The suspension is the latest blow to Arenas, Crittenton, the Wizards franchise and the NBA ever since the two players culminated a dispute on a team flight on December 19 over a card game and a gambling debt, by brandishing guns in the locker room the following day.

Both players have had their day in court. Arenas pleaded guilty to felony gun possession on Jan. 15 and is awaiting sentence from a judge on March 26. Crittenton pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor gun possession charge on January 25, and was immediately sentenced to one year of unsupervised probation.

In a conference call, Stern further explained his decision.

“We have preached to [players] in writing and actually in person on this very subject and nevertheless, they brandished firearms and that just can't be tolerated. And if there's any doubt to any of our players about it in the future, we will be dealing with this in an even more severe way.”

Maybe Arenas was right when he said “Stern was mean.”

But in a move that seems to show he finally understands the severity of his actions, Arenas not only suggested that his suspension be for the rest of the season, but has told the NBA players union not to fight it.

Perhaps Arenas was making sure Stern didn’t pop him for more than just the rest of the season, or that the judge still waiting to issue his sentence will notice that the three-time all-star guard is willing to take his punishment.

Speaking of punishment, Arenas is losing approximately $147,200 per game for a suspension that will run a total of 50 games. Talk about a bad career move, and a so-called practical joke gone wrong.

Arenas is finally starting to say the right things, listening to his lawyers, and letting them to the talking.

“Mr. Arenas recognizes that his actions were a serious violation of the law and league rules and were detrimental to the NBA and its reputation. He accepts full responsibility for what he did, and takes no issue with the length of the suspension or the process that led to the Commissioner's decision,” said Ken Wainstein, Arenas’ attorney.

But that’s just lawyer-speak.

Word from the Arenas camp is that he feels the organization has let him down, and did not support him through this ordeal. Wizards’ general manager Ernie Grunfeld confirmed in a press conference that the team is not looking to void the remainder of Arenas’ contract, but that could change depending upon Arenas’ sentence.

But while Arenas’ fate remains a question, a few things seem certain here in the Nation’s Capital. He'll never play in a Wizards uniform again. The organization shows every sign of wanting him gone, and Arenas seems to echo that sentiment.

Grunfeld is on the hot seat after signing Arenas to a $111 million-six-year deal after three knee surgeries, not to mention putting together this mess of a team.

Forwards Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison, two class acts in the NBA, will be in high demand by several other teams as the trade deadline approaches.

Both have earned a chance to play for contenders with their talent, work ethic and professionalism. We will miss them here in D.C. if they move on, but they deserve better.

The new owner, likely to be Ted Leonsis after all the price haggling is done, will face no opposition if he decides to do what he did so effectively with the Capitals -- blow this thing up and start over.

And while he’s at it, he might want to get rid of those boring uniforms and that dumb logo. It’s the Nation’s Capital -- how about Red, White and Blue and a cool new logo?

And the Washington Wizards are, sadly, back to where they were a decade ago, hapless and floundering, and searching for an identity. In a season that started with hope and promise, the end has come crashing down in disappointment, and we’re only halfway home. by Carla Peay, BASN Staff Reporter,