ShareBullets … news, randomness and tidbits from around the web. The previous ShareBullets was about current Wizards, this one is about past Wizards/Bullets…

Cards in Meridian Hill Park, D.C. – photo: K. Weidie

> Crittenton’s Song & Bookie Ball

Remember Kendrick “Bookie Ball” Long? Of course you do. Long, a “playground pal of [Javaris] Crittenton’s from Atlanta,” was the primary source for Peter Vecsey’s initial somewhat false, somewhat true article in the New York Post about the December 2009 locker room gun incident between Crittenton and Gilbert Arenas. We later found out Arenas was playing the joker and Crittenton, despite the official court report, did, in fact, have bullets for his gun.

Bookie Ball, however, has always been a mystery. Then, on Twitter the other day (where Vecsey now roams), there was this (courtesy of TAI’s Adam McGinnis):

Exactly.

And more recently, this Twitter randomness:

So there’s that. But also…

What’s been more of a mystery, to me at least, is what song Crittenton was singing during the whole incident. From Mike Wise’s January 2010 article in the Washington Post:

Crittenton then drew his weapon, loaded the clip into the chamber and cocked the bar, the witnesses said.

Neither witness said the gun was ever pointed at Arenas, but both said Crittenton began singing as he held the gun.

In March 2010, Truth About It.net still wondered about that song… until now. According to reliable sources (because I certainly wasn’t there), that song was:
Waka Flocka’s “O Let’s Do It” — video below (parental advisory, explicit lyrics):

Mystery solved, finally… I think.

> Jim McIlvaine Turns 40

Happy 40th B-Day (on Monday) to former Washington Bullet Jim McIlvaine. And remember, the Bullets didn’t sign McIlvaine to a 7-year, $33.6 million contract in the summer of 1996 (thought to be quite ridiculous at the time for a former second round draft pick with only two NBA seasons of experience — and it was), the team that used to play in Seattle was responsible. And don’t blame Jim for taking the money.

In any case, birthday wishes led to this Twitter exchange:

> Jacking Gentleman Jamison

In a recent interview with ESPN Radio in Los Angeles, recent Lakers signee Antawn Jamison had a couple interesting things to say, as transcribed by SportsRadioInterviews.com.

“…to be a part of this Lakers organization is for me the ultimate high and definitely the highlight of my career.”

Whoa… take it easy, Gentleman Jamison, don’t count your Larry O’Brien trophies before they hatch. Also, the irony is not lost that such a career highlight seems to also involve the first time that Jamison will willingly take a bench role. (OK, so I’m unsure if Jamison was “willing” or not when he won the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award in 2004 with the Dallas Mavericks, but there were certainly several less-than-enthusiastic messages when it was hinted at him coming off the bench in Washington and in Cleveland. Remember: Jamison is an apathetic defender, at best.) Speaking of Dallas, Jamison said this in reference to reuniting with Steve Nash in Los Angeles:

“[Nash] makes his teammates better and I cut and it was right there underneath the basket and it was the most layups, the most open shots I’ve ever had, and I can’t wait to have that feeling again because it’s been a long time. I think ‘03-‘04 might be the last time I had an opportunity to shoot an open jump shot or open layup.”

The perceived lack of open shots has never hindered Jamison before. In his five full seasons with the Wizards, Jamison finished in the NBA’s top 10 in field goals attempted three times (10th in 2005-06, 9th in 2007-08, 5th in 2008-09 — he finished 19th in 2006-07 and 23rd in 2004-05). Heck, last season on a bad rebuilding team in Cleveland Jamison finished 10th in field goals attempted — at age 35.

Further numbers via Basketball-Reference.com: Since 2005-06, only eight NBA players have attempted 8,000 or more shots. In order of Effective Field Goal Percentage (eFG%): LeBron James (.528); Dirk Nowitzki (.512); Dwyane Wade (.505); Joe Johnson (.500); Kobe Bryant (.492); Vince Carter (.490); Antawn Jamison (.489); and Carmelo Anthony (.486).

Jamison was a great, crafty scorer with the Wizards. Now just imagine how many shots he would’ve jacked if he would have been open.

However, all things considered:

  • Jamison was really paying a compliment to Nash.
  • But wait, didn’t Eddie Jordan’s Princeton offense get Jamison some back-cut layups every once in a while?
  • (The same Eddie Jordan who is now going to be coaching Jamison, as the former Wizards HC has signed up to be part of Mike Brown’s staff with the Lakers. And, get this, the Lakers might be running some Princeton offense in 2012-13.)
  • Then again, Jamison was known for his ability to hit tough-to-guard shots above, under and around an opponent’s limbs.
  • So what came first: the non-open shots or the self-determined degree of difficulty?
  • Maybe scoring is like making an omelet… you can’t get buckets without breaking some eggs.

> To conclude…

My favorite picture of Gilbert Arena’s Maryland mansion that was recently put up for sale, via the listing website … the pantry.