Walker's Foolish But Laudable Desire

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

        5.2.99 00:03:24
        CELTICS
        Walker's desire laudable but foolish

By MIKE SZOSTAK
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- The Celtics have two games left. Tomorrow
night in New York and Wednesday night at home against
Charlotte.

Antoine Walker, who two weeks ago couldn't move without
crutches, wants to play. He has had enough of being a
spectator for one season.

``I can't sit out. It's boring. That's not me,'' he
said last night before the Celtics blew another
16-point lead and lost to the Milwaukee Bucks, 88-79.

Walker could sit back for the last two, cheer his
teammates as they finish a surprising late-season run,
collect the last of his rookie contract money, pack his
bags and fly home to Chicago at the end of the week for
a summer with his family.

Nobody would question his desire. Wasn't it two weeks
ago today in Washington that Walker suffered a sprained
left ankle that forced him to use crutches to walk?
Didn't Dr. Rick Pitino say that a player with an ankle
as swollen as Walker's would not return this season?

But sitting at the end of the bench, wearing flashy
suits and watching his boys through spectacles is not
Antoine Walker's style. He needs to be in the thick of
the action, tossing up improbable 3-pointers, battling
inside, dancing the Walker Wiggle. He's 22, man, too
young to collect disability checks.

So, against serious odds, Walker might return to the
lineup tomorrow night in New York.

Should we be surprised? Not really. Walker is a lot of
things. Brash. Cocky. Trash-talking. Hip-wiggling.
Occasionally immature. Competitive. First and foremost,
however, he is a basketball player. He loves to play
Dr. Naismith's game.

But what's the point of coming back for two games? Why
risk another sprain? Why jeopardize next season? The
Celtics are going home, not to the first round of the
playoffs.

``He could play pickup ball next week and get hurt or
injure it,'' Pitino said.

True enough. And as Walker said while undressing for
treatment (on his still puffy ankle), ``I've got to
play with some pain anyway when I do come back.''

So No. 8 is trying to get ready for the Knicks.

``He'll play, possibly in New York,'' Pitino said.
``His conditioning is what's hurting him right now. His
ankle, we think he's ready to go. If we can get him
some work on a treadmill now, and if we can get him a
good practice, I think he can play (tomorrow)
possibly.''

Pitino could be serious. Then again, he could be saying
that just to bolster Walker's spirits. Pitino has
lamented the lack of practice this entire season, so
it's difficult to imagine that Walker will be ready to
play after one intense practice.

But this has been one weird campaign, so it could
happen.

Walker said he has worked out and run at the Celtics
practice facility in Waltham.

``I may play. It depends on how I feel. It's not bad,''
he said. ``I worked out this morning, and it felt
pretty good. But it's different when you're working by
yourself.''

It's also different when you're totally candid. The
soft tissue in Walker's ankle is still swollen, and
Walker was limping, not wiggling, as he headed for the
training room.

``If it's not 100 percent,'' Pitino said, ``we won't
play him.''

Again, why risk aggravating an injury that can take
weeks to heal properly?

``I can tell you from that ankle injury, he lived to
come back for this,'' Pitino said. ``He's been in
therapy constantly. He wants to play badly. That's what
the Boston people don't understand about this young
man. Most guys say, `Hey, they're out of the playoffs.'
He is rushing it to get back. That's the thing about
this guy. He loves to play, love to win, loves to
compete.''

That explains why Walker is tired of sitting at the end
of the bench yakking with the brotherhood of the
injured: Popeye Jones, Bruce Bowen, Kenny Anderson. He
wants to work. Needs to work. Unlike Pervis Ellison,
Antoine Walker is not a baskeball welfare case.

But he has seen his team survive (4-5) while he deals
with the first injury of his basketball career.

``Some of my teammates are getting an opportunity to
play some big minutes,'' Walker said. ``I don't want to
hurt the team. They're playing well.''

They're also playing extremely short-handed, now that
Greg Minor is out due to a broken hip. Obviously, the
Celts can use another body, even for two games. Walker
is anxious to oblige. Thanks, 'Toine, but save it for
next year, and the playoffs Pitino has promised.


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