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We can understand if you don't want to take the time to grade your tech-support help on the other end of the telephone, but when we're talking about the dollars and emotion you've invested in sports, we think it's worth the effort. It's time for ESPN The Magazine's Ultimate Standings, in which SportsNation grades organizations on everything from ticket prices and stadium experience to the talent on the field, court or rink. Which team will end up on top this year? It depends on what you say.

Take part in the 2011 MLB survey
2010 MLB Ultimate Standings
1. Los Angeles Angels (Overall: No. 3)
2. Tampa Bay Rays (Overall: No. 6)
3. Colorado Rockies (Overall: No. 13)
4. Minnesota Twins (Overall: No. 14)
5. Atlanta Braves (Overall: No. 15)

Take part in the 2011 NFL survey
2010 NFL Ultimate Standings
1. New Orleans Saints (Overall: No. 1)
2. Indianapolis Colts (Overall: No. 4)
3. Green Bay Packers (Overall: No. 9)
4. Arizona Cardinals (Overall: No. 19)
5. Baltimore Ravens (Overall: No. 20)

Take part in the 2011 NBA survey
2010 NBA Ultimate Standings
1. Orlando Magic (Overall: No. 2)
2. San Antonio Spurs (Overall: No. 7)
3. Cleveland Cavaliers (Overall: No. 10)
4. Dallas Mavericks (Overall: No. 24)
5. Oklahoma City Thunder (Overall: No. 25)

Take part in the 2011 NHL survey
2010 NHL Ultimate Standings
1. Pittsburgh Penguins (Overall: No. 5)
2. Detroit Red Wings (Overall: No. 8)
3. Washington Capitals (Overall: No. 11)
4. San Jose Sharks (Overall: No. 12)
5. Chicago Blackhawks (Overall: No. 16)

• Rank 'Em: Is Gilbert Arenas still one of the best 25 guards in the NBA?
• Vote: Will Arenas help or hurt John Wall's development this season?

It didn't take long for Gilbert Arenas to earn headlines in his return to the Wizards. Arenas begged out of playing in a preseason game because of injury, only to then announce to reporters that the supposed injury was a ploy to get teammate Nick Young more minutes.

As coaching moves go, it worked out pretty well. Young scored 24 points in his quest for regular-season minutes and the Wizards gave the fans in the Verizon Center a win against the Hawks. But the Wizards apparently weren't amused, fining Arenas an undisclosed amount. Arenas blamed the media for making a big deal of the story, but was this the latest installment of Arenas causing problems or a gesture of selflessness we should embrace?

• "This here is much to do about nothing. Gilbert won't be the first basketball player to fake an injury or sickness to get out of playing. I think he did do this to help his teammate and add the fact that he did sit on the bench and cheered his team on, shows that he was being a team player. His mistake was telling the media because they just ran with it and put their own twist to the whole story." -- SN commenter xchuck
• "What's wrong with you people? The guy decided to sacrifice playing time in a meaningless pre-season game in order to give an opportunity to a teammate. An opportunity that I am sure Mr. Young took advantage of. Great story if you ask me. Gilbert will show up to play when it matters." -- SN commenter bjt08
• "Gilbert is way too old to love this behavior. The guy needs help, you'd think the whole gun thing would have been enough of a wakeup call for anybody but, the money keeps insulating him from reality." -- SN commenter hostk
• "Arenas should be cut tonight even if the Wizards have to pay him the rest of his contract. Lying to his coach by faking an injury breaks the trust between coach and player. Arenas could have ask Saunders to have Nick Young start in order for him to showcase his talents. But Arenas didn't and lied instead. His act is old and the Wizards need to cut ties and end the "Arenas" era tonight." -- SN commenter roadwarrior7202

• Vote: John Wall or Evan Turner? | Rank 'Em: Best lottery prospects?
• More from ESPN New York: Lottery a lousy opening act for Prokhorov.

Here are a few of the positives listed on John Wall's ESPN.com draft scouting report:

• "Freakish athletic point guard ... Explosive leaping ability ... Flies up and down the court"

And here's the biggest positive on Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov's scouting report:

• $13.4 billion

That last one, of course, is Prokhorov's net worth, according to the Forbes rankings of the world's billionaires (he comes in two spots behind Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen).

So, no, the Nets didn't win the draft lottery and a chance to draft Wall, didn't even win the consolation prize of the No. 2 pick and Evan Turner. But they do still have a few billion cards in their favor when it comes to rebuilding the team with the worst record in the league. Meanwhile, as Michael Wilbon writes in the Washington Post, the Wizards have a chance to draft a player who could ultimately help them land Carmelo Anthony or Kevin Durant.

Which side of that equation do you think makes for a brighter future?

vk (dc)

If Cousins wasn't such an idiot would he be the #1 overall pick?

Chad Ford

I don't think idiot is the right word. Moody may be more like it. But yes, if he has the off-the-court rep of Evan Turner, he would be in very strong competition with Wall for No. 1. Full transcript

“

Wiz need to trade down the pick to another team and raid their roster for 2 impact vets. Wall will waste away in DC

” -- HowardBison94

“

Wizards just need to suck it up for one more year. Carmelo Anthony is from Baltimore and would love to play for the Wizards. With Wall there, it will make his decision easier to come back home. Bank on it. It couldn't get better than that!!

” -- LiftOff23

It's just like the census, only this one is fun and doesn't come in the mail. And nobody from FOX News or MSNBC will yell at you about it. It's time for ESPN The Magazine's Ultimate Standings, in which SportsNation grades organizations on everything from ticket prices and stadium experience to the talent on the field, court or rink. Which team will end up on top this year? It depends on what you say.

Take part in the 2010 MLB survey
2009 MLB Ultimate Standings
1. Los Angeles Angels (Overall: No. 1)
2. Milwaukee Brewers (Overall: No. 7)
3. Tampa Bay Rays (Overall: No. 16)
4. Minnesota Twins (Overall: No. 23)
5. Philadelphia Phillies (Overall: No. 24)

Take part in the 2010 NFL survey
2009 NFL Ultimate Standings
1. Pittsburgh Steelers (Overall: No. 3)
2. Green Bay Packers (Overall: No. 13)
3. Indianapolis Colts (Overall: No. 14)
4. Tennessee Titans (Overall: No. 15)
5. New England Patriots (Overall: No. 19)

Take part in the 2010 NBA survey
2009 NBA Ultimate Standings
1. Cleveland Cavaliers (Overall: No. 5)
2. San Antonio Spurs (Overall: No. 9)
3. New Orleans Hornets (Overall: No. 12)
4. Houston Rockets (Overall: No. 17)
5. Orlando Magic (Overall: No. 18)

Take part in the 2010 NHL survey
2009 NHL Ultimate Standings
1. Carolina Hurricanes (Overall: No. 2)
2. Detroit Red Wings (Overall: No. 4)
3. Washington Capitals (Overall: No. 6)
4. Pittsburgh Penguins (Overall: No. 8)
5. St. Louis Blues (Overall: No. 10)

• Vote: Would you want either Arenas or Crittenton on your favorite team?
• Rank 'Em: Where do the Wizards rank without Arenas?
• Chat: J.A. Adande takes your question on the suspension, Fri., 3 p.m. ET

The news that Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton have been suspended for the remainder of the season isn't what we in the business call a big surprise. Commissioner David Stern isn't exactly known for his lenient take on his players displaying guns in the locker room (or anywhere, really); if there's any surprise here, it's that Arenas and Crittenton didn't get an even harsher penalty for their actions.

Very few members of SportsNation saw Arenas playing again this season. Three times as many thought he'd never play in the NBA again. It's a difficult situation for the man of a thousand self-determined nicknames. His stock had been on a steady decline even before the incident, as the Wizards have failed to make a deep playoff run during his tenure as their marquee player. At the beginning of January, NBA fans were almost evenly split on whether or not they'd want him on their team. Now that the length of Arenas' suspension is finally known, that tie could be broken either way.

“

suitable punishment. he'll be back, and a better person next season.

” -- elcherry

“

A little harsh IMO. A month would have been more than sufficient. Kind of unfair to the rest of the team.

” -- triple_double_32

“

Sad ending to a fun little era in DC in the grand scheme of things....Gil has done alot in the DC area for the kids in the community and its sad to see this is the ending of his time here...The punishment fits the crime and as the Wiz franchise goes....he will get his contract voided and some team in the league will get a 25+ per game scorer who's just getting his legs back at 25 cents on the dollar....typical Bullets/Wizards luck

” -- diego1115

• Vote: Does Roger Goodell handle discipline better than David Stern?

We assume David Stern doesn't actually type up his own releases, and that's probably just as well for the keyboards at NBA headquarters. The guy knows how to convey a tone of voice, spoken or written, and "not currently fit to take the court" conveys nothing if not seething rage directed Gilbert Arenas' way.

SportsNation largely agreed with the nature of Wednesday's punishment, an indefinite suspension with the potential for even worse. And maybe it's not Tiger Woods, but it adds up to a big implosion for a guy who was still the face of a franchise about a week ago.

• More than 60 percent of voters think Arenas has played his last game for the Wizards.
• More than 80 percent liked -- or at least didn't dislike -- Arenas before all of this.


“

He has admitted bringing a gun to the job full well knowing that this was a violation of league rules, that alone is enough. Also whether we make 5.00 an hour or 50 million over 5 years we are all subject to the law, the rules of our employment.

” -- vandyalum91



“

I tell you what...if someone threw a $110M contract at me to do anything, I'd do my damn best to make sure I didn't do anything even close to screwing it up. What a loser.

” -- danielmiller19



“

I don't see anything wrong wit wut Gilbert did. Other than joking about guns, but there have been players who have brought loaded guns on team planes and nothing was done about it. Now, b/c Gil got guns and jokes about it, it's a problem b/c David Stern wants to seem like Roger Gridell. I'm not buying this. Arenas did nothing wrong other than having bad insight.

” -- BamaSlymm

• Vote: Should the NBA suspend Gilbert Arenas for the season?
• Chat: NBA Insider Chad Ford takes your questions, 1 ET

From the Mike Leach that spilled over the ball dropping in Times Square to the developing story surrounding Gilbert Arenas in Washington, the new decade is sure off to a rousing start. It's enough to make you yearn for the good old days ... or even Tiger Woods news.

It's tough to know exactly what to make of the Arenas situation right now, with local authorities and the NBA both apparently still looking into exactly what happened with the star bringing unloaded guns to the Verizon Center and then reportedly bringing them out in a dispute (or as a joke, depending on who you listen to) with teammate Jarvis Crittenton.

All of that said, a hefty majority of SportsNation think this is a "very serious" issue. And ESPN.com columnist Jemele Hill has heard enough to call for Arenas to be suspended for the season. Where do you think this story is going?

Daniel (Boise, Idaho)

What are the chances that the Wizards will void Gil's contract and would the void hold up through appeal (or is the reason they can void it a loophole that wouldn't be upheld)?

Chris Sheridan

One step at a time on his one. So let's all take a deep breath and see what the D.C. police investigation reveals, and then we can make educated guesses as to whether Arenas violated the so-called moral turpitude clause. If he brandished or pointed a loaded weapon at a teammate, I'd say the Wiz would have a good case if they voided. Short of that, I'd say they'd have a tough case to win. Not many contracts have been voided. Even Shawn Kemp never got voided for failing to be in good enough shape to play pro basketball, which is a voidable offense. Full transcript

“

Arenas will get a slap on the wrist from the pathetic legal system, he has to be more concerned with what Stern and the Wizards will do to him.

” -- daphins23

Lakers fans are understandably excited about the new season, and the defending champs are a popular choice to repeat among bloggers in the ESPN.com community.

"I've never been more excited for the opening of any season, any sport," blogs kurtnaphansen. "The combination of being on the heels of the Lakers winning the NBA championship, of all the trash talk from Cavs, Celtics, Magic, Spurs and even Blazers fans, and of a very new interesting development with the addition of Sheed to Boston, Shaq to Cleveland and Artest to LA."

Below are fan blogs and predictions about the season, which tipped off this week. Click through to respond. If you don't already have an ESPN profile, create one now and start blogging.

More fan blogs

Fan pictures

• Vote: What's your take on the season's opening night?
• Beyond the Nation: Cleveland Plain Dealer on Shaq's assesment.
• Chats: NBA Insider David Thorpe, 12 ET | Chad Ford's Tuesday wrap

Posting his NBA predictions minutes before the season's opening tip, SportsNation blogger Dukeyanks1515 pegged the Cavaliers as the best of the Eastern Conference, two spots ahead of the Celtics. Oops. (We'll cut him some slack; he also had the Wizards No. 5 in the East and the Mavericks No. 7 in the West, predictions which look downright prescient after Gilbert Arenas torched Mark Cuban's team in a 102-91 win).

As Tuesday debuts go, Shaquille O'Neal's was rather less successful than, say, the new Michael Jackson movie. Actually, it was less successful than Randy Foye's first game with the Wizards. O'Neal put up 10 points, 10 rebounds and one block in 29 minutes, and the Cavaliers dropped a 95-89 decision to the Celtics. But whether Shaq actually improves the Cavaliers is just one question we've got after the first night of games. Also on the agenda:

• Is Gilbert Arenas one the five best players in the league when healthy? Vote
• Would you rather have Andrew Bynum or Greg Oden for the next decade? Vote
• Did Ron Artest or Rasheed Wallace look like a better fit in victory? Vote

“

C's have the better bench now, which is why it was a relatively easy win tonight. When is Cleveland going to bring in a real PG for Lebron? Mo Williams is garbage; an undersized SG pretending to play PG. He can't set up his teammates, he gets exposed defensively, and if his shot isn't going down, then what's his value?

” -- dinosaurworld

“

It's one game and according to Celtic's fans they have already won the NBA championship. They fail to realize that two of our starters are new to the system and it will take them awhile to get acquainted. There was some sloppy play by the Cavs that will be corrected as time goes on.

” -- eatthegator

• Vote: What's the impact of all the big trades in the NBA this week?

We'll get back to the actual draft selections in a bit, but frankly, aside from new Timberwolves general manager David Kahn putting Matt Millen and Jon Gruden to shame by stockpiling people who play the same position in a matter of mere minutes, the week's real drama involved players who long since had their moment on the podium with David Stern.

We're talking trades -- and not just mentally talking, as Shaq seems to prefer.

Vince Carter is in Orlando, Richard Jefferson is in San Antonio, Shaquille O'Neal is in Cleveland and Thabo Sefolosha is in Oklahoma City. And if you don't think that last one matters, you've obviously never listened to anyone with an Oklahoma accent.

• A 'Nation of one? Florida almost alone in thinking more of Carter than Shaq.
• Chat wrap: See what Stepehn Curry, Ricky Rubio and others told SportsNation.
• Fan groups: Cleveland Cavaliers fans | Orlando Magic Hoops | San Antonio Spurs

“

I have a feeling [the Magic] aint bringing back turkoglu now.with the money that howard,carter,and lewis are making,I cant imagine them giving him the kind of money he thought he was going to get last week.

” -- nspe33

“

Get ready, Cleveland. [Shaq] willl be fat and out of shape when camp starts, he'll have to play himself into shape, and he'll be injured the first 1 - 1 1/2 months of the season. Just like every other team he has ever played for! Bank it!

” -- THEBOOTGUY