When Millionaires bring Guns to Work
Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 7:00AM
Steve in Management, NBA, policy

Professional basketball players Gilbert 'Agent Zero' Arenas and teammate Javaris Crittenton are under investigation for allegedly drawing handguns on one another in the Washington Wizards team locker room during a heated argument.

The argument apparently involved a dispute over Arenas' failure to settle a gambling debt with Crittenton. It has also been reported that the gambling in question took place on a team flight returning from a recent road trip. Arenas' contract pays him about $15M/year, I wonder what the table stakes were in the card game.

Ironically, the Wizards were known as the 'Bullets' for decades before changing the team name in 1997 When the Bullets were still the Bulletsamidst concerns of the glorification of gun culture and violence.  It would have been a better move for Arenas and Crittenton to draw some magic wands instead of guns I think.

So far the Wizards and the NBA are stepping up to the plate.  And by stepping up, I mean assuming no responsibility, taking no action, and allowing the Washington police to investigate, surely hoping that this whole issue disappears.

I love the story though. Gambling, (alleged) gunplay -  is this an NBA locker room or a saloon in Dodge City?

Yep, gambling and guns in the workplace, and I only have one question - WHERE WAS HR?

Surely there needed to be some kind of policy in the handbook that specifically banned this sort of activity in the workplace. 

Maybe just something simple like - 'Committing a felony on company property is against corporate policy'.

That should cover it.

Article originally appeared on Steve's HR Technology (http://steveboese.squarespace.com/).
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