In light of the recent developments of the tragic figures of Allen Iverson and Stephon Marbury, I have come up with a solution.
Players like these, that have no concept of the fact they are not the center of the universe, deserve to be punished by being traded to the basketball equivalent of hell.
A place where it won't matter if they practice because they're chances of winning anything will be remote.
I'm speaking of the Memphis Grizzlies.
Marbury is the most troublesome of the two to me. He came out of Georgia Tech after one year because he wanted to take care of his family.
Honorable, sure. However he was drafted by Minnesota Timberwolves and almost instantly began complaining about the cold environment up north. It didn't matter that he was paired with Kevin Garnett, he needed to play elsewhere.
- B/R Ticket Guide
So he was traded....and traded....and traded....until he ended up in the hallowed halls of Madison Square Garden playing for his beloved Knicks. However, this was not your father's Knicks team.
And now he apparently refused to play. Marbury has denied the charge but who do you believe?
I know who I'm siding with, but I'll keep it to myself.
Mr. Iverson on the other hand decided he did not need to practice with his new team.
Stop me if you've heard this before.
Iverson and Marbury are two classic examples of wasted talent. For all the accolades each has garnered throughout their careers, neither one has been able to win anything of consequence.
I'm sure you can point to a million other factors, however you can't tell me their inability to think globally hasn't played a part in their wasted careers.
The problem with my solution is that there is no chance the Grizzlies would want these guys. They're tainted goods, attractive only to the most desperate team that would be willing to throw principles out the proverbial window.
Maybe Oklahoma City would be a better fit.
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about 1 month ago
This article is extremely stupid, as it assumes that some dollar amount or some material-prestige, is to take precedence over someone's Integrity in the face of professional mistreatment or familial-relevance.
Iverson and Marbury or just pro athletes. No different than the very same ordinary folk who have their very same challenges, when you all stay peculiarly silent on them...or especially, any White pro athletes who do what AI or Marbury did here.
They aren't the centers of attentions, thats exactly right, and their actions show that. Marbury just wanted a chance to play, like ordinary guys. He was denied that. Now, the folk who denied that, want to kiss his ass/and he theirs, then we move on and forget about it. Marbury doesn't like that arrangement and who can blame him, after how they've embarassed him in front of the ONE CITY he's claimed to long had wanted to suit up for, since he was in High School.
I pray that this article will be re-written, to treat Marbury and AI more like Caucasoid athletes fairly enjoy.
from about 1 month ago
I've read some of your post and I am trying to figure out is this Caucasoid thing a schtick or what? Do you really think these two are being treated unfairly because they are not caucasian? Show me the proof. If Marbury shows up to play he is not in the news. If Iverson shows for practice like everyone else, he's not on the front page either. How is that unfair?
Marbury buries all his "good guy" accolades by acting like a spoiled athlete. Most people know the good work he does, but why be such a cancer. Can't he just catch the plane to Italy and start over there and leave the NBA alone?
By the way, ordinary guys don't buy or lease 45 million airplanes. Only rich wealthy people do...so much for being an inner city guy at heart.
about 1 month ago
32 and still just a contributor. What a waste of talent...What have you been doing all these years? Lols. Just messing with you. That's about the level of analysis you've offered on your chosen subject matter. AI's a first ballot Hall of Famer. By all accounts the records and accolades he's accumulated does not reflect a waste of talent. His relationship with a particular sub-culture of sports fans just reflects the love hate relationship people like him tend to have with others. So post reflects more on you than on him. As for Marbury, the guy managed to escape poverty with little education and few benefactors. His family and dependents hardly think of the guy that they depend on for their well-being as wasting his talent. A waste of talent would be playing in some run-down gym somewhere for free thinking about what could have been. Just to give you some perspective...
about 1 month ago
First of all, the idea of trading is not so much a literal suggestion as a wish for these players to not be rewarded by opportunities with winning teams. Sometimes a little interpretation is needed, but if you're not up to it, no problem.
Secondly, I only judged them as basketball players- no deeper. Iverson put up the points and for his size has demonstrated tremendous amounts of basketball ability.
The tragic side I was looking at was their inane selfishness. Marbury may not be the spotlight player anymore, but his actions scream his need for attention. Both of these guys had all the ability in the world. It is my OPINION that their psychological caveats have played a part in neither of these guys winning a championship.
So your post reflects more on you, eyitayo, than on me. Apparently points are more important than rings.
about 1 month ago
Kind of over the top...Keith, me thinks you're no psychoanalyst nor are you an associate or friend of either of these guys, so your opinion is less than qualified on their "psychological caveats." Have you ever met them? Have you ever played with them? Have you ever spoken with anybody that has? If not, you're kind of reaching with your assertion. You could get away with that if you provided some evidence that players with their talent who have won ARENT selfish. But the fact is from our distant purview of these players, the vast majority come across as selfish to anybody who doesnt make a tenth of what they make. Look at Pippen. A guy everybody considers the greatest sidekick in history. Individually one of the most talented players to play the game. Yet, he refused to go into a game because the play was drawn of tony kukioch(sp?). Kind of selfish from where I sit, yet he has four or so rings. Lets look at the other end of the spectrum. Stockton, one of the most professional and selfless players ever, yet never won a ring. Clearly selfishness and selflessness are not significant predictive factors in whether a player is going to end their career with a ring. More likely you win if you've played in a major market, with a stacked team and a good coach. Great players that are surrounded by subpar talent, are poorly coached, and can't claim a major market are NOT going to get a shot at a title let alone win one. Trust me if AI played with shaq, he would have had a ring by now. The point is while sanctimony probably feels good to engage in, let's not over-simply winning and loosing. AI doesnt have a ring cause he spent the vast majority of his career on teams with mediocre talent, while other winning guards played with great big men and deep teams. Marbury hasnt won because he left minnesota, and never got on a contending squad after that.
Either way, calm down Keith, employees skip out on work all the time. (im sure you've taken a "sick day" or two in your lifetime) the only difference here is these guys are in the spotlight when they do.
about 1 month ago
First of all, I'm not all the riled up. I just enjoy a good argument.
Secondly, you're right that selfishness is present everywhere. However, these guys' actions are the same wherever they go. It's always about how they're not getting respected, etc, etc. That wears on a team. Look at Quentin Richardson's comments last night.
You can't say that their attitudes didn't effect their teams. Minnesota was just starting to get rolling when Marbury wanted out because he wasn't happy. Every off-season there was some complaint by AI regarding Philly. (Honestly, I lived near Philly and I don't blame him about that). If we've learned anything it's that team basketball wins. These guys never came off as team guys.
I don't like that, and therefore I don't like them.
Finally, actually I've never taken a 'sick day' when I wasn't ill. I've missed two days of work in 9 1/2 years. I have a work ethic and I don't like it when people get paid millions to do what I would do for a Big Mac and a Coke don't have it.
Therefore I write about it. Just don't criticize the level of my opinion because I don't know these guys. I 've seen enough come right from their mouths to make my decision.
You feel differently. Good. Ain't America great?
about 1 month ago
Minnesota was on the verge of winning a championship? Minnesota only made a run with KG when they got LATRELL SPREWELL of all people. And i seriously doubt you think of him as a selfless player. You're making my point for me.
Its okay for you not to personally like those guys. You're entitled to your opinion. Im just pointing out that if you're going to publicly broadcast your opinion, you should expect to base it on something besides ill will and sanctimony.
I think Ive done a pretty good job showing you why "selfishness and selflessness" are not predictors for winning championships. There are plenty of examples of selfless players never winning, and plenty of examples of obviously selfish players winning. Dennis Rodman was one of the biggest azzholes to play the game, but won plenty of rings because he was surrounded by talent and good coaching. If detroit doesnt win, it isnt because AI skipped practice on Thanksgiving, its more to do with their thin front line and over-reliance on man to man defense with no big man to anchor the paint. As for NY, those guys suck for all kinds of reasons, Marbury's just a convenient scapegoat for chronic mismanagement of the franchise. (When I have a contract, I expect that contract to be honored. Nobody is obligated to accept less than what they are owed merely because one party suddenly doesnt like the deal. Sucks for fans of the franchise, but i dont understand why players are not expected to act in their financial best interests merely to appear nice..)
I do like your team guy response though. Thats something worth talking about. If a player ever misses practice does that mean they aren't team guys? Good question. Are you sure that being a team player means simply never missing practice or being late?
I know from playing ball and having my own consulting business that team players are absolutely essential in that type of environment. I just had to fire someone that was chronically late and even absent for meetings with a client of mine. So dont get me wrong, Im not suggesting ANYTHING goes as long as you have talent.
But I am saying that there's a lot more to being a team player than always being on time or never missing a work day. Usually there's some leeway and room for error in these things. And you consider the person in their totality with regards to what they are contributing. And as long as this cost benefit comes out in the positive, typically that person will get admonished and you move on once they accept responsibility. And as long they do a leader would be foolish to trivialize the contribution of that person merely because they have a personal affront to a particular infraction of a rule. You might not operate this way but I guarantee NO business that depends on employees with highly specialized and valued skills treats their employees the way one would a fry cook at McDonalds.
Which is why from physicians, to engineers, to pilots, to most professionals, there's a certain level of arrogance and selfishness that comes with those professions that the average working stiff isnt allowed. So if you hate Iverson, than odds are you simply hate the wealthy class in our capitalist society. If I was AI, I wouldnt take anybody seriously that held me to a higher standard than they do my peers who make the same mistakes I do, but simply arent in the limelight for whatever reason. I would say my dedication to team is reflected in the blood sweat and tears I put into this team and making you billions of dollars. Hence AI is not going to end up in Oklahoma and will be welcomed to any number of contenders this summer.
Interesting opinions, peace.
about 1 month ago
I think he's kryptonite. The anti-winner. He's a scorer. He's a distraction. Therefore, anti-winner. And you once again have me pegged wrong about this class warfare stuff.
Anywho, have a good weekend. Thanks for taking the time.
about 1 month ago
Here's my humble opinion. I think the Knicks tried to build a winning team around Marbury, that was the mistake. Marbury is a good player, but he is not franchise material, you CANNOT build a winning team around him. He just doesnt have that character... To me it' s not just abut being a good player in proffesional sports it's character..for instance..Dirk Nowitzki, great player, but he will NEVER win as long as he's the franchise player..he can be PART of a winning team but he cant be that guy....it's just not his character, he's mentally soft. Theres guys you can build around (franchise players) and theres good , even great players who just can't be the main guy. Stephon is not mature enough to be a franchise player...
about 1 month ago
Keith,
You're in pretty bad shape, just in the fact, that you can't distinguish Integrity from dollar bills. How much someone makes, should have no bearing on requiring some level of tolerance or intensity, which is any different from the hard-working Americans at lower paying jobs.
It's absurd of you, to had alluded to anything inline with that. Especially to the level of impressing that the blame for "Big Mac & Coke you don't have" is on Iverson and Marbury types, as if, its their fault that millions of wealthy and affluent folk pay billions of dollars to enjoy them at their profession.
They only show to up play, then sit down just like you and me, and respond accordingly when the boss informs what their pay-rate will be. The Industry commands that they be paid the going rate for a professional basketball player, in America, so how the hell is any of this their fault?
I can't believe you even wrote that here. Knowing full well that it all works the same way, for a doctor, or a lawyer, or an Engineer, or an Accountant or an Agent, or anyone else who is at the top of their professions. You all kill me, wanting to make the rules different, whenever it comes to allowing Black players to reap the same/equal Prosperities or perks or Incentives, as Caucasoids.
about 1 month ago
Keith...despite the previous bloated posts to the contrary, I got your point. Both players have an inflated idea of their significance and are out of touch.
Marbury has never really been a good player in the NBA. He scored some points but never amounted to very much, and most don't expect that to change. His story was a good one, for about 15 minutes. Any franchise that signs him deserves what they get, trouble.
Iverson is a dynamite HOF type player, but never seems to get out of his own way. Most players in his position eventually see the folly in their youth and selfish behavior. They try late in their careers to catch on with a winner in a desperate attempt to validate their play with a championship. I hope he doesn't end his career like D. Wilkens, clinging to lost cause trades and meaningless layups. He should be regarded as one of the top ten scoring guards to ever play.
Nice piece... I thought it hit the mark.
about 1 month ago
Thanks Lucky.
All I was trying to say is that here were two amazingly talented individuals who could never see the bigger picture and have always made themselves the center of attention any way they could. It's tragic to me that players of their caliber don't have the ability just do what is necessary to win off the court as well as what they do on it.
about 1 month ago
man, mentioning iverson and marbury in the same sentence is a disgrace to iverson
marbury is not even CLOSE to being as good as A I is
so you cant say TWO talented players
you have one talented player, marbury, and one of the greatest of all time in iverson
so please man come on!!!
about 1 month ago
Marbury and Iverson are two great examples of what's wrong with the NBA. For the record, David Stern is, too. Defending them is easy when you try to make it a "culture war". I'd like to see if Tyler Hansbrough will ever skip a practice for T-giving dinner when he gets to the NBA or whether he'll refuse to play when the coach asks.
Big money has ruined professional athletes and is on the verge of ruining professional athletics. It isn't a racial issue; an attempt to make it one is really weak, dude (not directed at the author).
about 1 month ago
Best solution for Allen Iverson and Stephon Marbury...play defense. I agree with you to a certain point Keith, I only feel comfortable judging what players do on the court because we can't honestly say we know all the facts in any other situation. When it comes to both players they absolutely fall into the same category, offensive-minded players who have gotten this far on natural ability and have not taken the time to sharpen their all-around basketball skills. Winners understand what sacrifices need to be made for collective achievement. Jordan caught on, Kobe is getting there, and Chris Paul is missing one key player to take his team to the next level.
Marbury and AI have never made a commitment to the defensive end. Sure Iverson will get occasional steal but he takes too many risks and get caught reaching which is why he is usually out of position. This, along with players who can't hit a jump shot consistantly, is what is wrong with the NBA game. Other players you can add to this group: Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter, Kenyon Martin, Gilbert Arenas, Jason Richardson. None of these players will ever win a title until they realize the key to winning is improving for the betterment of their respective teams.
about 1 month ago
But you guys, damn you dont get it! allen is third all time Scoring damnit! it aint like he is just a gifted offensive player, hes the greatest all time for his size! so please, stop comparing him to all these other losers, like marbury! he is wayyyyyyyyyyyyyy better than him!
about 1 month ago
Iverson has won scoring titles and *showed his ass* in the NBA Finals and playoffs, more than once, so for anyone to feel that is an example of a 6-foot PG not seeing the bigger picture or being incapable getting "out of his own way" then...
We've got some serious hypocrisy and equity problems going on, within some of you all's thought processes, for sure.
Stockton has accomplished about the same, or less, than Iverson, so...is that why Stockton's Jazz teams that he QB'd never went any further than Iverson's teams, that he's QB'd over his career so far?
Some of you all get so overzealous in your Inequality and pro-Racist thinking, until you ignore how much sense you DON'T MAKE sometimes, just to say you had an opinion.
about 1 month ago
Argue anything you want, but if you're a fan of the NBA or any sport really, it's hard to be racist. Because I don't like the attitudes of Iverson and Marbury, you label me as racist.
However, how do you explain the number of African American players I have adored over the years?
You can't.
So your argument is null and void.
Leave it again, and I'll flag it as offensive. Because, to me it is.
about 1 month ago
This article is a biased opinion based on caricatures and stereotypes. People are more complicated than you portray. A.I. is flawed but brilliant. Marbury is not the problem in the present situation, Knicks management is the problem.
The reason that there are managers and supervisors, coaches general managers is to direct and motivate their employees.
Larry Brown got the best out of AI. Phil Jackson got the best out of Kobe and turned Jordan from a ball hog to a champion.
Most of Marbury's perceived failure should be attributed to poor or weak coaching. The team does not stop with the players. Take the present situation in NY. Marbury did not decide no sit on the bench in street clothes, he came to camp in shape and ready to play. Management caused the present bad blood not Marbury, yet you are ready to blame him because of your prejudice because past behavior.
I understand your thinking, but it is severely flawed.
about 1 month ago
This aritcle is an absolute joke! That's all I will say. No need to waste my time on this garbage.
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