‘There’ll be no favours for TJ’

Oct 26 2007 by Dan Warburton, The Journal

TYNESIDE may be welcoming back a legend this evening, but Newcastle Eagles playcaller Fab Flournoy has confirmed there will be little room for sentiment.

Having spent seven years plying his trade in an Eagles vest, talisman TJ Walker was the longest-serving Eagles player before he severed his ties with the side during the summer to take the post as player-coach of the Cheshire Jets.

But Flournoy has offered a swift riposte to claims that he will go soft as he goes toe-to-toe with his former on-court ally when Walker returns with his in-form roster tonight.

“I’m probably going to get caught up in the occasion,” said Flournoy. “But once the whistle is blown and we cross the line onto the court, we are players.

“The friendship will go out of the window and the chips will fall where they fall. No matter what happens though, our relationship will stay the same.

“Once you step on to the court, you are either on my team, or you are against me. TJ knows that, and it will be the same for him. I’m just trying to do the best I possibly can. He knows I’m not going to hold back, and that is why we respect each other. We both share a similar ethos. It won’t be any different from the practices we used to have.”

“Welcoming him back will be a mixture of emotions for everyone. It’s going to be different and difficult but it will be exciting.”

Suggestions Walker may be unable to play when the Jets travel to the North-East this evening have been dismissed.

The American tweaked a hamstring prior to Cheshire’s 89-67 win over BBL new boys London Capital last week, but the injury that threatened to force him out of tonight’s clash looks as though it will heal in time as Walker confirmed he would feature against his former employers.

“There is a good chance I will play,” said the Azusa State graduate. “I want to wait and see but the injury looks a lot better than it did two days ago and it is coming along.

“We will all have to wait and see how I feel when I get to Newcastle. At the moment it feels good, but I won’t know until I get there.

“This game is a big one, but it’s like any other game I play in – I hate being injured. To pick up a knock at this point of the season is hard to take, but it looks like I will get on the court.”

Replacing a man of Walker’s calibre was never likely to be easy but in Richard Midgley, Flournoy has found a worthy alternative.

The Great Britain star’s reputation as the best player in the BBL is quickly gathering momentum – but Flournoy is keen to keep him from falling beneath the shadow of Walker.

“I never compare players,” continued Flournoy. “It’s something I never do. It’s unfair on both of them. I would never compare them as point guards.

“I speak to TJ as often as I can, we probably speak two or three times a week. I know he’s going through some stuff that I go through a lot because we are in the same job.

“He understands a lot more now why I am like I am. He’s taking everything in his stride and he’s enjoying it.”