Antoine Walker and Charles Barkley might have more in common than we think. Once thing we do know, besides their propensity to drive while under the influence, is that they both like to borrow insane amounts of money from casinos…and don’t give a damn about paying that debt back on time. Walker was arrested yesterday at a Harrah’s casino in Lake Tahoe yesterday for failing to pay back his markers by writing a string of bad checks to casinos…$1 million worth to be exact. Yea, that would make it a felony.
See, the thing about Chuck is, he had the money, he just took his sweet time to pay it back. Antoine apparently doesn’t. This is a particularly stunning assumption since he has made about $100 million just in his NBA salaries alone. His spending might have set a new record in blowing through one’s cash. I mean, unless you are Montgomery Brewster you have zero reason to burn your money that fast. None. One thing is certain however, Antoine Walker is the single worst gambler on the planet. Bar none. What on earth was he playing in there? Some bullshit Pai Gow Poker, War or some other crazy carnival game? Seriously, where were those 1-800-GAMBLER commercials when he needed them.
In any event, we might have a new title belt holder in the “Dumbest NBA Player” championships. Wait, I might’ve just thought of a new series on the Deuce. Thanks ‘Toine…you stupid bastard.
It sure seem like he is. Donnie Walsh and Mike D’Antoni may be in charge but September 2008 looks an awful lot like September 2007. It’s pretty much the same team from last season. Starbury’s still around and Allan Houston is attempting a comeback.
Yeah you read that right. When training camp opens next week, Houston will join Starbury at Knicks training camp. What can anyone say about the Knicks? They broke my heart when they ruthlessly dumped Isiah but there could be some hope for this team after all.
Last year, Houston quit after one exhibition game. Let’s see if he can make it through a full exhibition season. He’d do well to remember Sir Charles’ Pippen Theory. You retire because you can’t play anymore.
This is what happens when you mess with Wynn Las Vegas.
Sir Charles learned his lesson about messing with Wynn when he was hit with a $400,000 bill. Next on the Wynn hitlist: Zo.
The Miami Heat center’s charity and NBA Entertainment were slapped with a lawsuit by Wynn Las Vegas for “[failing] to pay a $50,000 bill for convention and meeting space and related services used during the 2007 NBA All-Star weekend”.
What is it with these old ass ballers and not paying bills? They’re starting to turn into Hollywood types who think they should get comped everywhere they go. Screwing over casinos doesn’t seem to be a good idea. The man only has one kidney and I’m sure Wynn will be fine relieving him of it if he doesn’t pay up.
We all remember that beautiful moment during the 2007 Black Super Bow … All-Star weekend in Vegas when Charles Barkley and NBA referee Dick Bavetta made sweet love down by the fire. Maybe we’re exaggerating a bit but their kiss could have been the sign of something more sinister. We’re not talking James Dobson sinister. We’re talking Pete Rose and Tim Donaghy. “The donkey kicks twice at midnight. Take the Washington Generals tomorrow, Chuck. They’re due.”
Much has been written about former NBA referee Tim Donaghy’s latest allegations about gambling in the NBA. The New York Times reports that former referee Hue Hollins claimed extensive inquiries were made about Bavetta.
In addition to asking questions about Donaghy, Hollins said the agents inquired extensively about Bavetta. They asked if he ever noticed that Bavetta “was making sure that the home team would win, and I told them I had no idea because I didn’t work with him a lot.”
Hollins said the agents did not ask about a specific team, game or series and did not ask about Game 6 in 2002.
“They were very specific about their questioning, as though they had heard something,” Hollins said. “They knew exactly what they were going after.”
If Hollins is telling the truth about the FBI inquiries, there could much more to Donaghy’s claims than the desperation of a doomed man. There’s no way to know what other information the FBI has but it seems as though the NBA and David Stern are in for heavier scrutiny and his blanket denials may not hold weight much longer. Game 6 in 2002, the ending of Game 4 of the Lakers-Spurs series this season, the Game 5 suspensions of the Suns-Spurs series last season, etc. The denials already ring hollow with fans and many in the league.
If you missed Ernie Johnson’s interview with Charles Barkley about his gambling debt on the TNT pregame show last night, here’s the video.
Barkley says he can handle it on his own and says he’s not going to gamble again before qualifying it by saying he won’t gamble for a year… Best of luck to Sir Charles.
What the hell is going on with Dwyane Wade? His flight path seems to be taking a downward trajectory similar to Britney Spears. She had it all only to throw it away and turn into an unmitigated disaster. We’re not saying Wade is going to get knocked up by some Heat dancer but things aren’t looking too good for him these days. Only two years ago, he was on top of the world. NBA Champion, commercial darling, etc. Now is not good. Yes? The Heat? Fail. Star Jones? Fail. His new restaurant? Fail.
D. Wade’s Sports Grill in Boca Raton has closed after only two months. The Palm Beach Post reports that the restaurant opened to mixed reviews, little advertising and no D-Wade. He only showed up once since it opened.
“A note on the closed Boca restaurant’s door tells fans to head to Fort Lauderdale, home of the only other D. Wade’s. A third is in the works in Aventura.”
Hmm where have I heard of a similar situation? Oh that’s right. Britney’s restaurant.
Not only is another D. Wade’s in the works but he’s also looking to get into gourmet Chinese with Alonzo Mourning. Oh yeah I’m going to get Chinese from Zo and D-Wade. I’m also going to get sushi from Popeye Jones, Elijah Dukes and Raekwon while I’m at it. Rae’s a chef after all. You would have thought Star could have kept the restaurant going by herself. Don’t let that staple gun action fool you. She can still bring the ruckus.
Let’s run down the list. Britney cheated on Justin Timberlake and ended up with Kevin Federline. Wade’s marriage is falling apart and he’s seen hanging with Star Jones. Britney was on top of the charts and selling out shows before crashing and burning on the VMAs. Wade was an NBA championship team which has become a lottery team that can’t sell half their seats.** Her restaurant failed miserably and so did his. He hasn’t quite caught the crazy yet but hanging with Star Jones is definitely suspect.
Wade could use an intervention before it’s too late. We suggest Sir Charles and Montell Williams ambush him Cheaters style when he’s out with Star and break him down on camera. Fuck the whales. Save the Wade!
**We can’t put attendance on him. Sports have no business in Miami. They could be some of the worst fans in America.
During the TNT telecast of the Toronto-Orlando game Sunday, Magic Johnson, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith criticized Nowitzki for not responding when West tapped him on the face a couple of times during a confrontation late in the game. West was upset because Nowitzki caught West on the lip with an elbow, although it did appear to be accidental.
“You can’t let a man put his hand on your face in the playoffs,” Johnson said.
“I love Dirk Nowitzki,” Barkley said. “Terrific, great player. But they’re trying to say to you, ‘We think you’re soft.’ That’s what it means…. You’ve got to slap his hand down, and then you got to say, ‘Hey, let that guy drive to the basket’ and then you’ve got to knock the hell out of him.”
Smith said: “You have to punish them on the next couple of plays. The ball has to come to Dirk now, and he has to say, ‘You know what? I’m going to really punish you for the disrespect of putting your hands in my face.’”
Dirk knows nothing about becoming the ubermensch. Maybe he’s afraid of transcending. Nietzsche would be disappointed.
Antoine Walker and Charles Barkley might have more in common than we think. Once thing we do know, besides their propensity to drive while under the influence, is that they both like to borrow insane amounts of money from casinos…and don’t give a damn about paying that debt back on time. Walker was arrested yesterday at a Harrah’s casino in Lake Tahoe yesterday for failing to pay back his markers by writing a string of bad checks to casinos…$1 million worth to be exact. Yea, that would make it a felony.
See, the thing about Chuck is, he had the money, he just took his sweet time to pay it back. Antoine apparently doesn’t. This is a particularly stunning assumption since he has made about $100 million just in his NBA salaries alone. His spending might have set a new record in blowing through one’s cash. I mean, unless you are Montgomery Brewster you have zero reason to burn your money that fast. None. One thing is certain however, Antoine Walker is the single worst gambler on the planet. Bar none. What on earth was he playing in there? Some bullshit Pai Gow Poker, War or some other crazy carnival game? Seriously, where were those 1-800-GAMBLER commercials when he needed them.
