Karen Guregian: Walker No Show Looks Bad

[Way Of The Ray <wayray@ix.netcom.com>]

                  Walker still a no-show at Celts camp
                  by Karen Guregian

                  Saturday, January 16, 1999

                  Technically, Antoine Walker doesn't have to be in Waltham.
                  He is not contractually bound to participate in the
                  informal workouts Celtic players have been conducting at
                  Brandeis this week.

                  But appearances sometimes mean everything in sports. If
                  and when Walker shows up, he will be the last player to do
                  so. Not second to last. Or third to last. THE last.

                  Everyone else saw the necessity in working out with
                  teammates before the official opening of camp. Everyone
                  else somehow made it through snow, rain, sleet and flight
                  cancellations.

                  Not Antoine.

                  For whatever reason -- legitimate or otherwise -- he
                  hasn't put a priority on leaving his home in Chicago and
                  getting back to the business of playing basketball. All we
                  know is that he's supposedly been in contact with members
                  of the Celtic brass, has been working out on his own, and
                  is expected to report on time.

                  Fine. But as captain of the team, the man Rick Pitino saw
                  fit to name as his club's official leader, the man seeking
                  a $100 million contract before the lockout, this looks
                  bad.

                  Walker may eventually present a reasonable excuse --
                  unlike Kenny Anderson's lame explanation for blowing off
                  an autograph seeker. Walker may have had another important
                  obligation, but right now, the only thing people see is a
                  lack of commitment to his teammates.
 
                  Fair of not, it appears Walker cares little about his
                  responsibility as captain. And that's disappointing. He's
                  supposed to set an example, set the standards for his
                  teammates.
    
                  Only this example stinks.

                  Sure, he may blame the weather. People in the windy city
                  were snowed in Tuesday. But if you talk to airline
                  representatives at Logan, or any travel agent, they'll
                  tell you plenty of flights have made it from Chicago to
                  Boston since then.

                  Walker ought to take a cue from Pedro Martinez. Remember?
                  Scroll back to the Red Sox' spring training last year and
                  Martinez' arrival to camp.

                  Reporting day for pitchers was on a Sunday. That meant
                  Martinez had to physically be in Fort Myers, Fla. Not at
                  workouts, mind you, just within the city limits.

                  Earlier in the day, the Sox' ace was still in the
                  Dominican Republic at a dedication for the church he built
                  in his hometown. Following the ceremony, he hopped a plane
                  to Miami, and had a connection to Fort Myers -- only the
                  connecting flight was cancelled because of bad weather.

                  It wasn't fog, or rain. It was a combination of a tornado
                  and a severe thunderstorm that was wreaking havoc in
                  southern Florida.

                  Martinez didn't check into a hotel and wait until morning.
                  He rented a sport utility vehicle and drove through the
                  teeth of the storm so he would show up on time. He didn't
                  make it to Fort Myers until 2 a.m., but the effort
                  delivered a clear message to the fans, -- and to his new
                  teammates..

                  But Antoine Walker?

                  His message spells this: spoiled brat.

                  Pitino may have defended his star at a Celtics press
                  conference last week, first extolling his virtues, then
                  saying he ``pays no attention to anything (Walker) says.''

                  Does that include anything Walker does?

                  Think Pitino wants a captain who has little regard for his
                  title? Think Pitino wants to keep answering for the player
                  he deemed one of his leaders? Think he wants to see his
                  words bounced back in his face?

                  Obviously, Walker has a lot to learn about being a
                  professional athlete, never mind the dos and don'ts of
                  wearing the ``C'' in the lineup.

                  It may not be just, or right, and Walker may eventually
                  set us all straight, but perceptions count. And the
                  perception of the Celtics captain at the moment isn't
                  positive.