Wizards F Chris Webber was "arrested yesterday and
charged with assault, marijuana possession and several
traffic offenses" after he "allegedly resisted" police
officers who had stopped him on suspicion of speeding,
according to Castaneda & Pan of the WASHINGTON POST. Webber
was "charged with three misdemeanors and at least six
traffic offenses, including resisting arrest, speeding, and
driving under the influence of a controlled, dangerous
substance." Wizards GM Wes Unseld "declined to comment" on
the situation but did say he "expected" Webber to play in
tonight's home game against the Blazers. Webber's trial has
been set for April 2 (WASHINGTON POST, 1/21).
WIZARD WORRIES: In DC, Heath & Knight call Webber's
arrest the "latest in a series of recent events that have
tarnished the image of the NBA and raised questions about
its drug policy" (WASHINGTON POST, 1/21). Also in DC, Ric
Bucher reports that Webber's "efforts to become one of the
NBA's stars ... took a step backward" as a result of his
arrest. Bucher: "The incident is certain to put Webber back
in the fold of players -- Portland's Isaiah Rider, Golden
State's Latrell Sprewell and Philadelphia's Allen Iverson
three others -- whose off-court behavior has been blamed for
sullying the league's reputation" (WASH. POST, 1/21).
