A BASKETBALL GAME MEET THAT GUY, YOU KNOW MAYBE HE MIGHT THROW OFF HIS JERSEY, HEAD BAND, I MIGHT BE THE ONE TO CATCH IT YOU KNOW SO YOU KNOW I ALWAYS THINK OF THAT WHEN I'M PLAYING YOU KNOW AS A FAN YOU WANT TO SEE HIM GO DIVE FOR THAT BALL SO THAT'S HOW I PLAY. IF I WAS A FAN AND I GOT TO PICK THE PLAY YOU KNOW AND IT IS HARD YOU KNOW FOR PLAYERS IN THIS LEAGUE YOU KNOW THEY DON'T WANT TO SIGN SOMEBODY'S PHOTO, JERSEY, SHOE, AND THEN IT'S ON EBAY I FIGURE IF YOU JUST SIGN EVERY ONE OF THEM, IT'S NOT WORTH ANYTHING ANYMORE. (LAUGHS) 25 JERSEYS SOME NIGHTS. YOU'LL THROW UP TO 25 JERSEYS USUALLY BEFORE THE BREAK, AFTER THE SEASON AND SOMETIMES WHEN THE SEASON STARTS AND THEN OF COURSE THERE IS THE RITUAL. LISTEN TO THIS FOLKS. BEFORE EVERY GAME AND THIS IS EVERY GAME YOU EAT IN THE SAME PLACE I MEAN I ASSUME THIS IS A HOME GAME, BOSTON MARKET GIVE THEM A LITTLE PLUG SO IT WILL BE FREE NOW. EAT AT THE BOSTON MARKET, YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ORDER, THE SAME FOOD YEAH THE SAME FOOD WHICH IS? HALF DARK CORN AND MASHED POTATOES. THEN YOU GET DRESSED IN THE SAME ORDER. YOU PUT YOUR JERSEY ON FIRST ALWAYS. NO, NO, I WONT PUT MY JERSEY ON UNTIL AFTER COACH TALKS. WE GET THAT RIGHT THEN SAME MUSIC, LIL JOHN? NO IT WAS GAME, LIL JOHN AND IT SWITCHES UP NOW. YOUR CHANGING THE RITUAL. CHANGING THE RITUAL. EVERY YEAR NOW HERE'S THE WEIRD ONE, PART OF THE RITUAL, TICKLING ANTOWAN JAMISON'S UNDERARM. WHY? I DON'T KNOW I DID IT ONE GAME YOU KNOW CAUSE WE DO THE LITTLE PRAYER AND I TICKLED HIM. DID HE LOOK AT YOU FUNNY? YEAH. I BET. WENT OUT AT THE HALF WE HAD 40, WE WON I'M GOING TO DO THIS EVERY GAME TRUE YOU DON'T SLEEP? YOU SLEEP BUT 3 HOURS A NIGHT. ABOUT 3, 3-1/2 NOW. WHY? I DON'T KNOW ARE YOU RESTLESS? I JUST GOT A TICKING MIND, IT'S JUST ALWAYS GOING SOMETIMES ALWAYS GOING AND YOU NEED TO SHOOT DON'T YOU? PEOPLE TELL ME, SHOOT BASKETBALL. SOMEONE SAYS YOU HAVE A KEY TO ARENAS ARENA AND THAT YOU'LL SOMETIMES GET INTO AN ARENA OR A GYM, WHEREVER IT MIGHT BE AT 2 A.M. I THINK IT'S JUST COMPETITIVENESS. AT 2 A.M.? I'LL WATCH A BASKETBALL GAME OR I'LL WATCH A HIGHLIGHT OR I'LL WATCH A CLASSIC NO MATTER WHAT TIME, OH YOU KNOW HE, THAT WAS A GREAT SHOT I GOTTA GO PRACTICE THAT AND I'LL JUST GET UP AND GO. I'M THINKING JUST GO, I JUST GOTTA PRACTICE YOU KNOW WHAT I SEEN SOMEBODY DO. FACE TO FACE CONTINUES WITH GILBERT ARENAS WHEN WE RETURN. NOW BACK TO FACE TO FACE WITH ROY FIRESTONE. TODAY'S GUEST GILBERT ARENAS.

I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE WARRIOR YEARS BEFORE WE GET TO THE WIZARDS. THEY SAID THAT YOU HAD A BAD, BAD TEMPER. YOU STILL DO? NO. I DIDN'T HAVE ONE THEN I JUST WANTED TO WIN. SOMEONE CALLED YOU THE BABY RON ARTEST, WHY WHAT DID YOU DO? DID YOU THROW STUFF? NO. YOU KNOW WHEN YOU'RE A ROOKIE, YOUR NOT ALLOWED TO TALK TO THE REFS, YOU DIDN'T EARN ANYTHING YET IN THIS LEAGUE AND YOU KNOW WHEN YOU GO UP AND OH I GOT FOULED OR MY TEAMMATE GOT FOULED THEY GIVE YOU A QUICK TECH, YOU KNOW NOW I DO THE SAME THING I JUST DON'T GET TECHS MORE CAUSE THEY KNOW OKAY THAT'S WHAT HE DOES. YOU KNOW HE DOESN'T MEAN NO HARM, IT'S JUST PART OF THE GAME. NOW I HAD HEARD, TELL ME IF THIS IS A TRUE STORY ABOUT THE CHRIS MILLS THING WAS THIS A WARRIOR THING THAT HAPPENED WITH CHRIS MILLS ABOUT THE JERSEY, THE FRAN TARKINGTON JERSEY. NOW YOU CAN TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT, IT'S NOT LIKE HE'S BREAKING AND ENTERING, THIS IS A JOKESTER THIS IS A PRANKSTER. YOU WENT INTO CHRIS MILLS HOUSE TOOK HIS FAVORITE JERSEY, HIS FRAN TARKINGTON THROWBACK PURPLE JERSEY, YOU HAVE LOTS OF THEM, JUST TO PLAY A JOKE ON HIM ON THE BUS THE NEXT DAY, WENT INTO HIS HOUSE, PUT THE JERSEY ON WE DON'T RECOMMEND THIS KIDS AT HOME AND YOU WALKED ONTO THAT BUS AND YOU SAID AH I LOVE THIS JERSEY AND YOU BLEW HIS MIND. YEAH WE USED TO WEAR JERSEY'S ON THE PLANE AND COACH USED TO FINE EVERYBODY AND WE JUST KEPT WEARING IT SO HE WAS OKAY LOOK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE JERSEY DAY, EVERYONE WEARS A JERSEY IF YOU DON'T WEAR IT YOUR GONNA GET FINED. SO EVERYBODY WAS LIKE OKAY ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO FIND A JERSEY. SO TWO DAYS BEFORE HE GOT IN MY JERSEY COLLECTION, GOT A COUPLE JERSEYS OH I SEE, HE STARTED THIS, YEAH HE STARTED IT SO I WENT INTO HIS HOUSE, HE'S BEEN TALKING ABOUT TARKINGTON, TARKINGTON, TARKINGTON FOR ABOUT THREE WEEKS LIKE YOU KNOW I JUST ORDERED A NEW JERSEY SO I WENT IN HIS CLOSET, SEEN IT, IT WAS ALL IN PLASTIC LOOKING NICE, UNTOUCHED SO I TOOK IT OUT, HE NEVER SAID ANYTHING ABOUT IT SO WE GOT IT ON JERSEY DAY I HAD A JACKET OVER IT AND I TOLD ALL THE PLAYERS YOU KNOW I TOOK HIS JERSEY SO EVERYBODY IS OH MAN WOW, THAT'S BRAVE SO YOU KNOW WE'RE SITTING THERE GAMBLING AND HE'S LIKE HEY YOU DON'T HAVE A JERSEY, I WAS LIKE YEAH I JUST BOUGHT A NEW JERSEY GOT THE LITTLE TARKINGTON JERSEY AND OPENED IT UP AND HE TRIED NOT TO LOOK UP BUT YOU COULD SEE HIM LOOK UP AND JUST SIT THERE AND GET RED IN THE FACE. SO I'M LIKE OH MAN I KNOW I'M IN TROUBLE NOW. HE WAS GETTING MAD. HE WASN'T LAUGHING. NO. SO YOU KNOW I'M MAKING JOKES OH YEAH LET ME GET SOME OF THAT BARBECUE SAUCE YOU KNOW AND YOU KNOW THE BARBECUE SAUCE WILL FALL AND I'M LIKE OH DID I GET IT ON MY JERSEY AND HE'LL LOOK UP AND THEN AFTER AWHILE HE JUST GOT FED UP, YOU KNOW TOOK MY CELL PHONE CAUSE IT WAS SITTING ON THE TABLE AND HE JUST BROKE IT IN HALF AND THREW IT DOWN THE PLANE AND IT'S JUST LIKE OH WOW. IS IT TRUE HE TRIED TO CHOKE YOU? YEAH I GOT CHOKED ONCE A WEEK BY CHRIS. WOW. ONCE A WEEK, YEAH KICKED ONCE A WEEK. NOW PART OF YOUR PRACTICAL JOKE THING I DON'T KNOW IF THIS STARTED AT THE WARRIORS OR THE WIZARDS BUT YOU BOUGHT SOME DOUGHNUTS. AND INSTEAD OF PUTTING POWERED SUGAR ON IT, YOU PUT BABY POWDER. SO THESE PEOPLE BITING INTO THESE DOUGHNUTS, THEY GOT A LITTLE SURPRISE FROM GILBERT. IT CAME FROM I DIDN'T MEAN TO BUT YOU KNOW I WASN'T MAKING MUCH MONEY MY FIRST YEAR AND THEY WANTED ME TO GO TO THE DOUGHNUT STORE. THE DOUGHNUT STORE IS 3 MILES AWAY FROM THE ARENA AND I LIVE A MILE AWAY FROM THE ARENA SO I HAD TO GO THE OTHER WAY AND THEN COME BACK. THEY WANTED FRESH DOUGHNUTS FROM KRISPY KREME THAT'S ALL THE WAY IN ALMOST SACRAMENTO. YOU KNOW IT HAD TO BE THAT DAY AND I HAD TO USE MY MONEY. SO I'M LIKE OKAY, WELL I'LL DO THAT BUT YOU GUYS HAVE TO PITCH IN. THEY WASN'T HAVE IT. SO YOU KNOW I WAS LIKE FIRST DAY BEFORE I GOT IN THE ARENA I LICKED THEM ALL. LICKED ALL THE CRE ME OFF THEN GIVE IT TO EM. THEY ATE THEM ALL THAT'S A REAL POPULAR TRICK. REAL POPULAR WITH THE PLAYERS. SO I TOLD THEM YEAH I JUST LICKED ALL OF THEM, GOT BEAT UP. SO SECOND DAY IS LIKE WE DON'T WANT NO GLAZED, WE WANT POWDER, ALL RIGHT. I GOT PLAIN, BABY POWERED THEM ALL UP. (LAUGHS) I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE FACE OF THE GUY BITING INTO THE BABY POWDER DOUGHNUTS. I TRIED NOT TO BE IN THE LOCKER ROOM WHEN ALL THAT HAPPENED. (LAUGHS) I GOT BEAT UP FOR THAT ONE. YOU GOT BEAT UP A LOT. I WOULD SAY ONCE A WEEK. TWICE A WEEK, YOU KNOW IT MADE ME STRONGER YOU KNOW, I LOVE IT, IT WAS JUST A BIG OLE JOKE TO ME. NOW THERE'S OTHER SIDES TO YOU, YOU CHALLENGED IS IT SAM DELABERT? TO A FIGHT IN WASHINGTON IN THE CORRIDOR AFTER A GAME. I MEAN A REAL FIGHT AND ABE PULLEN WHO OWNS THE TEAM STARTED WALKING BY AND YOU SAID AH I BETTER NOT DO THIS. YEAH IT HAPPENED ON THE FLOOR. YOU KNOW HE THREW A CHEAP SHOT, SO I TRIPPED HIM. YOU KNOW I'M THINKING OKAY I TRIPPED HIM THAT'S IT. AND I WAS COMING DOWN LIKE A CHIN CUT AND ALL I SEEN IS A ELBOW FLY RIGHT AT THE FACE, WHEEW, GOT DIZZY FOR AWHILE AND THEN FINISHED THE GAME OFF AND AFTER THE GAME I WAS LIKE I GOTTA GO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. SO I WENT IN THE BACK YOU KNOW THEY USED TO CALL IT A DUEL. 200 YEARS AGO. SO I WENT IN THE BACK AND YOU KNOW ABE PULLEN WAS COMING AND I WENT BACK TO THE LOCKER ROOM AND TOLD THE PLAYERS YOU KNOW I TRIED TO GET HIM. THEY WAS LIKE DO YOU KNOW HE'S LIKE A 5 DEGREE BLACK BELT? I WASN'T THINKING ABOUT THAT AT THE TIME. (LAUGHS) 5 DEGREE, I'LL LET THIS ONE GO THEN. I GOTTA ASK YOU ABOUT THIS ONE. THERE WAS A CHANCE AT FREE AGENCY AND BY THE WAY IT WORKED OUT FINE FOR YOU, YOU SIGNED FOR A LOT OF DOUGH. YOU'RE AN L.A. KIDS WITH L.A. ROOTS, L.A. STORY, FAMILY YOU NAME IT AND THE CLIPPERS, ONE OF THE TEAMS YOUR LOOKING AT AND THE WIZARDS, YOU FLIP A COIN WHOEVER WINS THE COIN FLIP YOU THINK YOUR GOING TO GO TO THAT TEAM TURNED OUT YOU FLIPPED THE COIN 8 TIMES AND IT WENT FOR THE CLIPPERS AND YOU STILL SIGNED WITH THE WIZARDS, WHY? CAUSE I'M AGAINST THE GRAIN, I GUESS SO. YOU KNOW I'M AN AGAINST THE GRAIN KIND OF GUY. SO WHY FLIP THE COIN IF YOUR AGAINST THE GRAIN. THEN PEOPLE SAID THAT AND I THOUGHT ABOUT THAT AFTER BUT THEN I WOULD HAVE NEVER KNOWN WHERE FATE PUT ME. YOU KNOW I REALLY WANTED TO PLAY FOR THE CLIPPERS, STAY AT HOME, DUNLEVY YOU KNOW HE'S WATCHED ME GROW UP. ME AND HIS SON PLAYED TOGETHER. YOU KNOW AT THE TIME THEY WERE (INDISCERNIBLE) AND THEY WERE JUST TRYING TO SIGN ALL THESE PEOPLE BACK YOU KNOW BEFORE THEY SIGNED ME SO I WAS LIKE I DON'T WANT TO GET LOST IN THIS SHUFFLE SO I GOTTA HURRY UP AND MAKE MY DECISIONS SO THAT NIGHT I WENT AND FLIPPED THE COINS AND IT SAID CLIPPERS SO I WAS LIKE THAT MEANS WASHINGTON TO ME, SO. YOU THINK DIFFERENTLY. YOU KNOW THAT WAS PART OF THE I THINK APPLE HAD A PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGN MAC/APPLE THINK DIFFERENTLY, THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX. WHERE DOES THAT COME FROM? WHY DO YOU THINK YOU THINK DIFFERENTLY THAN MOST PEOPLE. I DON'T KNOW. YOU KNOW I THINK IT COMES FROM MY DAD. I REMEMBER WHEN HE WAS TEACHING ME HOW TO PLAY BASKETBALL AND TO THIS DAY I STILL WONT GO PRACTICE IT. IT WAS LIKE THIS LITTLE BALLERINA DANCE WITH THE BALL LIKE YOU KNOW THIS IS HOW YOU LEARN YOUR FOOTSTEPS AND FEET WORK YOU KNOW PUT YOU IN BALLERINA SO YOU CAN WORK ON YOUR FEET. I WAS LIKE I CAN ACTUALLY JUST GO PLAY FOOTBALL AND YOU KNOW DO TRACK AND FIELD TO HELP THAT, I DON'T NEED TO DO THE LITTLE BALLERINA STEPS BUT YOU KNOW I KNOW A COUPLE PLAYERS WHO HAVE DONE THE BALLERINA AND IT HAS ACTUALLY HELPED THEIR FOOTWORK I LOVE THIS ONE TOO, WHEN YOU WORK OUT SOMETIMES ON THE TREADMILL YOU HAVE TWO PIT BULLS I HAD TWO PIT BULLS. AND YOU USED TO RUN THOSE LITTLE DOGS, NOT THAT LITTLE, ON THE TREADMILL, THEY RAN THEIR OWN TREADMILL WITH YOU, WHY WAS THAT? YOU KNOW GREAT EXERCISE FOR EM, GETS THEM TIRED AT NIGHT. IT MUST BE FUNNY TO WATCH THOSE DOGS ON THE TREADMILL. YOU KNOW AT FIRST YOU KNOW IT WAS HARD GETTING THEM ON IT, YOU KNOW YOU GIVE THEM A TREAT TO GET ON IT AND EVENTUALLY THEY JUST START RUNNING AND YOU KNOW THEY'RE RUNNING UP TO THE 10TH SPEED. YOU KNOW THEY RODE WITH ME. I WOULD SIT ON THERE FOR AN HOUR, HOUR AND A HALF JUST RUNNING. THERE IS A VERY INTERESTING STORY ABOUT YOU IN ADDITION TO THE FACT THAT YOUR FUN LOVING, AND FUNNY, AND ECCENTRIC, AND A PRACTICAL JOKER, YOU HAVE A SERIOUS SIDE. BARRY FARMS REC CENTER IN SOUTH D.C. IS ONE OF THE MOST VIOLENT AREAS, PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST DRUG INFESTED AREAS. YOU MAKE A POINT OF PLAYING AND TRAINING AND WORKING OUT THERE. BECAUSE YOU DO CARE ABOUT PEOPLE AND YOU DO WANT TO DO SOMETHING POSITIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE, LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT. YOU KNOW AT THE END OF THE DAY, FROM 5 TO 9 YOU KNOW THE CROWD THAT IS COMING OUT THERE, YOU KNOW THEY'RE HAVING FUN, YOU KNOW THERE JUST THERE TO ENJOY BASKETBALL THAT'S WHEN I'M THERE TO PLAY BASKETBALL, I'M NOT THERE TRYING TO HARM ANYBODY, I'M NOT THERE TO TRY AND STIR UP ANYTHING AND I'M JUST OUT THERE TO HAVE FUN, YOU KNOW SHOW MY TALENT YOU KNOW NBA PLAYER COMING DOWN I DON'T NEED THE BODY GUARDS, I DON'T NEED A WHOLE BUNCH OF FRIENDS COMING DOWN THERE, JUST ME BY MYSELF AND GO OUT THERE AND JUST PLAY, YOU KNOW YOU GOT TWO HOURS OF JUST PLAYING FUN-LOVING BASKETBALL DOES IT SEND A MESSAGE OF POSITIVENESS FOR THESE KIDS TO SEE A GUY WHO REALLY FEELS LIKE HE'S ONE OF THEM. YEAH IT IS GOOD FOR THE KIDS BECAUSE YOU KNOW SOME OF THOSE KIDS CAN'T AFFORD, THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO COME TO THE ARENA. YOU KNOW TO SEE ME PLAY LIVE BUT THEY CAN COME AND SEE ME PLAY THERE. YOU KNOW JUST WALK ACROSS THE STREET, NOW I'M NOT DOING ANY GLASS, YOU KNOW NBA BACKBOARDS, MAYBE NEXT YEAR I'LL REDO THE FLOOR SO THEY CAN HAVE SOMEWHERE TO PLAY. ANOTHER PART OF THE STORY, FOR ALL OF THE FACT THAT YOU'RE A FUN LOVING GUY AND LITTLE SILLY AT TIMES. YOU HAVE A LITTLE SERIOUS SIDE. THERE IS A KID NAMED ANDREW MCALLISTER WHO SURVIVED A TERRIBLE FIRE. I BELIEVE HE LOST MEMBERS OF HIS FAMILY, MOTHER AND SISTER. 10 YEAR OLD AND YOU DECIDE YOU WANT TO BE HIS BIG BROTHER SO YOU INVEST IN HIM, HE BECOMES THE BALL BOY OF THE TEAM GET HIM CLOTHES, HE BECOMES A KIND OF PERSONAL MASCOT LIKE A SON REALLY, TELL ME ABOUT THAT. YOU KNOW HE'S A GREAT KID AND IT'S SAD WHAT HAPPENED, YOU KNOW IT HAPPENS AND YOU KNOW BUT THE KID WAS SO GOOD THAT YOU KNOW I HAD TO TAKE HIM UNDER MY WING, HAD TO SHOW HIM THERE'S A DIFFERENT LIFE. THERE IS DIFFERENT YOU CAN STILL THINK POSITIVE AND THAT'S WHAT HE DOES. HE'S HAVING FUN. YOU KNOW HE'LL HAVE LAPSES WHERE YOU KNOW THE ANNIVERSARY WILL COME UP OR HIS BIRTHDAY HIS MOTHER IS NOT THERE, SO AROUND THOSE SAD DAYS I TRY TO BE WITH HIM. DO YOU THINK YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE? YEAH, YEAH YOU KNOW JUST TO SEE TO HIM THAT SOMEBODY CARES. YOU KNOW SO ALL THE SUPERSTARS IN THE LEAGUE, HE GETS TO MEET THEM IN PERSON HE GETS TO SEE THEM. HE GETS TO SEE PEOPLE AND THAT'S WHAT HE NEEDS AT A YOUNG AGE. FACE TO FACE CONTINUES WITH GILBERT ARENAS WHEN WE RETURN.

NOW BACK TO FACE TO FACE WITH ROY FIRESTONE. TODAY'S GUEST, GILBERT ARENAS.

NOW I'M GOING TO CHALLENGE YOU A LITTLE BIT, I HOPE YOUR OPEN TO THIS. YOU'VE HAD CONTROVERSY IN YOUR LIFE. YOU AND YOUR FRIEND WERE STOPPED IN A CAR RECENTLY AND I WANT TO SEE IF I GET THIS RIGHT BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THIS IS ABOUT, BEING ACCURATE YOU WERE QUOTED AS SAYING "HEY I'M AN NBA PLAYER, YOU CAN'T ARREST ME" IS THAT TRUE? NO. OKAY TELL THE FOLKS WHAT HAPPENED. IT WAS FUNNY YOU KNOW WHEN I READY IT CAUSE YOU KNOW I THOUGHT IT WAS FUNNY, I MEAN READING IT BUT NO, I MEAN WHEN YOU GET ARRESTED, C'MON YOU CAN'T GET OUT OF A TICKET THAT WAY. I'VE LOST MY LICENSE 1000 OF TIMES YOU KNOW I JUST GET MY TICKET AND GO, YOU KNOW YOU CAN'T TALK YOUR WAY OUT OF A TICKET AND I'VE LEARNED THAT A LONG TIME AGO. YOU KNOW SO WHEN I GOT OUT THE CAR, ACTUALLY, I JUST GOT OUT GOT THE HANDCUFFS PUT ON ME AND GOT PUT IN A CAR. HOW DID THAT FEEL? AT FIRST YOU KNOW I WASN'T REALLY THINKING. YOU WEREN'T ANGRY. NO. I ACTUALLY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON. YOU KNOW SO MUCH, THIS PUNK THING IS GOING AROUND YOU KNOW YOU DON'T KNOW YOU THOUGHT YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN PUNK'D. YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN YOUR GETTING PUNK'D YOU KNOW ME LOOKING AT IT YOU KNOW THEY GOTTA SAY THEY HAVE TO GIVE YOU YOUR RIGHTS, THEY HAVE TO CHECK YOUR ID MAKE SURE YOU HAVE NO RECORD AND THEY DIDN'T DO ANY OF THAT SO I'M LIKE OKAY YOU KNOW SO IT'S HARD CAUSE YOU WATCH IT ALL DAY AND YOU SEE HOW THEY OKAY THEY GET INTO THEIR REGULAR LIVES SO I KNOW ONE DAY IT'S COMING, SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET ME AND AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS UNTIL I ACTUALLY SEEN 65 PEOPLE IN THE CELL (LAUGHS) OKAY THIS IS ACTUALLY JAIL. HOW ABOUT, BY THE WAY WHAT HAPPENED? I MEAN YOU ANY CHARGES FILED AGAINST YOU. NO, ACTUALLY I MISSED COURT, ACTUALLY I CAME TO L.A. TO DO A COMMERCIAL SHOOT AND THAT WAS THE SAME DAY I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE IN COURT, BUT THE JUDGE HE RESCHEDULED SO I HAVE A LAWYER GOING OUT THERE AND IT SHOULD GET DISMISSED. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO GE GUILTY OF BUT THE LEAGUE NEEDS PEOPLE LIKE YOU, PEOPLE WHO HAVE BIG HEARTS. AS I SAID A LITTLE WHACKY BUT REAL COLORFUL, GOOD PERSONALITY IS IT TRUE BY THE WAY THAT YOU PLAY ONLINE POKER AT HALFTIME OF GAMES? NO, IT'S NOT ONLINE POKER, IT'S JUST ONE OF THE TEAMMATES GAVE ME A POKER GAME AND IT SAYS DOUBLE DECKER POKER AND I JUST YOU KNOW I JUST PLAY SO YOUR NOT ACTUALLY WHILE THE COACH IS TALKING AT HALFTIME YOUR NOT ON CAUSE I HAD HEARD THAT STORY TOO. YOU KNOW WHEN EVERYBODY PUT ON MUSIC AND THEY'RE LISTENING TO MUSIC WHEN THEY'RE GETTING READY, I JUST PLAY THE LITTLE POKER GAME. I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT YOU KNOW FOR A GUY THAT HAS HAD AN AMAZING LIFE, YOU SIGNED FOR 65 MILLION DOLLARS OVER 6 YEARS, THAT'S JUST YOUR SALARY SO MANY GOOD THINGS HAVE HAPPENED FOR YOU AND IT'S REALLY ABOUT POSSIBILITY, IT'S REALLY ABOUT DREAMS COMING TRUE. HARD WORK TOO, THERE IS NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS LIFE AND WE SAID AT THE TOP, ALL THE INCREDIBLE THINGS, THINK OF ALL THE KIDS, YOUNG MEN WHO MAYBE HAD THE TALENT BUT NEVER HAD THE CHANCE FOR WHATEVER REASON, OR THEY RAN WITH THE WRONG CROWD. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY TO PEOPLE ASPIRING TO BE ANOTHER GILBERT ARENAS. YOU KNOW I LOOK BACK ON WHEN I WAS GROWING UP PLAYING BASKETBALL IT WAS THE SAME WAY YOU LOOK AT THESE KIDS THAT HAVE ALL THIS TALENT AND YOUR LIKE MAN I KNOW HE'S GONNA MAKE IT TO THE NBA AND IF HE DOESN'T I KNOW I CAN'T MAKE IT TO THE NBA BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY HE CAN'T MAKE IT AND YOU KNOW THERE IS CHOSEN ONES, BUT FOR YOU KNOW KIDS WHO AREN'T CHOSEN ONES, YOU GOTTA WORK YOU KNOW YOU GOTTA SEPARATE YOUR LIFE SOMETIMES YOU KNOW TO GET WHAT YOU WANT. YOU GOTTA SACRIFICE, YOU KNOW I HAD TO SACRIFICE FRIENDS, I'VE LOST FRIENDS YOU KNOW IN THE PROCESS MAKING IT TO THE NBA BECAUSE I WANTED TO WORK INSTEAD OF GOING BACK TO CALIFORNIA YOU KNOW SOME FRIENDS GET CLOSER, YOU KNOW THEY HELP YOU GET THAT FAR SOME FRIENDS WANT TO PULL YOU DOWN, YOU HAVE TO DETERMINE WHO THEY ARE. YEAH YOU GOTTA MAKE CHOICES, THEY'RE HARD CHOICES, YOU GOTTA LOSE FRIENDS YOU'VE KNOWN SINCE YOU WERE 2 YEARS OLD, 6 YEARS OLD YOU KNOW BUT YOU WILL MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS AND WHEN YOU DO IT WILL HELP YOU ELEVATE. SOME KIDS CAN'T DO THAT. AND SOME KIDS DON'T WANT TO DO THAT. 2001 THE DRAFT YOU'RE THE FIRST GUY WHO MADE IT TO THE ALL STAR TEAM FROM THAT DRAFT ACCORDING TO THESE STATISTICS I'M READING BUT YET EVEN THE ALL STAR SELECTION WAS A SNUB, YOU REALLY DIDN'T MAKE THE TEAM AT FIRST, YOU WERE AN ADD ON AT THE LAST MINUTE. THE FIRST YEAR I MADE IT, THIS PAST YEAR WAS AN ADD ON, BUT I'M SAYING DO YOU STILL MAYBE NOT GET, IN THE ECHELON OF GREAT PLAYERS, MAYBE THE PLAYERS KNOW THIS, BUT THE FANS DON'T REALLY THINK OF YOU AT THE TOP. YOU YOURSELF SAID YOU'RE THE TOP 25, YOU DIDN'T SAY YOUR IN THE TOP 20, MAYBE THE TOP 25 YOU KNOW CAUSE IT'S LIKE YOU KNOW WHEN I LOOK AT PLAYERS YOUR BRAINWASHED TO NAMES. AND YOU KNOW PLAYERS ARE TOO, YOU KNOW WHEN I PLAY A VIDEO GAME LEBRON AND WADE, YOU KNOW WHEN I PLAY THE VIDEO GAME I PLAY WITH CLEVELAND. YOU KNOW I GOT GET BRON PUT HIM AT THE 1 IT'S LIKE YOU DON'T PICK YOU? NO. I DON'T. I KNOW WHO TO GO AFTER IF I'M TRYING TO WIN, YOU KNOW THAT'S HOW KIDS LOOK AND I DON'T MIND. LIKE I SAID AT THE END OF THE DAY SOMEHOW I SQUEAK IN TO THE THINGS I WANT TO BE IN. YOU'RE A GUY THAT JUST REALLY HAS, I THINK YOU WIN A LOT OF HEARST BY YOUR EARNESTNESS AND YOUR FLAMBOYANCE ECCENTRICITIES, YOUR PRACTICAL JOKING QUALITIES, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, TO USE YOUR PHRASE, WHAT DO YOU THINK IF YOU HAD TO DEFINE YOURSELF IN A PARAGRAPH YOU'D SAY ABOUT GILBERT ARENAS. NOT A 0 THAT'S FOR SURE. UNIQUE. VERY UNIQUE. IS IT GOING TO STAY THAT WAY, ARE WE GOING TO LOSE YOU TO YOUR FAME AND FORTUNE NOW YOU'RE A MEMBER OF THE USA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM, POSSIBLE OLYMPICS AND ALL THIS STUFF. NO, I'M JUST THE SAME OLD YOU KNOW FUN LOVING GUY. I KNOW THE PLAYERS HATE ME AND I'VE BUGGED THEM 24/7 FOR AUTOGRAPHS. YOU ASKED PLAYERS FOR AUTOGRAPHS? OH ALL THE TIME. YOU EVER GET STIFFED? NO. YOU KNOW PROBABLY EARLY IN MY CAREER I WOULD HAVE BUT NOW I HAVE A RUDY T JERSEY SHIPPED HERE AND HE SAID HE'LL SIGN IT FOR ME SO I'M HAPPY ABOUT THAT. WOW. I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE JASON MCELRAIN, THE AUTISTIC KID. YES. YOU GOT HIS JERSEY. JMACK DID YOU GET TO MEET HIM? NO. I DIDN'T GET TO MEET HIM. DID YOU EXCHANGE JERSEYS? YEAH I GAVE HIM MY JERSEY AND HE GAVE ME HIS. THAT'S ONE OF THE GREAT STORIES OBVIOUSLY HIT THOSE 3 POINTERS AT THE END AUTISTIC KID, AND I HAVE A FEELING THERE IS A PART OF YOU THAT IS IMPRESSED WITH THAT JERSEY AS ANYBODY ELSE'S. I MEAN IT'S GREAT, 4 MINUTES 20 POINTS, I MEAN FOR ANY KID, THAT IS AMAZING YOU KNOW SO HE BELONGS IN MY JERSEY COLLECTION. AND HOW MANY JERSEYS NOW. I HAVE ABOUT 500. 500? JERSEYS? YOU GO TO MITCHELL AND NESS, PETER CAPOLINO MY OLD FRIEND THERE. GET ALL THE JERSEYS. YEAH I ORDER SOME FROM HIM, YES. GOOD GUY AND SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE THROW BACKS ARE? I HAVE A GEORGE MICHAN SIGNED. WILT CHAMBERLAIN SIGNED WHEN HE SCORED 100. I HAVE JORDAN'S FIRST OLYMPIC, JORDAN'S HIGH SCHOOL.

I HAVE A CHICK HEARN'S. CHICK HEARN JERSEY. I HAD THEM MAKE THE ONE LIKE IN THE LAKERS WITH THE MICROPHONE, I HAVE THAT. YOU ARE A FAN MAN. YOU LOVE THIS LIFE DON'T YOU. LEBRON'S FOOTBALL JERSEY. WOW. WHEN HE WAS A 9TH GRADER. MAN IT'S TREMENDOUS. NOBODY IN THIS SPORT CARES MORE ABOUT BEING IN THE SPORT IN THE MOMENT, ENJOYING THE MOMENT, I BELIEVE THAN YOU. I IT'S A GREAT, GREAT PLEASURE TO HAVE HAD YOU ON THE SHOW. AND I THINK THE FANS NOW GET A CHANCE TO SEE A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THIS ECCENTRIC 0 BUT NOT 0 OF A MAN 0 OF A NUMBER. YOU EVER GOING TO CHANGE THAT NUMBER EVER? I KNOW YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT, YOU HAVE A WEIRD NUMBER FOR THE OLYMPIC TEAM, RIGHT? THE U.S. TEAM. OH I DON'T KNOW. IF I MAKE THE TEAM, WILL YOU ASK FOR 0? OH I DON'T THINK YOU CAN HAVE 0, I THINK IT'S 4-15 SO IF I MAKE THE TEAM WHATEVER JERSEY I GET, I DON'T MIND. CERTAINLY NOT A 0, GILBERT ARENAS GOOD TO SEE YOU. ALL THE FOLKS FROM GRANT HIGH SCHOOL SAY HI. I SAY HI TO ALL OF THEM. THEY'RE GETTING NEW JERSEYS THIS YEAR TOO. I GOT SOMETHING NEW FOR THEM. GILBERT GOOD TO SEE YOU, THANK YOU FOR JOINT FACE TO FACE. THANKS FOR WATCHING EVERYBODY, WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.