Arenas Disputes Police Report

Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas on Tuesday denied making comments attributed to him in a police report detailing his arrest on Saturday night in Miami Beach.

Arenas and Awvee Storey, who played with the Wizards last season, were arrested and charged with disobeying police after they got out of a vehicle on a street packed with people during an event known as Urban Beach Week.

As Arenas was arrested, according to the police report, he said: “You can’t arrest me. I’m a basketball player. I play for the Washington Wizards and I’m not going to leave my teammate.�

Arenas said he never made such a statement.

“All I did was get out of the car to ask where they were taking Awvee so I could come get him out, and some officer comes up from behind and cuffs me,� Arenas said in a telephone interview with the Washington Post.

“Everyone knows me. They know I don’t have a cocky personality. I don’t use my name to get in trouble and I don’t use my name to get out of trouble. That would never come out of my mouth.�

Arenas said he and Storey were riding in a limousine in heavy traffic when Storey got out of the vehicle after recognizing a former teammate. According to the police report, Storey was asked by an officer to get back onto the sidewalk. When Storey did not leave the street, the officer arrested him.

Arenas and Storey were processed and released after paying a fine. A total of 557 people, including Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Santonio Holmes, were arrested between Thursday morning and Saturday night on Miami Beach during an annual event that attracts several thousand people. This year, police increased their presence during the event.

Meanwhile, Arenas called Jerry Colangelo, managing director of USA Basketball, on Sunday to explain what happened.

Arenas will be one of 23 players trying out for the U.S. team beginning July 19 in Las Vegas, and Colangelo has emphasized character in his selections.

“I just wanted him to know that this wasn’t a situation where I was out of control, disrespecting police,� Arenas said. “That’s not how I am.�

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John Nash will not return as general manager of the Portland Trail Blazers after his contract was not extended, the team said.

Team President Steve Patterson will become interim general manager while the team seeks a new GM.

Nash joined the team in 2003.

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Boston Celtics center Kendrick Perkins had arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder and is expected to be ready for the start of next season.

Perkins was hurt last week while working out at the team’s practice facility. He dislocated the same shoulder late in practice Feb. 8 and sat out 13 games.

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George Postolos, president and chief executive of the Houston Rockets, is resigning to form a company to help investment groups acquire sports franchises.

Postolos, 42, played key roles in raising money for the construction of the Toyota Center and in forging the Rockets’ television partnership with the Houston Astros in his eight years with the team.

Postolos previously worked as a special assistant to NBA Commissioner David Stern.