Oh, Gilbert Arenas, how we've missed you. It's been about three months now since you got "amnestied" by the Magic, stopped talking to the press, and locked the world out of your world. So we can't even begin to express how happy we were this morning when we saw that you'd done a 90-minute interview with Sports Illustrated recently where you talked about everything that's been going on with you lately. The resulting Q&A session is a great read, but it's long. So, here are some of our favorite quotes from the conversation. It's classic Gil. Good to have you back, old pal.
On playing ball regularly at a local YMCA in Orlando:
"I'm playing with players who just love the game of basketball. Past experience? Yeah, they've played the game of basketball before...There's some 45, pushing 50. Other than that, it's 30s, 20s, some teens. It's fun. That's fun basketball."
On becoming a "race car driver":
"I ride Shifter Karts, Go Karts. There's a place in Orlando—Orlando Kart Center—where I ride. I'm all right for a beginner. I went to California and went to this MB2 center [for indoor Kart racing], and out of 200,000 people I already broke down to a 1,000 in just six races, which isn't bad."
On why he grew a beard last season:
"When I came back [in the 2010-11 season after being suspended for the final 50 games of 2009-2010], I just didn't want to be around people. And that's why I grew the beard. I don't need you to see me no more. I'm gone. I don't want to be here."
On why he doesn't see a therapist for his personal problems:
"A therapist? I just watch Dexter and The Sopranos. If Tony Soprano goes to the therapist, then I just use that. That's it. I just watch TV, try to keep a good spirit, and that's how I've always been."
On where he's going to sign to play next:
"All I know is I've got a Daddy-Son Donut Day on the 24th. You go to the school, and you have donuts. That's what I'm looking forward to."
[via Sports Illustrated]
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