Pierce/Walker on "Up Close"

["Alessandro Celtics-Fan" <alessan420@hotmail.com>]

Celtics co-captains Antoine Walker and Paul Pierce were the featured guests 
on ESPN's "Up Close with Garry Miller" yesterday afternoon, and had some 
very interesting things to say about life after Pitino, the team's playoff 
chances, and dealing with the dangers of fame :

               **********TheMeanGreen.Com**********

The show kicked off with a one-on-one interview with Antoine, and Miller 
wasted no time in asking what the biggest difference was now that "Tricky" 
Ricky was no longer affiliated with the team. To answer his question, Toine 
used one word : "Comfortability" (is that even a word?).

"When Rick was here, everyone felt the pressure to win so that he wouldn't 
QUIT ON US" (emphasis mine) ... Miller then showed a clip of Rick Pitino's 
appearance on "Up Close" back in February, when he said that Antoine will be 
a great player "someday". The use of the word "someday" seemed to ruffle 
Toine's feathers a bit, as he remarked that he "owed Rick a lot for making 
me a great player in college, but in the pros I knew he wanted to trade me 
to free up cap space; that made it just a 'working' relationship between 
us".

Miller next showed Walker a quote by Jerry Stackhouse, where the Detroit 
player said "I don't like the guy or the little shimmy he does after 
everything". Clips of the two players' verbal altercation during a game in 
January was shown, as Antoine brushed off the whole thing and said he has no 
problem with Stack. Toine then added that the "Walker Wiggle" started in 
college - "We had fun, but Coach said I have to stop doing that if I want to 
become a consistent All Star because other coaches don't like it, so I've 
tried to tone it down, but I just like to have fun".

After a commercial break, it was Pierce's turn to go one-on-one with Miller 
... Paul echoed Antoine's sentiments that the whole attitude of the team has 
changed since Coach P left; there was the distraction of not knowing if he 
would stay or go, and when he finally did leave it "cleared the air". Paul 
went on to say that the team had the choice of either giving up the season 
entirely or starting the season over; they chose the latter.

Next came another clip of Pitino on "Up Close", where he called Pierce "one 
of the true treasures of my life"; Paul remarked that the two had a good 
relationship and he really got to know Pitino off the court after the 
stabbing incident ("he was my first NBA coach, so I learned the ropes 
through him") ... The vibe I got is that Pierce actually liked Pitino as a 
person, while Walker obviously has mixed feeling about him.

Anyway, the two discussed Kansas' chances in the NCAA tournament (Pierce's 
alma mater) before heading for another ad break ... Once the show resumed, 
Paul and Antoine appeared together to take Millers' questions.

Talk quickly moved to the aforementioned stabbing incident, as a clip was 
shown from Pierce's press conference on September 28th after leaving the 
hospital under his own power ... "I've put it all behind me now", said 
Pierce. "It was a terrible thing but I'm over it now; I knew I was going to 
come back from it".

Walker added, "He's a bigger man than any of us could ever be, because he 
came back so quick. We were expecting him to miss the first month of the 
regular season, but he came back during the preseason!"

Miller then brought up the time that Antoine and former Kentucky teammate 
Nazr Mohammed were robbed in Chicago ... On the incident, Walker said that 
"I didn't want it to stop me from enjoying my life, but I'm more cautious 
now". Pierce mentioned that he has a security guard following him now, but 
rationalized it by saying that "it's the position we're put in as NBA 
players; some people are jealous of you and want a piece of you".

Miller then noted the jewelry that Antoine was wearing for the show, and 
asked if he watches what he wears at certain times of the day. In reply, 
Walker said, "It bothered me for two months after that to have a gun pointed 
in my face, but I don't even think about it now" (although he quickly added 
that he too employs a security guard now).

After a final commercial break, Miller took some emails from the viewers. 
The first question was for Walker, and asked "Do you feel Boston fans have 
fully accepted you?". Antoine answered that yes, he thinks they accept him 
now because the focus is on the team now (rather than his ability to carry 
the team single-handedly) and winning.

The next question was for Pierce, and wanted to know his thoughts on Charles 
Oakley's recent comments that 60 percent of NBA players smoke marijuana. 
Paul actually laughed the question off, saying that it's Oakley's opinion 
but he personally couldn't nail down a percentage (Miller : "Is that figure 
a little HIGH?").

The last question was for Walker, and asked if he was a better athlete than 
old high school teammate (and current NFL player) Donovan McNabb ... After 
some hesitation, Walker admitted that Donovan was probably the better 
overall athlete, but only because he played two sports; "he couldn't handle 
me one on one in basketball! No one can!"

This last statement got a rise out of both Miller and Pierce, as Gary asked 
who would win in a one on one game between the two : Paul - "He's scared of 
me!". Antoine - "We've played on one one before, but only after practice 
when we're too tired to play seriously!".

A nice way to end the show, as Miller thanks both his guest for showing up, 
and wishes them good luck in the playoff race.

Alessandro
TheMeanGreen.Com



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