[外電] Toine’s Shine and Blackout

[calbert (Yummy)]

新聞出處(必填):

http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2009/08/toine%e2%80%99s-shine-and-blackout/
作者:

Like the homicide detective who interrogated Cosmo Kramer in the Seinfeld
episode “The Trip,” Antoine Devon Walker, born and raised in Chicago, was
that very life to me. His very NBA career seemed to be a star that would
shine until it just couldn’t shine much more, a star of enthusiastic
exuberance and meaning.

Unfortunately for Mr. Walker, he’s much more representative of a quasar, a
piece of matter that glows and streaks across the cosmos, but lacks the
substance that sets it apart from all other bits and pieces of the universe—
Antoine Walker got snuffed out.

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I always felt Antoine was legitimately the next player of the League. He was
well-coached, highly-skilled and possessed an ability to affect a game in a
very tangible way, not the same way that Magic or Pippen did, but somewhere
in that realm, especially at Kentucky and in his first two Celtics years.

The problem with Antoine is generally the same problem that plagued Derrick
Coleman and Rasheed Wallace—he just didn’t care enough. He didn’t care
that he could’ve been the greatest power forward to play.

Whereas DC wanted to collect his money, and Rasheed hides his apathy behind a
boisterous personality, Antoine was extravagant in many ways. I always adored
his shimmy shake, and I loved that he was virtually unguardable when he
actually was really trying to win. But those times as a professional really
seemed rare, and sadly enough, the acquisition of Paul Pierce as a co-alpha
dog contributed to his nonsensical play, almost as if he acted out to gain
attention.

If you consider wild three-point shots early in the shot clock and the
unnecessary, but entertaining crossovers “acting out,” then he certainly
would’ve merited a coach’s version of a parental spanking. Nevertheless, he
really made me want to play ball (and buy his adidas Top Ten 2010—classic!).

I want to say rewarding him too early created Antoine “The Obtuse.” He
became too self-conscious and too irresponsible for his own good. He got paid
too early (with a max-like extension after his third season), and he wasn’t
responsible enough to himself or to his team to maintain good play.

Antoine fought a bit for attention, knowing that PP (…) was “The Truth,”
 literally. But, really, Antoine was the truth all along, but he probably didn
’t believe enough in his game, considering he wasn’t a sexy shooting
swingman (sort of hard to believe considering the appearance of Paul and his
game). In truth, Walker didn’t need to be anything but himself. Had he just
did him, he would’ve received the attention he wanted—that’s how he got an
adidas commercial and several signature (and very fresh) shoes in the first
place—nobody could be Antoine but Antoine.

Not a kid from Inglewood via Kansas, not a city slicker coach in the
commonwealth of Kentucky, not a dried-up Dino Radja or future ex-Mr. Vanessa
Williams—nobody was as uniquely cool of a player as Antoine Walker. And it’
s pathetic that many people won’t remember this about him. He was a novelty
in many ways.

His failure to realize his legacy-to-be as a true power forward who actually
played all five positions well is a disservice not only to his admirers, but
a monumental disappointment to himself. Yes, Derrick Coleman was a 4 who
could shoot and defend all three frontcourt positions (for a little while)
and Rasheed is both explosive and patient as a postmaster/scorer/defender,
but Antoine was somebody who could literally do everything, and seemed to be
noble in his do-it-all play… just not noble enough to know when to play to
his strengths.

Most people won’t remember Antoine. Most will talk about Tom Chambers,
Rasheed, Cliff Robinson, KG and Dirk as the premier versatile forwards (all
being around 7-0). Antoine was a failed Pippen in the truest sense. Antoine,
at his best, could’ve played with any superstar if he wanted.

He could’ve been a superstar on his own, being the best that he could’ve
been. Sadly, Employee No. 8 stopped being that dream light years ago, and he
became a mere mirage, a false prophetic image. I will mourn not only that,
but that he didn’t see it for himself when it was most vital to his career.
Or maybe he does. Or maybe really just doesn’t care.

*Word to Joey Litman for lighting the inspiring candle that made me take a
trip to Antoine Walker Memory Lane.


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推 NLchu       :來來來，我們歡迎新的英文老師..............(懶得看
推 TT123       :其實在LBJ出現前，剛進NBA的Walker就是類似的球員
→ TT123       :身強體壯，能打到禁區又有控球的能力
→ TT123       :或許他太衰...經歷那個該死的封館長假
推 xhole       :Walker新秀時也有過小魔術的美譽
推 TT123       :他唯一練出來的東西，好像只有禁區的小勾射...
→ TT123       :其它方面都沒有隨著球齡增長...
→ TT123       :真的是百分之百天才型球員...也有其通病
→ TT123       :工作態度很好，但他大概覺得靠那幾招就能吃一輩子了.
→ TT123       :相比之下，The Truth則是每個階段都會進化一些...