Walker/Pitino talk... Was a lot of posts...

[Jim Hill <jahill@leasingservice.com>]

I think the Globe was right on.  As is Pitino.  And this is not to bash
Walker as I do think he can be a great player IF he listens to Pitino.
Walker came in 38 lbs. overweight?  This is the "gym rat" who had
convinced Pitino that he was in shape and working on his game during the
lock out.  BULLS**T !!  His homeboys speak of him whining and talking
the talk out in Chicago during the lockout about how good he is etc...
Just like in camp when he was pissing off his teammates by calling
phantom fouls during scrimmages.

Harper gave him the "choke sign" because that is what Walker did.  Plain
and simple.  The whole game. Most of the season in fact.  You think the
other players in the NBA don't know it?

There is more than 20 players in history that "should have been" great
in the NBA that never made it.  It was never the lack of skills. Or the
lack of talk.  It was the lack of brains.  And it was the lack of
effort.

I think that Walker is at a crossroads in his short career.

Pitino made him an All-Star last year.  (Walker may have been on the
court, but be realistic)  Pitino makes him a Captain.  You think Walker
would be a Captain on any other team?  Walker states that as a "veteran
All-Star" and even though he is the team Captain, he doesn't need to
attend voluntary practices and never will!!.  Walker states that He
wasn't called by Pitino "Personally to attend the practices".   Grow
up.  If I had a 23 year old son who said this garbage I would tell him
he's not a child anymore. So stop acting like it.

I can buy into the fact that the TEAM is young and they lose against
veteran teams.  But these guys are not that young as people.  These guys
know what their supposed to do as far as practice and conditioning.  How
many 23 year olds are in the workplace?  Do they work at their job?  The
ones who succeed do.  The ones who don't fail.  Until they wake up
anyway.

Pitino received assurances that Walker was in playing shape during the
lockout.  Walker comes in 38 lbs. overweight and obviously out of
shape.  Pitino gives Walker the max. contract as a commitment from the
Celtics.  Walker can't play with the big dogs in the power forward spot
because he is not in condition.  This is the pay back?  This is how
Walker shows his thanks to Pitino?  Come on.

I think that Pitino deserves better from Walker.  The Celt's deserve
better.  Walker deserves better.  His teammates deserve better.  The
fans deserve better.

I am waiting to hear that Walker went to Pitino and asked for his help
in becoming an "All-Star" again.  That he has made a commitment to
Pitino and his teammates to play and act like he wants to become one
again.  And then does it.  If Webber can do it, then Walker can.  If
anyone suggested to get Webber for the Celtics last year, list members
would have laughed.  What about this year?

Until he goes to Pitino and asks for his help, Pitino should, IMHO,
seriously consider finding someone who will.

I think Walker is self-destructing in front of our eyes.  I stated in my
post after the Bull's game that I give Walker credit for wanting the
ball at the end of the game.  Even though he did choke when he got on
the free throw line, he showed leadership by getting free to get the
ball after the boo's.  Leadership is important to be a star.  Leadership
without commitment is valueless.

This behavior "problem" is bigger then basketball.  This is the
crossroads of, from all accounts, a fine person with a once promising
career.

Thanks for anyone taking the time to read this.  I hope Walker can turn
this around.  I hope to watch him play to the best of his ability for
many years.  I don't care if he becomes an All-Star again.  He has to
much talent/desire (though misguided) to become "what might have been".

<Jim