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