| #ffffff;" /> | | | | But everything seemed to be smoothing over this |
| Oh how the mighty have fallen. It was just a few | | | | preseason. New head coach Mike D’Antoni |
| years ago that former team president Isiah | | | | was playing Marbury significant minutes in |
| Thomas was heralded throughout Manhattan for | | | | exhibition contests and Marbury seemed to be |
| brining Coney Island’s own Stephon | | | | accepting a role coming off the bench. Come |
| Marbury home to play point guard for the New | | | | opening night, though, Marbury did not see the |
| York Knicks. Fast forward to today, and Marbury | | | | floor, with guys like Mardy Collins getting minutes |
| is no longer viewed as a prodigal son of The City | | | | over the former star player. In the second game |
| That Never Sleeps; he’s viewed by most | | | | of the season, no Marbury. The third? Marbury did |
| Knicks fans as a team cancer that needs to be | | | | not even dress. |
| permanently removed from the basketball Mecca | | | | This turn of events sparked a meeting between |
| that is Madison Square Garden. | | | | Marbury, D’Antoni and team president |
| Marbury was part of the wave of famous New | | | | Donnie Walsh. Many expected the meeting of the |
| York City point guards that set the country on | | | | minds to result in one of two things, either |
| fire in high school. He went on to star at Georgia | | | | Marbury being waived or being granted some sort |
| Tech and was the fourth overall pick in the 1996 | | | | of role in the rotation. Neither happened and the |
| NBA Draft. Everything seemed to be in place for | | | | word out of The Big Apple is that the Knicks will |
| Marbury to be the superstar that so many people | | | | continue to sit Marbury for the remainder of the |
| had assumed he would become. But each time | | | | season as he collects nearly $21.8 million. |
| Marbury found a new destination in the NBA, | | | | I personally believe that Marbury should be |
| losing followed. He began to gain the reputation of | | | | waived, but perhaps the Knicks’ regime is |
| being a selfish guy and a bad teammate. Still, | | | | hoping he won’t be able to take the |
| when he joined the Knicks in 2003 people saw it | | | | punishment and will eventually accept some sort |
| as a chance for Marbury to make good on all that | | | | of buyout agreement. It’s clear that |
| promise, in the city in which he grew up no less. | | | | nobody wants Marbury around in New York, not |
| But things have not gone swimmingly in New | | | | the fans, not his teammates, not team |
| York for the point guard. The Knicks have failed | | | | management. His presence cannot help the team |
| to make the playoffs every season except | | | | in this capacity; that is for sure, and the Knicks |
| Marbury’s first with the team, and | | | | certainly don’t need anything dragging |
| he’s feuded with every coach | | | | them down this season. Things are looking up in |
| management has brought in. Marbury was unable | | | | MSG with D’Antoni and Walsh at the helm |
| to accept the teachings of Larry Brown, who | | | | and New York Knicks tickets are beginning to |
| helped Allen Iverson and Chauncey Billups take | | | | regain their luster, but if anything can bring this |
| their game to a championship level and he turned | | | | whole thing down it’s a disgruntled bench |
| on his biggest supporter, Isiah Thomas, after | | | | player that makes approximately ten times as |
| Thomas had taken on coaching responsibilities. | | | | much money as Nate Robinson. |