August 15, 2008 – Dr. Anklesnap
I read this article today in the New York Post. The only question I have is, why does the New York Post hate NBA fans so much? Does the New York Post really believe that NBA fans care in the very least whether Stephon Marbury stays with the Knicks, gets released, or moves overseas to play in Milan? It actually is starting to physically pain me reading articles about a washed up point guard who never really understood the concept of playing the position. That is being a leader, quarterback, motivator, distributor, whatever other terms you can think of to describe the players that ‘get it’ at the 1 spot. Don’t get me wrong, Marbury had loads of talent, but at this level everyone has talent, if you don’t have the personality and mindset necessary to do what it takes to win as a team. Forget about it.
Marbury’s continuing push to hold on to some minor significance with NBA or Knick fans by trying to garner media attention by telling the press he would like to sometime soon go play in Italy is just plain awkward. It is one of the poorest attempts thus far to capitalize on the spotlight being focused this summer on NBA deflections overseas in favor of bigger contracts. It works for players like Kobe Bryant and Lebron James in their half joking tone, it doesn’t work for Stephon Marbury. Why? Because no one really cares where he plays anymore. His NBA value has hit an all-time low. Which is probably why Donnie Walsh was recently quoted as saying he will give Marbury a “clean slate” to come into training camp and compete. Basically Donnie realizes that no NBA GM would go near Marbury with a ten foot pole, therefore he is stuck with his contract regardless.
In the back of Walsh’s mind he is probably praying that Marbury can come in this year as a half decent scoring punch off the bench and possibly earn some of that disgustingly huge contract he will be getting paid. But can Marbury do so without being a distraction to the team? I doubt it. There will be more suspect injury absences, odd quotes to the media, crying over playing time, and possibly even complaints the notoriously flexible Coach Mike D’Antoni isn’t letting him “play the way he knows how to play”.
So Stephon Marbury if you are out there, please do us all a favor and go to Milan to play. But please do so quietly.
And to the New York Post, for the sake of NBA fans everywhere, please refrain from printing Stephon Marbury hyperbole unless you are going to place it in a Saturday morning comics section.
