LakeShow
12-18-2007, 03:22 PM
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/basketball/heat/sfl-flspwalker18sbdec18,0,2435593.story
Antoine Walker glad to be away from Riley
By Ira Winderman | South Florida Sun-Sentinel
December 18, 2007
MIAMI - Antoine Walker is not about to claim he is in a better place, not when he returned Monday to AmericanAirlines with the 3-19 Minnesota Timberwolves.
But from a personal standpoint, the former Heat forward said he was glad to be away from the constant scrutiny by coach Pat Riley regarding his conditioning during his two seasons in South Florida.
"It was better for me to leave," he said of his Oct. 24 trade from the Heat. "I wasn't getting any positive press. Riles kept my name in the paper for some negative, back-and-forth thing."
The Heat struggled last season after winning the 2006 championship, with Walker taking a huge statistical dive from the '05-06 title season.
But without Walker, it has gotten even worse, with a 6-17 record going into Monday's meeting.
"Obviously, the way it's started off, I wasn't the problem," Walker said. "It hasn't improved.
"Regardless of whether I'm here or not, it's the same situation."
Riley insisted before Monday's game that the deal was made because of the availability of Ricky Davis, not a goal of dumping Walker and the remaining three seasons on his contract.
Walker, 31, who sat out Monday's game with sprained left ankle, said he has kept his Miami-area home and has invested in a South Beach Asian grill.
He said he has kept in touch with a few former teammates, but also noted many have departed.
"The one reason why we won a championship, you had everybody on the same page," he said. "I'm not for sure if everybody's on the same page now."
Antoine Walker glad to be away from Riley
By Ira Winderman | South Florida Sun-Sentinel
December 18, 2007
MIAMI - Antoine Walker is not about to claim he is in a better place, not when he returned Monday to AmericanAirlines with the 3-19 Minnesota Timberwolves.
But from a personal standpoint, the former Heat forward said he was glad to be away from the constant scrutiny by coach Pat Riley regarding his conditioning during his two seasons in South Florida.
"It was better for me to leave," he said of his Oct. 24 trade from the Heat. "I wasn't getting any positive press. Riles kept my name in the paper for some negative, back-and-forth thing."
The Heat struggled last season after winning the 2006 championship, with Walker taking a huge statistical dive from the '05-06 title season.
But without Walker, it has gotten even worse, with a 6-17 record going into Monday's meeting.
"Obviously, the way it's started off, I wasn't the problem," Walker said. "It hasn't improved.
"Regardless of whether I'm here or not, it's the same situation."
Riley insisted before Monday's game that the deal was made because of the availability of Ricky Davis, not a goal of dumping Walker and the remaining three seasons on his contract.
Walker, 31, who sat out Monday's game with sprained left ankle, said he has kept his Miami-area home and has invested in a South Beach Asian grill.
He said he has kept in touch with a few former teammates, but also noted many have departed.
"The one reason why we won a championship, you had everybody on the same page," he said. "I'm not for sure if everybody's on the same page now."