The Knicks Fix

Man, all I can say is wow...

I can surely understand his feelings towards the coaches and management, but to leave your team mates hanging, twisting in the wind, not just once, but twice???..

And for all that's been said about him (can't even bring myself to say his name right now), I actually felt bad about the way D'Antoni handled him...

Not anymore.

As my father used to tell me, "a fool and his money will always part"

It's just a matter of time for him.

Nice. He gets paid about $275,000 tonight to watch a game. Is this a great country, or what? The guy who signs his paycheck needs his head examined.

DTR

For once I'm speechless . . .

(re-post)

Marbury: How would you feel if i owed you $100, but only gave you $80?

Well Steph, If someone owed me $100 for providing a service and i failed to provide that service, then I don't deserve that $100 do I? Perhaps i should be grateful that I'm even being offered $80.

I've actually been on Marbury's side in this whole situation and this is all I have to say about Marbury "refusing to play" two of the last three games. D'Antoni needs to step up and say "Steph, you're playing tonight." After all, D'Antoni is the coach. Marbury is not an idiot. He knows that he won't be suspended for not agreeing to play when he was asked.

If the coach really wanted to put a player in his place, he would tell him to suit up and play: even if he does not want to knowing that his services won't be needed after this year, even if he knows he is being used until they get Cutino Moblet back in 2-3 games. That's how you pull a power card. To me, that's taking control. Not telling someone they have a fair chance, have them practice and then just pull a 180 and banish them. I will be the first one to say Steph deserves to get suspended without pay if he is told to play and he refuses. That is a breach of contract. But until I see that happen, I side with Marbury. As far as being there for his teammates, where were they when Marbury was getting the okie doke pulled on him. They also preached the "moving on" matra. As stated, until he is told to play, I support Marbury.

I guess this is how I see it, if your boss, who you didn't like and the feeling was mutual said "due to the fact that I don't like you, you will not be able to come to work but I will still pay you for the rest of the fiscal year because i have to. And then asks you ( and i stress ask you) if you want to come in to work because the staff is a little short for a few days." What would you do? Would you do him a solid and make him look better? Knowing that he does not like you, knowing that your co-workers don't like you? What would everyone really do?

Gotta remember, a player is only as good as his last performance, and Steph hasn't played a game all year with these guys. D'antoni has kept him out of the loop all year and it's very possible that Steph will look very rusty being thrown out there with those guys.. He's just protecting his own interests right now.

I'm not a Marbury fan by any stretch of the imagination, and I think he should take the floor if he's pointed at during a game. D'antoni, however, seems to think that forcing Marbury to play is "giving in" and admitting that he needs Stephon. He's too big of a man to do that.

REPOST:

Is it time to really test this matter legally? The bottom line is that Marbury declined to perform when asked. Philosophical considerations aside, that's breach of contract. He wants his full salary, but feels free to play his own game. Determine a severance package and release him. Let the union object if they want. Go to court, if necessary.

I understand him not liking the coach's decision, but he's getting paid. He made sure that was understood to be his priority. He wanted what was owed him, but refused to return what he owed the team.

Of course this will likely get messy. On the other hand, isn't it messy already?

whats up with keeping Marbury, Curry and James around?? These are three useless spots the Knicks are keeping. They can use these spots for players like Ewing Jr. and we all know we NEED bodies right now. How did Donnie allow this? We have 4 injuries (Robinson, Richardson, Jefferies, Mobley). 1 season ending (Galinari) and those 3 who won't play a second. I know we are throwing away the next two seasons but does it have to be this obvious???

When something happens again and again for years it stops being shocking. Marbury has never, in his long and overrated career, shown any concern whatsoever for team goals, teammates or winning basketball. So it comes as no surprise that, when given the choice, he leaves the Knicks hanging. That's why a lot of fans, me included, have wanted him gone for a while. What I don't get is the whole asking him thing. What is the point of that? To point out that he's a crappy teammate? That's well known. D'A should either tell him to suit up - he's going in, or drop the whole "I asked him..." farce. I agree with Eleazer82 - if he doesn't play when ordered to, then fine the hell out of him. If he fakes an injury or sabotages games, then deal with that when it happens.

Sal from LI - that is one of the most irritating thing about the Walsh regime - he would rather keep the deadwood then make space for a prospect. Hey - someone might toss a pick for 3 months of Marbury!!!

Please Please Please stop saying to leave your team out there like that... What team hes not a part of this team.. they dnt want the guy to play.. the players dont stick up for the guy.. theres no team .. hes not a part of the knicks.. So why set a double standard.. everybodys happy when d'antoni benches him but now wants him to be a part of this team..? tell d'antoni to grow a pair and mandate marbury go in the game..Be a MAN DAN!!! marbury not dum he not gonna loose out on that precious 22mil.. hes gonna play..

I would have demanded that BunsheeBury dress up and play.
During the game, I would've inserted him and if he refuse to go in, huddle up with a legal team to figure out how to void and nullify his contract.

End of story.

With this second opportunity, it is clear now that Marbury DID refuse to play. Shame on you guys for doubting Coach D'Antoni.

It's time for a suspension here with no pay, this selfish clown should not be allowed to get away with this. Time to take that smirk off his face.

How long until Starberman refutes this report?

good job starbury
f-DanPhony.we can watch roberson aka not even high school talent brick allday...lmao...

when u chips are down u wonna play me.lmao
i thought i'm not in the plans.lol..

i can tell there are alot of suckers on this blog that i know i can b8ch slap everyday an they won't do nothin but they might type it in this blogg..lol

marbury isn't rite nor wrong.he isn't in the plans so why come to me when the chips are down that's a b8ch move...

i hope robinson is out for the year
an mobley...
so i can watch them get blownout all season...

yup i'm that negro they luv to hate...

shoutouts to the bloggers that understand an write good stuff
sometimes i think there are 10y/o writing cuz it's so chldish an foolish with no sense
atleast my sense can make dollars.....

stay tuned for more KnowLedge

You guys love talking about what we should do to Marbury.
"We should fine him"
"We should null his contract"
"We should force him to play"

Yada Yada Yada

Obviously there is something we don't know going on because it must not be that easy to discipline Steph for him refusing to play. Didn't I tell you guys when this first happened that if you throw Steph under the bus...he is going to do the same thing to you GUARANTEED!!!
Steph is not dumb enough to play with us when he hasn't had a good practice in a looooong time.
I want Steph off this team for sure but kudos to Steph baby.
Stick to your guns and let the management know it's about business for the players also.
Business wise, Steph may be the smartest player in the league BUSINESS WISE!! You can name all the superstars in the league you want but Steph seems to do it more independant than them. From the Starbury CLOTHES, NOT JUST SNEAKERS (only reason it's not around now is because the store that carried it went belly up)...to this new thing he's doing that Berman spoke about a couple weeks ago (some kind of customer service or sales force) to the tv show he had for about a month or so. The guy knows how to handle business.
See this is where the lawyer in Walsh is killing him. He needs to be a business man and realize the only way to get Steph out of here is to....wait for it.....wait for it.....wait for it.....PAY HIM HIS $$$!!!! ALL OF IT!!!
Listen...no matter what happens, Steph knows he's going to be playing ball next year regardless. He will sit on the bench all year if he has to. There are plenty more positives not playing than there are playing. No injury, he looked good in the preseason, showed dedication in the offseason. If he get's with a team with the right enviornment (Spurs), a solid foundation (Spurs), and a proven leader (Spurs)....whooops, can't forget about a dominant big man (Spurs), Marbury will thrive.
Do I want him gone....sure I do. I think he wants to leave. Someone better tell Donnie to stop thinking like a lawyer before something bad really happens.
Sure does look like we're on our way to a lottery pick. So far the 3 targets on my list are Rubio, Jennings and the C from UCONN.

we MUST buy out Marbury. Play or no play, the man is going to get his money. Bottom line is that we have Marbury, Curry, James, Galinari, Jefferies and Mobley all not playing at all. We need able bodies. Buying out Marbury would give us the chance to sign someone like Patrick Jr.

We played with 7 players for the last 3 games.

I read the comments about Q and he's full of ish! Where was the team when he got benched? Nobody came in defense of Steph and called for him to play b/c they were winning. Now that Zach and Jamal are gone, injuries, and they are losing, let's ask Steph to play now. B.S.!! It's Mike fault for making the situation what it is! He was on freaking national TV speaking with John Thompson on TNT and he repeated his stance on Marbury. We are going in a different direction and he's not in our plans. That was thursday, so you can understand Steph's point of view. Mke put his foot in his mouth and he needs to just man up and apologize.

Steph, I know I said you wasn't in the Knicks plans, but I want you to play. I apologize!! Can we move forward and forget about the past? If Steph doesn't accept his apology, then make his ass play. If he refuses, then he's suspended. Mike has to apologized!

I don't blame Stephon Marbury one bit, remember in the begining of pre-season he was told he would be given a fair chance to compete for playing time, then he got okee doked when the season started. He was told that the team is going in another direction that did not include him and he was placed on the IA list. he was not told to play he was asked. he would be a fool to say yes. The knicks need to give him his money and send him on his way

Wheeeew. For a second, I thought the folks on this blog were losing their minds.

Thank you Dajuoka, Knowledge, Knicks4Life, Eleazer82, Juice, Meatwad, etc.,,,

The major point is that Marbury should be gone. This is DolanWalsh's fault. It is an absolute mess.

Q, regardless of what we think of him, is a leader on the Knicks (regardless of what you think of the Knicks) and he is expressing what the team has thought of Marbury for a long time. He is also revealing how the team has treated Marbury. Sure it is in response to who Marbury is and how he has treated them too. So what is it that leads you to believe that Marbury should respond favorable towards other Knick employees. $21 million. Well clearly that theory is wrong.

Marbury should not be a story. This is certainly a stare down and as long as Steph's goal is to get all his $$$$ as opposed to playing, he wins. DolanWalsh are being irrational and idiotic by not releasing him. Dollar wise. Pound us into the ground with this foolishness. The idea that it was better to keep him on the roster has blown up in the face of everyone who believed it. SURPRISE. He is getting paid everyday and creating tension in the lockerroom, with the best seat in the house, to watch his future opponents get crushed by good teams regulalry.

And this is preferable to paying him to leave only to see him a max of four times a year. Just brilliant!!!

Anyway, my point was to GIVE THANKS to those who reminded me that most Knick Fans aren't blind or ignoring the truth, just those who type the loudest while on mute.

Well, according to "Lives In New Jersey, Loves New York," I've apparently lost my mind. Thank you, Dr. Freud! Further, I'm not happy about the diagnosis of blindness, and didn't think I knew how to type on mute, but they say knowing your problem(s) is the first step toward getting help!!

I guess I should have realized that Steph was being treated poorly. After all, I'd struggle getting by on $21,000,000 a year! To think of those other teams that were so idiotic and chose to lose this guy. They were so deceived that they played better the next year in their ignorance! How many of us are there that believe you should perform as your employers ask? Pity us stupid fools. That's not to mention those of us who enjoy the chance to redeem ourselves when the opportunity is presented. Man are we pathetic!

Maybe Mr. Marbury has found the key to improving the economy. It could be that we would all be better off if we demanded our pay, but refused to work when our feelings are hurt. If our company goes bankrupt, "they" probably asked for it.

On this Thanksgiving Day, I give thanks for being blessed with new insights. Man, I get wait to get to work and .... not work!

I would say "Your're Welcome" pverne, but I clearly still didn't help you. I apologize if your obstinate refusal to understand the situation is my fault, because you still don't get it.

You keep crying and shouting about how bad Marbury is. O.K., I'll spot you that often repeated brilliant observation just for the sake of this comment.

So let's take the next step (which should have been done before the regular season). Can you explain why the right move by Walsh was to keep Marbury, the malcontent, poor teammate, here?

Now that you have focused your attention on Walsh, let's take the next baby step. You keep saying that Marbury breached his contract (which I'll concede you read), so explain to me why Walsh did not punish or sue Marbury for such an illegal act and force him to abide by the contract? Assuming you're right, was Walsh smart by not suing or fining Marbury?

So pverne, now that Marbury has rejected D'Antoni's second offer to bail out the Knicks, what will you think of Walsh if he does not dock Marbury's pay from the check he gets at the end of this month? What do you think of Walsh if he never docks Marbury's pay?

Now one last question set for you pverne: If Marbury gets paid his full $199,999 (or so) for refusing to play against the Detriot Pistons, for sitting on the bench in a nice suit, not subjecting himself to inury or the embarassment of playing for a lousy team, for not helping out D'Antoni by lessening the risk of injury or further injury ot his players -- if Marbury get's paid in full for all of that, what would you say about Walsh's decisionmaking. And if Marbury gets paid for either breach of contract, who is the bigger fool -- Marbury with in $21 million or the person who goes to work knowing they aren't smart enough to get away with what he just did?

I look forward to your in-sight or proof of sight.

Q said?...Q said....Got a question...Who the hell is Q? Aren't the team leaders usually your best players? The WHOLE problem here is everybody wants to dwell in the past; what the man did in the past. The media just won't LET people do right; they'll write a line about the good and a paragraph about the bad. This team didn't give a crap about Steph from day 1, I mean almost to a man they voted that they didn't want him on the team, now they want him to be a consumate teammate? Folks! take heed, there is something THEY are not telling you b/c if Steph did all the things they said he did, why is he still around? Shouldn't they have been able to legally dust his butt off by now? They can't because he has done nothing wrong. We need a sports show called "He said, He said" where Marv Albert, who is the most unbiased sports announcer EVER, is the host, where two foes are hooked up to lie detector test and asked the pertinent questions that would get down to the TRUTH, which is what all of us want, right? Not what the media wants us to believe. Good for you Steph, keep doing what you're doing baby boy

I like Q, although he could not shoot 50% if he was trying to drop a pebble in the Atlantic from a helicopter. I like his integrity, his effort and the fact that he came back from a back injury, although I don't like the fact that Isaih and D'Antoni continually give him the rock to brick.

WIth that written, I agree with Big Tyme. Who cares what Q says about Steph. When was the last time that Q considered Steph a teammate? Did he expect Steph to be here on October 31st anyway? Wasn''t he stunned that Steph had the nerve to show up at D'Antoni's press conference in the first place? Q said nothing notable or unknown.

Lives In New Jersey, Loves New York: "And if Marbury gets paid for either breach of contract, who is the bigger fool -- Marbury with in $21 million or the person who goes to work knowing they aren't smart enough to get away with what he just did?

So it's smart to lack the ethics that go with a good conscience? Hmmm!

I hope that Walsh does take firm action and have stated so on earlier posts. (See above at 21:59) I do understand, however, that he too has an employer and that this organization has thrown away millions of dollars on bad contracts and buyouts. It's not hard to understand wanting to end that pattern.

Finally, you divert attention from Marbury's repeated antics by blaming Walsh. The results have been the same everywhere! Whether or not you like the way Walsh has handled it is not the point. As a person who believed that Marbury was basically okay for quite a long time, I have come to recognize what is now obvious. Spouting off about what I would do as GM just doesn't cut it! Let's get your 20/20 vision on the troubling character named Stephon Marbury.

Thank you for proving my point Anon. You're just another one of those guys trying to blame everything on the wrong person instead of facing the truth about why Marbury is still a problem for the Knicks instead of someone else.

No, whether Walsh is screwing up in the handling of Marbury is not your point which is why you can't answer the questions. It is exactly the point you refuse to see whether you can or not. You people who selectively blame someone based on whether you like them as opposed to their level of responsibility and accountability cracks me up. Everybody knows that if you answered the questions with the same honesty and integrity you accuse Steph of lacking, you too would ask Walsh why he is handling this so poorly and the Knicks are still the laughingstock of the league, despite promises we would not be this season -- at least not because of management.

BTW, so is Walsh wrong if he does not fulfill your wish @ 21:59?

I forgot to sign my comment above. Again, "Lives In New Jersey, Loves New York," you try to divert attention from Marbury by blaming Walsh. That's a separate argument and you are still trying to dodge the point! I will be disappointed if he doesn't take firm action, yes! How far, however, will you stretch sensibility to make this primarily a Walsh problem? You have not even addressed the real issues, of the man who IS GM, that I raised!

I can be critical of Walsh, if I choose, if time proves that he does not handle this issue effectively. To do so does not in any way vindicate Stephon.

I don't believe that we are as much the "laughingstock of the league" as we were. Giving Steph 21 million for nothing would do more to enhance that negative reputation. Frankly, I don't care so long as we develop a competitive team. That will take time, not knee jerk reactions. I think Walsh just had a pretty good week. You characters playing cyber GM look silly to me!

And you trying to dodge and manipulate the truth to fit your hope for the future instead of reality looks silly and illogical to me.

First, your comment about cyber GM is disingenious. Have you looked in the mirror lately. What do you call yourself as you try to convince yourself and any one that will listen that you know enough to evaluate Walsh's moves better than anyone else in cyberspace. WIth all your bluster and dodging, you seem to be as much a cyber GM as anybody on this blog. Or do you want to dodge the truth about what you do and just call yourself a cheerleader for Walsh.

Fess up, what looks silly to you is people who disagree with your faulty logic and version of events.

Second, I already admitted that Marbury is a problem. The issue you keep poorly dodging (because you can't handle the truth about Walsh who just had a pretty good week that you don't want to mess up by telling the truth and pointing out his errors) is why is he still a problem for New York? You want us to believe it is his fault that he is still here because he is not stupid enough to walk away without all his money just because people who make less money then him but do more work than he does say so.

Third, what issue have you raised that hasn't been addressed on this blog? None. Now, let me see you answer those questions. You are very evasive, but not good at hiding it. Can you answer the questions without compromising your position. Just say no, and let's move on. You've already proven my point two times over. For that I give thanks.

I can see that this is going nowhere. But let me give it one more try.

1) I am not the one trying to judge Walsh's motives. That would be you! I have simply said let's see how it plays out. You are one of the people judging and condemning Walsh. Get your facts straight.

2) I have dodged nothing. You can't name anything I've dodged! The bluster is yours.

3) I have manipulated nothing. You seem to imply that there might be something in Marbuty's contract that would make his behavior appropriate. That is totally speculative and would fall on Isaiah, if true! Who did you say was manipulating?

4) I haven't given Walsh a free pass at all. I've simply said that we should give him time to repair this train wreck. You are rushing to judgment on him and on me. I wanted Marbury gone, but I respect Walsh attempting to get some compensation. By the way, you have not addressed the fact that he has Dolan to answer to.

5) Your response has actually strengthened my point. You're making the same kind of empty claims that others are making. You are the one suggesting you could handle this situation better!

6) I don't claim that any of my comments are totally original. Do you think yours are? I do now that I would have no fear of a logician comparing my arguments to yours.

7) I think Starbury is hurting himself because he is becoming even less appealing to other teams and to sponsors. Before you say it, yes that's hurting the Knicks bargaining position too!

Go to your post at 9:07 and see who insulted everyone with an opinion other than yours. That's why my response held so much sarcasm. Your mind is closed and you think your intelligence to be superior to many of us. I have left open the possibility that Donnie is wrong. You have stated plainly that you know he is wrong. You, my friend, have painted yourself into a corner.

Sorry, pverne above.

"Philosophical considerations aside, that's breach of contract." Pverne at 21:59.

Wrong. says who. Where is the proof. Where is the remedy? There is no proof the contract was breached. Where is the action against Marbury? You're making it up. period?

Finally, you divert attention from Marbury's repeated antics by blaming Walsh. . . . Whether or not you like the way Walsh has handled it is not the point. As a person who believed that Marbury was basically okay for quite a long time, I have come to recognize what is now obvious. Spouting off about what I would do as GM just doesn't cut it! Pverne's answer to my questions about the responsibility of Donnie Walsh.

Do you see a response to my questions in that respone. No, because you are afraid of the answers. Instead you rather focus on Marbury and not the truth.

"You characters playing cyber GM look silly to me!

And the bluster is mine? You're full of it pverne.

As for intellectual superiority? This may help you understand. I don't worry about how smart I am versus anybody else. I don't give a shyte. I am nearly fifty years old and understand who I am. That discussion about how intelligent I am is for those too insecure to deal with the issues. I spotted those MF's in third grade. I like hearing them whine about how smart I think I am because I use words they need a dictionary for or because I deal with as much detail as possible. I learned a long time ago the difference between confidence and arrogance is often the self-perception of the person I'm dealing with. And yes, I am extremely confident about what I write. So confident that I have mo problem admitting when I am wrong. So if you think I think I'm smarter than you, tough shyte. That's your issue, not mine. What I know is that your position on this issue is wrong and biased.

(You haven't answered a single question I asked. That reminds me of the evasiveness of Jesse Jackson, Mario Cuomo and Sarah Palin when they were running for the hifhest offices in the land. Good skill.)

I would prefer now to let the above posts speak for themselves. I keep writing more and erasing it because I really don't want to be exchanging insults. I think I will fare well with anyone who reads the above posts honestly looking for fairness and logic. I do need to add that I answered every question you asked. With that, I am done!