It’s Antoine Walker’s fault:

During his heyday with the Celtics, Walker played and lived with brash confidence. On the court, there were the reckless 3-pointers, the improbable game-winning (and sometimes game-losing) shots, the trademark wiggle as he celebrated his biggest baskets. Off the court, there were the cars, the jewelry, the houses, the suits, the gambling. He liked to move in an out-sized entourage; his mother estimates that, during his playing days, he was supporting 70 friends and family members in one way or another. And speaking of his mother, he built her a mansion in the Chicago suburbs, complete with an indoor pool, 10 bathrooms, and a full-size basketball court.

[…]

Walker’s mother, Diane, said her son does not have a gambling problem. She added that “he doesn’t party any more than the next person’’ and “what you do with your life is your business.’’

“Antoine doesn’t owe anybody any explanation,’’ said Diane Walker. “He’s not out here hurting anybody. He’s trying to live his life peacefully. That’s all he’s doing . . . My son is young. Why can’t he just enjoy life, go where he wants to go?’’

via Former Celtics star Antoine Walker pursued by creditors as wealth vanishes – The Boston Globe.

But I reserve some blame for his “friends” and family as well. Not because another person is directly responsible for Antoine Walker’s money and lust for lavishness. No. If you call yourself family or a friend, then you should be willing and caring enough to at least try and stop them from spending on you until they go broke.

When you contrast that with how LeBron’s childhood friends, led by him, had to learn facets of the sports marketing, athlete management and pro sports business to stay around, then you see maybe some have come farther than getting the money and just wasting it.

There is still some fear. I fear this could happen to “Money” Mayweather, AI and tons of other athletes who get the pay days and somehow can’t seem to fathom a tomorrow where the checks will stop forever.

I hope to see less of the purposeless man, with over half his life remaining and none of his trade left to ply.