Gilbertology lives on as Arenas breaks silence

Gilbert Arenas is injured. Gilbertology lives on.

The Washington Wizards’ point guard spoke with reporters Saturday for the first time since injuring his knee April 4. He made one bit of news – ruling himself out for the U.S. national team’s qualifying games this summer.

Doctors have told him he won’t be 100 percent until August. Arenas tore the lateral meniscus in his left knee against Charlotte and had surgery the next day. He was one of the final cuts last year for the U.S. team at the world championships, but this year national duty isn’t a priority.

“So far I’m ruling everything out – trips, vacation,” Arenas said. “I’m ruling them all out until I’m 100 percent because the Wizards come first.”

Arenas said he’s stayed away from the spotlight since the injury because he was more or less feeling sorry for himself. The gym rat has been reduced to doing calf exercises and shooting from a standstill, a far cry from the expectations surrounding the Wizards in January when they were vying for first place in the Eastern Conference.

“I can’t run. I can barely walk,” Arenas said. “But it gives me a chance to think about the next step. I started off well this year and it was going to be hard to top it going into next season, but I have a chance now.”