I should preface this blog post by saying that I am, and always have been, a Boston Celtics fan. I grew up just outside of Boston, and took in quite a few Celtics games in the 80′s, suffered through some of the bad years and very bad years (like when ML Carr was the coach), and have enjoyed the resurgence of the team the last few seasons.

But that does not mean that I cannot have an opinion about other teams, like, the Washington Wizards, for example. In fact, I feel as if I should be able to comment just as openly about the Wizards as I could the Celtics, because I have lived in the greater Metro-DC region for quite a few years and have followed the team through its ups and downs.

In my view, one of the low moments for the Washington franchise, and I am not alone in this opinion, was when they changed their name from the Bullets to the Wizards. For those who are local you will remember the bogus name-the-team contest that took place that led to the eventual selection of a team name that has absolutely nothing to do with the history, culture or environment of Washington, DC. The owner, Abe Pollin, wanted to get away from the name “Bullets” because he felt the name had a violent tone, and we all understood that. However, the name change to the Wizards rang hallow among many in the city.

Leap forward from 1995 to 2010, and it would seem that the team should change its name back to the Bullets or at the very least swiftly address the public relations nightmare that is Gilbert Arenas – aka Agent Zero.

According to reports in ESPN and other sources, the NBA, the Washington DC Police and Federal Authorities are examining reports that the Wizards guard brought and stored “unloaded” guns in a container in his locker. Now the New York Post is reporting that Gilbert Arenas and his teammate Javaris Crittenton drew guns on each other during a Christmas Eve locker room argument over a gambling debt. There is no indication from the reports I have read the guns were loaded for the alleged draw.

Arenas denies that he drew a gun on Crittenton, but sources have indicated that the standoff at D.C. Corall, otherwise known as the Verizon Center, was over a gambling debt that Arenas refused to pay. Apparently, league security officials are part of the sourcing for the story.

Arenas has made a fairly successful comeback from some devastating injuries this year, but this latest saga for the Washington franchise is a PR and financial nightmare for the organization. If the team had any chance to reinvigorate its shrinking fan base that is depressed with another losing season (The Wiz are 10-20 and 3-7 in their last 10 games), that has been thrown out the window. What’s more, any hope at luring talented free-agents or to dump Arenas and his huge contract (Arenas signed a six-year, $111 million contract in 2008) is likewise a non-starter.

So, what is the owner to do?

In truth, there is really only one decision that works, regardless of how financially unfriendly it may be. If Abe Pollin is serious about the image of his team and its connection to violence and he wants to build something successful that reflects his values, he will take a long and hard look at sending Gilbert Arenas packing as soon as he possibly can. The decision may not sell tickets, but let’s get real – he was not selling too many tickets with the current line-up anyway. What’s more, if you are going to scuttle the name of your team because of it has some violent connotation, then you should be willing to scuttle other pieces as well to make the whole a true sum of its parts.

Otherwise, Mr. Pollin might as well go and change the name of the team back to the Washington Bullets.