Monarchs Blog and Q&A

Bee staff writer Melody Gutierrez grew up in Twentynine Palms. At 14-years-old, she decided to combine her two passions -- sports and writing -- when she became a special assignments reporter for the Desert Trail, her hometown weekly newspaper. Melody headed to Northern California in 2000 to attend Chico State and has remained in the region ever since. She earned an internship with The Bee and subsequently became a staff writer in 2004 and has covered virtually every sport, starting with high schools, up through college and then the pros. Melody took over coverage of the Monarchs last season and chronicled the team's pursuit of a second straight league championship -- a quest that fell just short.

Melody welcomes your questions and will answer as many as she can as the season progresses.

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June 04, 2007

Waiting for Walker's fate

In a few hours, DeMya Walker will know her fate. Walker will undergo a magnetic resonance imaging test shortly to determine the extent of the damage done to her right knee, which she injured during the Monarchs 88-85 win over Los Angeles on Saturday.

With all indicators pointing to torn anterior cruciate or medial lateral ligaments, the Monarchs are not optimistic.

Surgery will likely be required. Walker's season is in the balance.

It appears these were obvious from the time Walker and Sparks center Taj McWilliams-Franklin hit the floor together after fighting under the Monarchs basket for a lead pass.

That explains McWilliams-Franklin's response. As Walker lay in pain on the floor for some 10 minutes, McWilliams-Franklin cradled her head with a look of sheer sorrow.

After the game, McWilliams-Franklin stood outside the Monarchs locker room, wiping tears away and trying to smile when fans took her picture.

She wanted to see Walker. She had to see Walker.

With Walker and McWilliams-Franklin both not talking to the media, it's unclear whether they were able to talk.

-- Melody Gutierrez

Posted by Bill Bradley, June 4, 2007 11:49 AM

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