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Gilbert Arenas Steps Out of his Own Shadow: Balln' on and off the Court!
“Drive slow homie? Why Bother? I was made to rip asphalt quicker than Speedy Gonzalez.” If you had a chance to catch P-Cutta's Drive By IV automotive mixtape then you can feel me on those lyrics. Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas can relate. Here's a guy that drops forty a night as often as Donald Trump purchases commercial buildings and then balls home in either one of his two Italian franchise players: the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti or Lamborghini Murcielago Roadster. So again, why drive slow homie?
 It's hard to take a Wizard seriously. Especially when his strengths are predicated on a magic wand and other majestic powers. Yet the Wizard they call Arenas is a special one, especially to his team. The two-time NBA All-Star has led Washington to the playoffs the last two years. He scores via penetration, fadeaways and fast breaks and sinks threes with precision. Then he takes off his number “0” jersey and tosses it into the crowd. Quite an expensive habit. But also an exclamation point to the critics who said he would score zero points at while in college in Arizona. So one would think such a dude is cocky, untouchable, and far from humble. Well, after a visit to his 10 bedroom, 10 bath estate in Virginia -- 25 minutes from Downtown, D.C. -- I experienced just the opposite. Unless Gilbert was using some hocus pocus on me. He was patient, polite and simple with his wardrobe. Far from flashy, not even a timepiece on the left wrist, ice on the neck or diamonds in his lobes!
 Step onto the greenery surrounding his freshly built brick home and the genius Wizard shows his cynical side. That's when he walks up to a cadre of Panther Black domestic and import playmakers. Two of which drain the life savings of your average middle class family. That would be the aforementioned Italians which are usually stationed in the five car garage. In total, they have a little over 1200 miles on them. Gilbert pushes his pop's Infiniti Q45 for everyday rituals like grocery shopping.
 The 2007 Caddy Escalade and a Chevy Monte Carlo comprise the rest of Arenas' auto fleet. Asked why such a dichotomy between his choices and he explains that the Monte Carlo was the outcome of a friendly bet in which his boy had to fork over the keys indefinitely. This could explain why the pretty intensive, dark tinted Monte Carlo is his only vehicle with aftermarket spins – 21” full face Giovannas. Originally gold, Arenas painted the Chevy black. “Black is an easy sell,” he states. The rest of his rides roll on their respective manufacturer offerings. His Escalade, you think, would at least be outfitted with the up level 22s that GM offers. No Sir! “Now I get a new car and keep it simple,” Gilbert explains. “I went to Hova. Don't need no shoes on my whips. I'm a grown man now!” Yet, he did make sure to be the first on his team to cop the 2007 ‘Scade after seeing LeBron with one, which he has no plans for retaliation after the Cleveland playoff series, which of course the Wizards fell short of winning. But his emotions ran high. “We were losing by one point each game. LeBron hit three game winners. In the playoffs things happened” he remembers. So what's the best antidote for a minor set back? Man's best friend! Fast Cars!
As a newfound love for Gilbert, his car game had to be representative of speed. “I just like fast cars. I want the fastest car I can get” he exudes. “I would get the Bugatti if I could. But I can't spend that type of money on car.” Who would spend $1.3 million on sheet metal besides Jay Leno? That's reckless!
 Within the same conversation we approach his menacing Black Murcielago supercar. He kept it stock as well. 335/30 ZR 18” Pirellis provide traction for the 580-horsepower AWD platform while large yellow caliper carbon-ceramic brakes allow for braking efficiencies at any speed. Gilbert admits that he inherited the idea of a Murcielago from baller Chris Mills after seeing his orange one. “Chris has the best cars in the world,” Gilbert expresses emphatically. Due to the extreme singing of the 6.2-liter V12 which sits amidship (right behind the driver) Gilbert had to install a “10” to drown out the sound of the powerful engine. When asked where he takes the Italian coupe for exercise he had no problem offering up Interstate 495. “I got caught driving reckless once,” he recalls. “It was a good one.” Gilbert saw a challenger and proceeded to show him a thing or two. A State Trooper was only two cars back when Gilbert shot off like mice from cats. Miles ahead traffic came to a halt, time elapsed and Gilbert was on to his next thought, forgetting about 5-0. Five minutes later the lights flashed. Well, you know how this story ends.
 The Ferrari Scaglietti is one of Italy's best-kept secrets. Only connoisseurs of the finer things in life can relate. Bentley Continentals are sweet, but they dare to compare to the sophistication and race-inspiring DNA patterns found in the 2+2 Coupe. Gilbert chose black because of its rarity and resale value. The stats are mind boggling for the 612. It runs through turns on the track while exceeding 100-mph and can still valet at the Four Seasons after the game. A 540-horsepower V12 allows it to giddy up as if the Kentucky Derby were nearby while a 199 mph top speed and 0-60 time of 4.1 seconds gives it better draft numbers than the Bentley GT. MSRP starts at $257,000.
From work to play this Wizard is a very happy one. Gilbert's enjoying success on the court, plays Madden all day to kill time and has a collection of 300 to 400 authentic Jerseys, which he plans to build a gym just to hang them. “I have Wilt's when he scored 100,” he brags. “Anyone with a Jersey give me a call!”
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