Recapping the Rise and Fall of the Wizards

Can anyone recall such a brilliant, otherworldly season come to an immediate, screeching halt? Everyone loves Gilbert Arenas - including myself - but let's quickly recap the rapid backlash, and why everything has so suddenly gone downhill for the man we call Agent Zero:

* Dropping 54 against Phoenix, in a win in Phoenix
* Insane, off-the-hook birthday party
* Putting up 60 - 60! - on Kobe
* Talks smack about Coach K (bonus points!)
* 51 and the game-winning buzzer beater vs. the Jazz
* Profiled in the Wall Street Journal
* Named to the All-Star team
* Star in epic video shootout victory over DeShawn Stevenson

Can you believe all these good deeds unraveled in less than a week? Arenas doesn't shoot well from the field in a few games, the Wizards lose four of five, including three at home (not mentioned: a key injury that has sidelined Gil's wingman, Antwan Jamison). Two teammates get in their third fight in two seasons, and Arenas is not only ridiculed by 'analysts' for his lack of leadership, but also publicly called out by his coach, Eddie Jordan. A players-only meeting is called in hopes of squelching the squalor.

Whew. Back away from the keyboard. Take a deep breath. Look over your shoulder and hopefully, you're not on a ledge. Five of their next six are against teams with losing records. Jamison will get healthy over the All-Star break. Brendan Todd Haywood will bury the hatchet with Etan Thomas.

And Arenas will emerge as a leader.

Sound like a plan?