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dirt_dobber · 10-03-2007, 11:22 AM

http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports...aping-up-.html

Not shaping up well for Walker, two others
Tuesday's opening of training camp was significant for who wasn't on the practice court.

We're not talking about Dwyane Wade, who continues to recover from May knee and shoulder surgeries. And we're not talking about Shaquille O'Neal and Alonzo Mourning, aging centers who were given time off for good behavior late in Tuesday afternoon's session.

Instead, the focus was on the absences of Antoine Walker, Smush Parker and Earl Barron, the three players who failed to meet their team-mandated conditioning standards and were demoted to time on the stationary bikes and treadmills located one floor below the practice could at AmericanAirlines Arena.

Parker is nursing a sore ankle, and expressed doubt at Monday's media day about his ability to get back to speed. Barron didn't even have a team until last week, before he accepted the Heat's minimal qualifying offer as a restricted free agent.

But Walker? Yes, this was a traumatic offseason, being held at gunpoint at his Chicago home this summer. But this also is the same player, who, along with since-departed free-agent forward James Posey, was suspended for four games last January by Riley for failing to meet similar thresholds.

Teammates were not as muted Tuesday as one would have expected, considering Walker helped them win an NBA championship just two years ago.

"You want to come in and everybody be on the same page," Wade said. "It's unfortunate that we have three guys, for different reasons, that didn't make their goals. They have to make it."

Walker has been battling tendinitis in his right Achilles in recent days, but Riley clearly is in no mood to offer sympathy points. In the wake of last season's disappointments, his players understand.

"Pat has his philosophy on that and some guys agree with it, some guys don't," O'Neal said. "He's going to start putting his foot down on the rules. It's just like going to school -- no pass no play. You've got to pass all the given requirements."

The hope, amid the rhetoric at Monday's media day, was this year would be different than last season's crash and burn. Now, one can't be so sure.

10-03-2007, 11:22 AM	#1
dirt_dobber Diamond Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Bee Cave, Texas Posts: 3,239	Ha! Walker reports out of shape http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports...aping-up-.html Not shaping up well for Walker, two others Tuesday's opening of training camp was significant for who wasn't on the practice court. We're not talking about Dwyane Wade, who continues to recover from May knee and shoulder surgeries. And we're not talking about Shaquille O'Neal and Alonzo Mourning, aging centers who were given time off for good behavior late in Tuesday afternoon's session. Instead, the focus was on the absences of Antoine Walker, Smush Parker and Earl Barron, the three players who failed to meet their team-mandated conditioning standards and were demoted to time on the stationary bikes and treadmills located one floor below the practice could at AmericanAirlines Arena. Parker is nursing a sore ankle, and expressed doubt at Monday's media day about his ability to get back to speed. Barron didn't even have a team until last week, before he accepted the Heat's minimal qualifying offer as a restricted free agent. But Walker? Yes, this was a traumatic offseason, being held at gunpoint at his Chicago home this summer. But this also is the same player, who, along with since-departed free-agent forward James Posey, was suspended for four games last January by Riley for failing to meet similar thresholds. Teammates were not as muted Tuesday as one would have expected, considering Walker helped them win an NBA championship just two years ago. "You want to come in and everybody be on the same page," Wade said. "It's unfortunate that we have three guys, for different reasons, that didn't make their goals. They have to make it." Walker has been battling tendinitis in his right Achilles in recent days, but Riley clearly is in no mood to offer sympathy points. In the wake of last season's disappointments, his players understand. "Pat has his philosophy on that and some guys agree with it, some guys don't," O'Neal said. "He's going to start putting his foot down on the rules. It's just like going to school -- no pass no play. You've got to pass all the given requirements." The hope, amid the rhetoric at Monday's media day, was this year would be different than last season's crash and burn. Now, one can't be so sure.