Don't guarantee anything...Ever.

Never guarantee anything in sports. Ever.

Last summer, Washington Wizards Guard, Gilbert Arenas, was left off of the US National Team by then coach Nate McMillan. Arenas guaranteed that he would score 50 points in retaliation against McMillian for the oversight.

Today, Arenas was shot a stellar 3-for-15 from the field, including 0-for-8 on 3-pointers, for a grand total of 9 points against McMillian's sorry Portland Trailblazers. Under-sized guard, Juan Dixon scored a robust 14 points from the field for the Blazers.

I don't know what you thing, but it looks as if Arenas had one to many burritos before the game. Nope, I think he is understandably embarrassed by making a fool of himself on the national stage.

What is the point in making guarantees in sports. The most famous guarantee of alltime, Jo "Willy" Namath, in Super Bowl III, is seen as prophecy. Looking back, the New York Jets truly were the dominate team. In truth, the game could have turned on any one play. That is the nature of competitive sports. Anything can happen at anytime.

No athlete can make a true guarantee, just like airlines can never guarantee that your flight will get off the ground on time...Ever. What is the point in making such a statement? Do they feel it makes them feel superior? Are they more of a man because they make a statement? And what if he would have scored 45 points? What of the guarantee? Shouldn't we say.."Hey, what happened to the other five points?"

The best thing that any player can do is go out there and leave it all on the court. Don't run your mouth. Play the game. Make your opponent suffer by winning the game in convincing style...50 points or 10,10, and 10.

Don't make a guarantee...Ever.