A judge ruled that former NBA star
Antoine Walker must stand trial over unpaid gambling debts. Walker owed nearly $1 million to three different casinos. In Las Vegas, unpaid markers to casinos are treated like bad checks, so Walker could face significant prison time for his alleged activities. Walker has earned more than $100 million during his NBA career, but he is now reportedly broke, declaring bankruptcy last year.
Monday, Walker appeared before Las Vegas Justice of the Peace
Melanie Andress-Tobiasson. Walker, who won an NBA title with the Miami Heat in 2006, remains free without bail until June 30, when he will be arraigned in state court. The judge expressed concern that Walker had not made progress on repaying $770,000 that he still owes on a promise to pay $905,050 in restitution, court fees and penalties. If he is convicted, he could face 12 years in prison.
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NBA Players Without a Title
Charles Barkley (1984-2000)
Barkley could out-muscle and out-rebound anyone on the court, he had attitude, earned 11 NBA All-Star Game appearances and two Olympic gold medals and was always good for a colorful quote. But alas, never ever once did he win a NBA title. Barkley came close to championship glory in 1993, when he led the Phoenix Suns to a berth in the 1993 NBA Finals. However, the Suns lost to some fella named Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in six games.
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NBA Players Without a Title
Karl Malone (1985-2004)
He's considered the one of the greatest power forwards of all time, but the mailman didn't deliver a title. The Utah Jazz went to the conference title twice, but sadly there was a man named Michael Jordan standing (or dunking) in Malone and the Jazz's way in 1997 and 1998. As a Los Angeles Laker he did get to the NBA Finals with Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, but dreams of championship bling were shot down by the Detroit Pistons.
NBA Players Without a Title
Charles Barkley (1984-2000)
Barkley could out-muscle and out-rebound anyone on the court, he had attitude, earned 11 NBA All-Star Game appearances and two Olympic gold medals and was always good for a colorful quote. But alas, never ever once did he win a NBA title. Barkley came close to championship glory in 1993, when he led the Phoenix Suns to a berth in the 1993 NBA Finals. However, the Suns lost to some fella named Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in six games.
NBA Players Without a Title
Patrick Ewing (1985 - 2002)
It was "our year" ever year for the Knicks, and every year they and the big man fell short. His final years were plagued by injuries and he ended his career with the Orlando Magic in 2002.
NBA Players Without a Title
Dominique Wilkins (1982-1999)
He was one of the best dunkers the game had ever seen, but he couldn't find a way past Larry Bird. The Atlanta Hawks' superstar never played in a single NBA Finals series.
NBA Players Without a Title
John Stockton (1984-2003)
Regarded as one of the best point guards in NBA history, Stockton, like his Utah Jazz teammate, Karl Malone, had Air Jordan standing in his way of championship bling two consecutive years. Stockton retired in 2003 and was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.
NBA Players Without a Title
Reggie Miller (1987-2005)
Reggie Miller's Pacers fell to the Lakers in their one appearance in the Finals. Sad? Yes, but not as heartbreaking as the five conference finals the team lost, which includes three Game 7s. Ouch.
NBA Players Without a Title
Chris Webber (1993-2008)
Maybe if it wasn't for those missed free throws in the Kings' Game 7 OT loss to the Lakers in 2002 or the missed three-pointer at the buzzer in Game 7 against Minnesota in 2004, we could say that Webber would have a championship ring. Then again, who has time for should have-could have-would haves?
NBA Players Without a Title
Elgin Baylor (1958-1972)
Baylor played in eight NBA Finals ... and lost them all. To say that was frustrating is quite the understatement. He called it quits during the 1971-72 season, becoming one of the first greats to retire without a championship ring.
NBA Players Without a Title
Pete Maravich (1970-1980)
Long before Magic Johnson, 'Pistol Pete' was the showman on the court, pefecting behind-the-back and between-the-legs passes. However, his playoff record was a bit sketchy and he retired ringless.
NBA Players Without a Title
Tim Hardaway (1989-2003)
Hardaway's Heat balled their way to the '97 conference finals ... until running into Michael Jordan and the Bulls, who destroyed them. Tough, but losing in the first-round to the eighth-seeded Knicks in '99 packs a bigger bite.
NBA Players Without a Title
I've written about Antoine Walker in the past, and I've made no secret about the fact that I knew Antoine when we were both students at
the University of Kentucky. I am incredibly sad to see him hit rock bottom in this way, and I wish him and his family the best. What is also true is that I have to be honest and admit that what I saw in Walker is something I see in quite a few
black male athletes, who sometimes forget that succeeding on the court does not preclude the need to make good decisions off the court.
Just today,
NFL star Vince Young was cited in a strip club incident, and I consistently find myself wondering when we are going to get past the era of the irresponsible black male athlete. I am not one to disrespect either Young or Walker, but if you were to be honest with yourself, you would admit that you've heard these stories time and time again. A note to young brothers out there: If you are going to succeed on the court, make sure you succeed in the classroom. Making good decisions on the field means you must be especially committed to making good decisions in life.
If I am not mistaken, neither Walker nor Young finished their college degrees, possibly thinking that a life of athletic brilliance supersedes the value of an education. Let's start spreading the message now: One is not a replacement for the other. Nevertheless, I wish Antoine Walker the best.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and the Athlete Liberation and Academic Reform Movement (ALARM). To have Dr. Boyce's commentary delivered to your e-mail, please click here. 
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By: RAP "the original", ciaa,ecsu. hbcu, g-phi-g on 6/22/2010 11:48PM
I wish him luck , he's going to need it if he's really broke. however, it would have been nice if he had set up a loan program so that some of the creative brothers that don't have capital can get there companies going. Then, one of them could give old - set shot Walker - a job. But, he probaly would want $25 per hour to start - considering all those he learned while entertaining the former slave masters in kentucky. Mayo
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By: Williams Jackson on 6/15/2010 2:36AM
Every one sad for this news.. Loo .. loo ....
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By: ooozzzzz on 6/15/2010 10:01AM
Quote: "If I am not mistaken, neither Walker nor Young finished their college degrees, possibly thinking that a life of athletic brilliance supersedes the value of an education. Let's start spreading the message now: One is not a replacement for the other".
But Dr. W, one (money) is the replacement for the other (education) and that is the cold reality and it's not going to reverse itself any time soon.
And this not about sports but society. this is how we are taught, conditioned and trained think as a human speices and as Americans.
Just like people who drink and drive, that old addage "I'll never happen to me" is the way that these pro ballers have thought, been coodled by all of us and conditioned their entire lives and coupled with their label of fame & "invincibility" on and off the playing fields, this engrained tradition of wealth, being under educated, selfish arrogrance and sheer incompetence will continue to dominate and we will hear and read about these individual disasters as long as sports exists.
These personl failures are not isolated incidents but has become a culture and tradition among the athletic population in all amateur & pro sports and we as rabid sports fans support that culture via our undying love & support for them, our greed for superheroes, role models, the dramatic and our acceptence of their athletic prowness/skills and their lack of education & personal incompetence.
We as, society has been conditioned and accepting of that fact that if a athlete reaches his pinnicle, plays pro ball and is successfull on the playing field (despite their youth, immaturity and inexperience which is controlled by the pro leagues, corporate America and the media) that they are somehow smarter that they really are.
We actually believe in our minds that LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, Dwayne Wade, Peyton Manning, Donovan McNabb and Alex Rodriquez are on par & equal to educated professional & academics in both personal and professional competence and people like you Dr. Watkins, praise them, will share the stage & microphone with them and see them as equal in educational and academic ability.
And only because they are highly skilled at dribbling, shooting, kicking, throwing, catching, striking and controlling a round ball or hockey puck.
Yet we look at everyday people of the same age without the athletic benefits, success and lack of education (the exact same as them) as being incompetent, immature, reckless and inexperienced.
And all these people are around the same age group (20 - 35) and all this is based on these things: money, fame and media exposure that changes our overall preception.
And when this downfall happens, we are in total shock and for the superstar athlete like LeBron James of Peyton Manning, personal failure/being broke financially/bankruptcy/possible jail time? It could never, ever happen to them. Their superior mental talents on the field of play ensures their success off of it and we truely believe that.
In essence, we, as sports fans and Americans, don't really give a shyt about their personal failures. All we care about is that touchdown, that dunk, that hockey goal, that home run and the championship(s) that it brings to bolster and sooth our collective psyches for heroes, bragging rights and winning.
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By: bobcat on 6/15/2010 1:17PM
Well said. In addition, when has society given a care for the athletes in the Roman colleseum? Society feeds on their death as enjoyment. If it weren't for the brother Dr., we would not have heard this. One major reason is when you peel back the process of losing $100 million it shows that he lost it to white people!!!!!!!!!!!!!Bad deal after bad deal!!!!!Education is paramount!!!!
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By: meanvee on 6/15/2010 2:43PM
This brother has made a big mistake with gambling and handling his finances, but i don't think putting him in jail for 12yrs is the answer. He is retired and he do collect a pension, take half of his pension until it is paid off or for the rest of his life, put him to work at the casino that he owes the money too. Have him greet guest at the door, work inside the casino, he is a celebrity, set up paid basketball sessions with guest. Maybe the NBA can step in and help him with repayment, then he can work for the NBA until he pays them back, maybe run a basketball camp for them.
http://www.GetPaydayDirect.com - debt help also.
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By: Ken Wibecan on 6/16/2010 10:33AM
Why in hell would they want to put someone in jail because of gambling debts? What overwhelming social purpose would that serve? There are too many people in jail now for stupid reasons and we certainly don't needs to add to them. Judges and lawmakers need to learn to be more creative.
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By: James Gadson on 6/15/2010 8:06PM
Gee that's too bad. Maybe he should have filed bankruptcy. I hear that is what keeps debtors away.
It's no wonder these people get themselves in trouble. They've really got no true guidance from someone with wisdom and intellect. Most of our parents were never fit to raise children nor were theirs fit to raise them. People should not start families without proper preparation and support, but that is hardly the case and especially within the African-American ancestral slave history. Something Obama never had a part in.
All this to say that even when a person is able to accumulate great wealth he has to rely on his peers and astute family to help him if he is willing to listen. Yet there are too many variables blocking the way, psychological not being a lesser.
I'm still steaming over the general overall treatment of African-Americans in this country and how those who accumulate wealth do very little to improve the lot. I can understand how they are restricted to speak out about racism and discrimination, but they should try to form some kind of group think tank that not only helps them as a group like the congressional black caucus, but to work on improving the "black" condition in this ungrateful, unbending, and unforgivable "God forsaken" country!
So to end. He has gotten this far on his own, he can make it the rest of the way on his own.
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By: Tony on 6/16/2010 10:30AM
No I think the real problem is that most of these guy's think the don't need the help until the "train crashes" What they need is accountablity from outside their immediate circle of influnce.
Most of the folk that are around these guys are either hangers on or folk that earn their living directly from what the athletes do. Some managers and agents bring them these deals or turn their head while the athletes crash and burn. A good case in point would be Tiger Woods caddy. He arranged the rooms!
Everyone is afraid to tell these guys no for fear of losing their job! Sad! Accountability has to come from a person that has athority in their lives and is not driven by the "buck"
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By: James Gadson on 6/15/2010 8:13PM
By: billw on 6/15/2010 8:03PM
"Walker, great job in acting like a negro!!"
White people are generally the worst people on the planet. They have murdered more people in the world. Stolen more world resources and wealth. Sold more drugs. and raped and pillage their way into uber power. Sieg Heil! You should all be serving time. But you are commended for your diabolical endeavors, and there a quite a few of you that have lost more money and done far worse than any "black" person could ever do. We are not the problem You are!
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By: Ms Ann on 6/18/2010 5:10PM
Walker and all the nba players that skipped college and played in the NBa for 10 or less years,its a downfall because you see the money flowing and you can't count or your surroundings are so busy looking like a stage performance that you get caught up in the vegas lights.The casinos should take some of the responsibility and they knew your income and still allowed you to play high roller,so stern need to have a fundraiser and play off this debt and placed Walker and many others in a program for gamblers.The fantasy is over and reality is so clear without a butcher of meat trying to give you their number.I always ask where are the real Black moms to teach their sons that it does rain sorrow after a career if they don't place a solid foundation down for future use.
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