Perp Walk: Former Celtics Star Antoine Walker Faces 12 Years in Prison

Former Celtics star Antoine Walker is only 33-years old. He earned over $110 million in his 13-year NBA career. He was a NBA all-star when he played with the Boston Celtics. He was a NBA world champion when he played for Miami Heat in 2006.

Now, Walker faces 12-years behind bars because of his inability to pay $822,500 in gambling debts. County prosecutors in Las Vegas say he failed to make good on 10 checks totaling $1 million written to Caesars Palace, Planet Hollywood and the Red Rock Resort. He has since paid back $178,000.

Walker filed for bankruptcy last year and he is now reportedly broke. The Toronto Star ran an article alleging that that 60 percent of NBA athletes “go broke” five years after retiring.

Antoine Walker is a cautionary tale for other African American atheletes who feel that their success between the lines gives them carte blanche to do whatever they want outside of the lines.

When will we learn?

Bankruptcy and My Gift Cards

Receiving store gift cards for Christmas, birthdays or Father's Day seemed like such a good idea at the time. Of course, I'm the type of brother that lays the gift card down on my desk and never thinks about it again. Recently someone reminded me that the following stores filed for bankruptcy:

• Hollywood Video
• Levitz
• Sharper Image
• Performance Team Freight
• Linens n Things
• Circuit City
• Bed, Bath and Beyond

I looked through the pile of junk on my desk and discovered that I have a gift card from Circuit City and Hollywood Video. I'm heading to both places this week to see if I can salvage anything on either card. However, based on recent Wall Street Journal article, I may be ish-out-of-luck.

What about you? Do you have unused gift cards laying around the house?