Steph overload
You shouldn’t let the world see who you really are, if you don’t know who you really are.
It’s not that NBA stars always yearned for a way to communicate directly with their fans without having to go through the media. Actually, for decades they yearned for the media to come around so they could tell the difference between their games and those of the local high schools.
In those days with annual salaries in four figures, most players had off-season jobs, and everyone was a lot more lucid. But enough of NBA pre-history.
These days, with eight-figure salaries, the media has turned into a monster for NBA stars–and what player isn’t a star in his own mind?—or at least a monumental pain in the ass, since it still has the capacity to submit the players’ illusions to real-world testing.
Hence, the desire to avoid the media filter, now realized in the exploding potential for social networking, as just demonstrated anew by Stephon Marbury, that pioneer in expanding the boundaries of Narcissism.
Steph just put a 24-hour-long video about… what else, Steph… on Ustream, starting at 9.a.m when he awoke. That would have been a bit much even for any blood relatives who aren’t actually on his payroll.
According to NBA Musings, a blog for Celtic fans (I stood as much as I could, a shot of Steph primping in the mirror in his bathroom), he “stretched for at least an hour with R&B music blaring in the background” and then tweeted, “I’m about to shi! Shave and bath so we can get started with the day.”
It doesn’t get any better, especially if you’ve followed Steph’s car wreck of a career and have heard and seen all the dumb things he has said and done.
I guess the big deal is, you look on your hand-held and there’s an alert, informing you Stephon Marbury is personally inviting you, JoeFan@twitter, to sit in on his live telethon, in which you and he can chat in real time!
Personally, I would advise holding out until someone who has actually scored a point or two in the NBA lately holds his telethon, unless you’re really, really bored. I know, I have days like that all the time, but I’d prefer suicide to 24 Hours of Steph.
For those interested in Steph’s career, as opposed to his obsession with himself, he has played 47 games in two seasons, not because he was hurt but because he was suspended.
Two seasons ago, then-Knick Coach Isiah Thomas suspended him for jumping the team after his teammates voted that he should be benched.
Marbury then sat out the first 59 games last season, rejecting a $17 million buyout of the $21 million left on his deal until the club bumped it to $19 million.
Signing with the Celtics, who had great hopes for him in a limited role, backing up Rajon Rondo, Steph then fell on his face, averaging 3.8 points and shooting 34 percent.
Offered a $1.3 million deal for this season, presumably on the basis that nobody could be as bad as he looked, Steph then turned it down, and is still seeking a better offer.
Not that a segment of the mainstream press can’t be interested in anything any celebrity does, however clueless. The New York Post had its Knick beat writer spend all last season ghost-writing Steph’s account of events, giving readers a choice of alternate realities, everyone else’s or Marbury’s.
Actually, the problem with access to the public is the fact that it bypasses the media, which actually protects players when it can, and shows the player as he really is.
On draft day, Brandon Jennings, who’s new and just starting up his entourage, compounded his error in not showing up by telling all to a “friend”—rapper Joe Budden—who posted the conversation on Youtube.
It was quickly taken down, but too late. I just googled “Budden” and “Jennings” and got 72,800 results.
“This is what happened, right?” Jennings told Budden and, subsequently, the world.
“My agent is like ‘Well, we ain’t hear nothing. We ain’t have no guarantee.’ So we makin’ phone calls and (expletive) and (expletive) is saying like, ‘The workouts is great and everything and he’s the best point guard but we don’t know yet, we just don’t know….’
“I came out there and made my appearance (expletive) and I had the best appearance out of all them (expletives). And I was the best dressed, they said, by the way. I was the best dressed.”
Jennings also trashed the Knicks who “skipped out on me,” for taking Jordan Hill at No. 9, leaving Milwaukee to take him at No. 10, sending him to the tundra instead of Gotham.
Not that I’d attach too much importance to this, since Jennings isn’t much dizzier than anyone else his age in the draft. But that’s still pretty dizzy.
Then, there was Charlie Villanueva, who should own a piece of Twitter by now for publicizing the web site by tweeting at halftime of a game last spring. (To show how fast things move, four months ago you had to explain what tweeting was. Now anyone who doesn’t know doesn’t care.)
If you didn’t know much about Villanueva before, he was the player at the 2003 Nike camp who complained that LeBron James was getting all the publicity. After two merely OK years at UConn, Toronto took him with an ill-advised No. 7 pick, and traded him a year later to Milwaukee. Three years later, the Bucks let him leave without an offer, even after he averaged 17 points after the All-Star break last season.
Charlie has been tweeting all summer about the glorious future awating the Pistons, who just gave him a five-year $35 million deal.
We’ll see how that turns out. Personally, if I was a GM these days, I’d have a Twitter Exclusion. Anyone who tweets during games is excluded.
In the real world, the day Steph awoke at 9 a.m. to begin his Ustream show, Kobe Bryant probably awoke at the same time, even if it was 6 a.m. in California, and lifted weights.
One was telegenic. One actually meant something.
Matthhew Said,
July 28, 2009 @ 7:20 pm
Honestly everyone is putting this in the ground, just like the Michael Jackson thing. I do believe the tweets have got a little out of control and Im sure contracts will soon have exclusions on certain factors. However I watched a good 8 or 9 hours of the Marbury thing (not straight hours). And it was kinda cool in a way to see his house and all. The media and critics will always hurt people because you have to have haters in this world. Stephon Marbury has acted like a kid in certain situations, but he has learned from all of them just like we have all learned from mistakes. Him crying on the 24 hour thing was I believe something to do with his real dad, and that song came on or whatever. Either way, he played alright in a supporting role and didnt complain once. Unlike players like Iverson. So at least him give some credit. I know even if u read this comment you will not agree and thats fine. Everyone has a right to there opinion, and I respect your opinion and see where your coming from. Thanks
Joe Said,
July 28, 2009 @ 8:05 pm
I miss the days of unbiased journalsim. Geez.
Matt Said,
July 28, 2009 @ 8:23 pm
Mark,
Great call on the comparison of Kobe and Marbury.
Kevin Said,
July 28, 2009 @ 8:51 pm
Chillax, dude.
brofmfa Said,
July 28, 2009 @ 10:12 pm
FYI, Kobe was at China then.
Brian Said,
July 28, 2009 @ 11:55 pm
I remember watching Steph and AI in the Eastern Conference all-star lineup one time, many years back. They lit it up in that game!! But then, Jordan may have been on that team, too …
Riley G. Said,
July 29, 2009 @ 12:14 am
There a quite a few athletes who should be seen and not heard. Physical acumen doesn’t guarantee intelligence, obviously. Steph is not evil, but, as a T-Wolves fan, I believe his narcissism was one of the key factors leading to the team’s current condition. Had he been willing to work with KG, the sky would have been the limit. Googliotta wouldn’t have left the team. We wouldn’t have been forced to go through so many players looking for another PG with Marbury’s talent. Probably no Joe Smith debacle, either. These days he is barely coherent.
amoney420 Said,
July 29, 2009 @ 12:53 am
I remember going to knicks games last season and seeing Marbury on the bench with Eddy Curry and I though to myself these guys are prob not going to play all season. Seems Eddy is the next one to depart the knicks if another team is willing to sign and waive him for cap space. Marbury is a joke though…..I know he’s past his prime but if you look at nash and kidd at his age they were doing pretty well for themselves. It seems his ego outgrew his development of becoming a veteran with a high basketball IQ. That happens a lot in teh NBA you success is based upon one’s progession when one is in his prime. If they knicks were smart they would trade eddy curry jared jeffries for jodie meeks and ramon sessions. Their contracts don’t really mesh but they need a trade where they get two guards who’s career will only progress(unlike hughes,duhon, antes the shit!!)
Johnny Said,
July 29, 2009 @ 2:06 am
What has the f****n world come to, bringing up Michael Jackson is a good thing, but think about it this way. People were criticizing Jackson his whole life, calling him Wacko, calling him not human, calling him this n that, but then when he died everyone jus jumped on the bandwagon of appreciating him and his talent. Nobody was ever helping him out. The same thing is with Steph. Steph is obviously troubled, but people are just making fun of him and sayin this n that about him when he’s an easy target. Its ridiculous, stop criticizing him, let him live his life or just help the dude out. Everyones abandoning him like Jackson.
TIm W. Said,
July 29, 2009 @ 2:25 am
How on earth can anyone defend him after watching that trainwreck. I must admit, I only watched a few minutes, but that was all I could take. I don’t do Twitter, either. If I want to hear or watch the mundane goings on of someone’s life I’ll look in the mirror. Maybe not as much as Marbury…
Matthew, you watched 8 or 9 HOURS of Marbury? Are you nuts? And you didn’t get the feeling the guy was completely insane? I guess anyone has their backers. As for seeing his house, I remember watching one part where he jumps into the pool and you see the back of his house, and I just kept thinking, “How could someone so completely and utterly stupid get so rich?”.
bibifok Said,
July 29, 2009 @ 2:41 am
bring Marbury to LA !!
Hahaha !!
Daniel Said,
July 29, 2009 @ 3:48 am
I feel like you’re just trying to join on the Stephon Marbury Hatewagon and it bothers me. Not because the things you say are wrong but by the way you set out and portray Marbury. “Personally, I would advise holding out until someone who has actually scored a point or two in the NBA lately holds his telethon, unless you’re really, really bored. I know, I have days like that all the time, but I’d prefer suicide to 24 Hours of Steph.”
What do you have to be so melo-dramatic for no one is forcing you to do anything this was something for his fans. In my opinion the broadcast was excessive. Maybe even a little too personal,but you can’t take his tears out of context and make the dude seem like a whack job.. He lost his father, he’s been in a rut and the one thing he loves to do is slipping away from him. I’m sure you’ve been in lighter situations and have started balling.
Enough with the criticism and if you can’t help yourself then at least be honest and not another beat-writer looking to further his career by bad mouthing someone else.
John Said,
July 29, 2009 @ 4:39 am
I agree with you Daniel. If you hadnt walk in an individual shoe why judge and the media is getting ridicules anyway and what most these reporter know most them probably can even lift a basketball so I don’t even listen to them half the time.
SKY Said,
July 29, 2009 @ 5:18 am
The purpose of writing an article is to express your opinion. So what’s wrong with your article is that your opinion on Steph is really just a byproduct of a media byproduct. You’re not really telling us anything besides the fact that you dislike Stephon Marbury, as well as people portrayed as immature.
Melvin Said,
July 29, 2009 @ 8:19 am
I really didnt get why steph turned down the Celtics offer for $1.3 million…
Michael Said,
July 29, 2009 @ 9:03 am
whose Stehp?
Nick Said,
July 29, 2009 @ 9:35 am
Hey Matthhew, how has Stephon Marbury “learned” from his past situations???? Don’t blame the media for being “haters” b/c Steph has acted like a moron. THE MEDIA HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH him putting a disturbing video of HIMSELF on the Internet. He did it all alone, hasn’t learned ANYTHING, and that is why he is STILL WITHOUT A JOB. The problem, mostly, is FANS LIKE YOU who make excuses for guys like Marbury and Villanueva - selfish losers when it comes to the game of basketball.
David Said,
July 29, 2009 @ 10:04 am
Johnny,
Great point. Everyone is a hero when they’re dead.
New England Sports 24/7 :: Today’s Celtics Links 7/29 Said,
July 29, 2009 @ 10:20 am
[...] This Is The Ray Allen They Need! WEEI Rondo Leading by Example Hoopshype Steph overload NBA Musings sorry ladies, perk is off the market (and other musings) Sports News [...]
justin Said,
July 29, 2009 @ 11:23 am
Jennings is the worst. It’s sad to see such an idiot make so much money. He thinks he has everything coming to him. I hope he fails. Stephan is an idiot too. He is a rich failure. His legacy is ruined. I would feel horrible if I were him. Embarrassed.
TIm W. Said,
July 29, 2009 @ 11:48 am
I have to agree with Nick. Marbury’s defenders, like Marbury himself, blames everyone else for his troubles. It’s a product of the times, unfortunately. One of Marbury’s biggest problems is that he’s never taken responsibility for his actions. It’s the Knicks, it’s the media, it’s the NBA etc, etc. It’s part of becoming an adult and Marbury has yet to become one. Of course, neither have many professional athletes, but Marbury is an extreme example.
Marbury had a second, third and fourth chance to redeem himself, and things kept getting worse. He’s got no one to blame but himself. But there’s no way he’s doing that. And yes, he had a tough year with his father dying and other problems, but guess what, lots of people deal with tough problems, but continue to have to go into work EVERY day and function. Marbury may not have been equipped to deal with it but, again, that’s really his own fault. Some NBA stars learn to grow up amid the circus and others don’t. Marbury chose not to and he ended up paying for it.
I really do have the feeling, though, that Marbury has some sort mental problems. What he really needs to do is get some help, but I doubt he would do that.
Coleman Said,
July 29, 2009 @ 12:44 pm
I don’t know about most of these comments because there are always folks who seek to paint people in a bad light, or assign them to a mental institution, no matter what… and they fail to take their questionable actions in the context of events that surround them.
Say what you will, Marbury still has talent, and just because he was expelled from his former teams because of attitude issues, that does not he cannot play at a high level again if he is given sufficient amounts of playing time to prime his game again.
At his age, I believe that Marbury still has the ability to play on the same level as J. Kid, S. Nash, and G. Hill, who are his peers. He was a very serviceable, even a good player, until they sent him to basketball purgatory. Thereafter, he was given scarce spot play off the bench with the Celts (which Iverson, who averaged 17 points a game before Detroit traded for him, could not do himself.)
I can buy into the fact that Marbury is selfish, and by the way, I still do not like the way he did in Minnesota by forcing them to trade him and messing up what could have become a championship caliber team. However, to say that he is stupid is really going overboard, and taking a personal shot to insult him instead of dealing with the issues (Ad Hominem argument = faulty reasoning).
This guy has never been stupid about earning the maximum amount of money that he can earn. This guy has never been stupid to just give away money, i.e. being bought out for 19 million vs 17 million, or playing for veterans minimum of 1.3 million for the Celtics, when he is clearly worth more than that (only old players with nothing hardly left like Mutombo and Theo Ratliff should earn that small amount of money, Marbury is a much better player that all those veteran minimum guys).
Therefore, I would categorize Marbury as self-centered, and rusty from a lack of playing quality basketball minutes, and egotistic, but stupid is a definition that I would not put on him because he is far from being stupid.
Ms Info Said,
July 29, 2009 @ 2:15 pm
People dont understand why Stephon Marbury is acting like such a baby. He told me that he read his cousin Jamel Thomas’ book and it hurted him. Only because Jamel was REAL enough to write all the things that happen between them two. Stephon Marbury is going broke, I know its hard to believe but its true. His brother Norman is about to get kicked out his house because Stephon failed to pay the mortgage, Stephon’s brother Don cant pay his car note and all he’s other siblings cars are about to get tooken away from the REPO guys. I guess what goes around comes back around. By the way he is thinking about his Father’s death only because he didnt treat he’s father with respect, its all guilt thats coming out of Marbury. I know him because he has a child with one of my friends.
DS Said,
July 29, 2009 @ 2:56 pm
Oh lord here we go again. Now i’ve been a fan of Marbury for years and I feel that he has made one awful choice that pretty much threw his career down the drain. His reasons for leaving the Wolves were ignonrant. That being said he has played on some horrible teams. Before he arrived in NJ they were the laughingstock of the NBA. Jason Kidd had 2 great runs there but then slipt right back into the gutter. The Suns were a winning team and he had a decent amount of success there and they gave the Spurs a good run in fact a better one than the Suns did a few years later with Nash.
Then he get shipped to NY who hadn’t one a playoff series since 2001. Then look at the circus that was created when D’Antoni was hired. Even though they had issues with each other Marbury said all the right things. THen D’Antoni decided to sign Duhon. Ok give Steph some comp. Then all of the sudden Marbury is going to come off the bench. Now Duhon has been mainly a 6th man his entire career and all of the sudden he handed a starting job over a real starter. That move was clearly trying to bait Marbury into making a scene. But what he accpeted the role and was the best player by far in the preseason. Then all of the sudden he’s not getting off the bench. With D’Antoni saying i’m not gonna play you becasue we are going in a different direction. Then when injuries piled up D’Antoni was singing a different tune. I don’t like how the Pacers deactivaed Jamaal Tinsley but there no lies or deception on the Pacers part.
I watched some of Marbury’s Ustream and it was clearly for his fans. Because regardless of whatever he does people will find away to hate him and call him a moron and yada yada. THe funny thing is how his outstanding charirty work goes unoticed and how he teared up and gave the biggest donation by far of any NBA player to the Hurricane Katrina victim’s. He has been named to The Sporting News list of “Good Guys in Sports” three times.
Minks Said,
July 29, 2009 @ 3:11 pm
I don’t think you could call Charlie V at # 7 an “ill-advised” pick. He put up decent numbers on a crap raps team that flipped him for TJ who got flipped for JO, flipped JO for Matrix and the sign &Trade of Marion bought us cap space to sign Hedo, pickin up DGeorge/Wright, while gaining the MLE and Biannual exceptions which turned into Rasho, Jack and likely Delfino.
So in the end picking CV at #7 allowed us to end up with 2 playoff appearances, Hedo, Wright, George, Delf, Rasho and Jack.
Bryan Colangelo: GM of the decade. Nuff said.
DaleB Said,
July 29, 2009 @ 3:54 pm
“Help the dude out?” He’s not mentally ill like Jacko, who honestly needed it. He’s just completely in love with himself. And by doing this “for his fans” (what fans, he’s not a player now) he just exposes more of his narcissim. I don’t think anyone here actually hates him, but it’s hard to like him. From simple arrogance, claiming he’s the best PG in the league, to alienating just about every team-mate he ever had (KG, Amare, Googliata, Marion, everyone on the knicks and Nets…. to his indefensible statements during isaiah’s trial. And all this from some dude that is a millionaire for playing (or not) a frakkin game.
Why should anyone stick up for him?
Do you know how great he could have been?
Steph overload | BlogWood Said,
July 29, 2009 @ 4:34 pm
[...] More here: Steph overload [...]
DS Said,
July 29, 2009 @ 5:14 pm
Dale the whole best PG in the NBA is what kills me. Now the thing is a reporter asked him who he felt was the best pg in the NBA was. And he gave an honest and truthful answer in his eyes. Should he be faulted for that? No he was asked a question and he told what HE dbelieved to be the truth. Now granted i’m sure the NBA guidlines always say avoid answering questions that put you in the spotlight or make you look selfish but they promote games via players first then the teams second.
brofmfa Said,
July 29, 2009 @ 9:47 pm
He won’t be in such a trouble had dude not be selling his Starbury, some big brand name want to drive him out. Business is what all about.
TIm W. Said,
July 29, 2009 @ 11:36 pm
Wow, some of you people need to go back to school. I can barely understand what you are saying. I’m hoping it’s a language thing.
Ya, poor Steph. People are `hating on him’. That’s it. And when you make the choices that he has made, I think you can call him stupid. If he wasn’t a basketball player, none of you would be defending him. Apparently the ability to dribble a ball excuses people from a lot of things.
Matt Said,
July 30, 2009 @ 4:50 am
haha Steph is a headcase
Ya Boy Said,
July 30, 2009 @ 7:46 am
Ms Info,
I know what you are saying to be false. Trust me Stephon Marbury is not going broke. How do I know? Let’s just say I’m close to Stephon. I can tell you Starbury, which is run from Durham, NC is actually doing decent. I can tell you Stephon owns many commercial properties in which he rents them out to the government. Stephon is far from broke. There are multiple business deals on the table as we speak. This guy has two homes, one in LA and NY. Both of these houses are well over 6000 sqf. If he was broke, I dont think he would be out in LA on Ustream acting a fool! The last time I saw Don, he didnt look like he was on the losing end of anything. Norman is taken care of just like all his other family members. Anyone that knows the Marbury’s will tell you, they have not wanted for anything since Stephon has been in the NBA.
I guess I’m just trying to say, dude is not broke. This guy made a lot of money in the last few years. Money right now is not an issue. No he may not be making $20 million/yr anymore but trust Stephon business game is on point. Think I’m lying, go look up Captial Asset Advisors located in Durham, NC. You should now know that I’m speaking nothing but facts. Let’s just say Gus Bass has Stephon on point business wise.
Stephon and his family have not read Jamel’s book. Actually Jamel’s book did not say anything that was too out of the way. Plus, the only book I have ever seen Stephon Marbury read was the Bible. Trust, Stephon is not acting like a baby over a book that was written last year or whenever. I know the underlying cause of why he is doing this but It’s not for me to say. Stephon, in my opinion, has the thickest skin of anyone I have ever seen. This dude pays no attention to what people say about him and it has no affect on his life. The amount of criticsm and comments he has faced, I would have crumbled. This dude continues to live his life and let things be.
Yes Stephon has done a lot of stuff and of course he is getting his Karma in other ways. But before start saying he is broke, know the facts. Those that know Stephon will tell you he never wants to be broke again. This dude is so tight with his money now it’s crazy. Not because he is going broke but because he never wants to go back too how he use to live.
Also those calling Stephon crazy and stupid, it’s a method to the madness. There is always a dollar to be made with Stephon Marbury. He is not going to just get on Ustream and Justin.TV to act a fool. Somewhere in that equation money has come up. He has got what he set out to do and that’s to get people to pay attention. Whether good, bad, or whatever, he has got people to pay attention. Stephon has always said there is no such thing as negative publicity. He has been blasted on ESPN, Yahoo, NY Post and other places in the last few days. Thats nothing but free press! There are going to be people curious to see whats going on and go to his webcast. People will call him this and call him that but in the end he may have the last laugh. Think about it for a second, all the talk has been around his “crazy” web appearance. That’s a lot of buzz and generating a lot of traffic to those mentioned websites. While I myself don’t watch any of the stuff, I can say I understand what he is doing. I may not agree with it but I can’t say he is crazy or insane. He may go about doing things different but hey we all have our ways.
Bust88 Said,
July 30, 2009 @ 9:37 am
You would think that a guy whose head is shaped like a lightbulb should be a lot brighter.
Brian Said,
July 30, 2009 @ 6:11 pm
Marbury and Iverson to the Clips!! Booyakasha!!
Sean D from RB Said,
July 30, 2009 @ 8:43 pm
If you think about it, if give Stephon his old role of scoring point guard on a bad team he can still get the same stats he used to, he just won’t win and his teamates will be unhappy. But don’t act like the dude can’t ball, that’s just silly.
As far as the article goes, nothing new, in fact it was completely unwarranted. Marbury is not crazy, he’s actually a decent guy for what his profession and lifestyle push him towards being (you know, the TO meter of egotistical superstar stuff). Let him play on bad teams for the rest of his life or hardly contribute to good teams like he did last year, but how bout we don’t ostracize this guy for doing what he feels he wants or believes. MJ wasn’t an extraorinarily noble figure in human history, but he kept his mouth shut about his life and feelings on matters of substance, so he’s aggrandized and lionized, but really they are all of the same cloth. leave him alone, and I say this as a basketball fan and a tabloid hater, enough!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mike Said,
July 30, 2009 @ 10:10 pm
Prefer suicide to watching 24 hours of Marbury? WEAK
DaleB Said,
July 31, 2009 @ 9:36 am
Yeah, he can “ball”, he just can’t win. Ever. He’s the worst case example of all the pampered atheletes who became all about themselves and the money. Read what greats like Russell, Bird, Jordan,etc….said. They were all utterly confident, they all would have probably said that they were the best when asked, but they were great players, teamwise, who wanted to win.
Steph will always survive financially. He’s just finally paying for what he’s always been his whole career.
Iverson’s kinda doin the same thing, he’s just quieter about it.
Kevin Said,
July 31, 2009 @ 1:17 pm
Meh. Here comes the wolf-pack again, sharing a hive-mind and tearing apart another former superstar on the decline.
His narcissism would be much less forgivable if people were actually watching his broadcasts. As it is, it seems hard to care.
If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?
It does if a writer needs a story.
Holla Bolla Said,
August 1, 2009 @ 8:18 am
Who cares.
Welcome back Candyman!..Weclome back to your DE-Fending Champion Los Angeles Lakers
LO is back…keep on hatin haters!
MAMBA!!!!!
Fuller, Mike Said,
August 2, 2009 @ 9:28 am
You article sounds more like hate mail. There is enough hate in the world already. Try finding good and god in people and encourage them on that. Marbury has given to thousands of people that are without the basic needs of survival. Have you?