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I'll give you 21 million clues. Stephon Marbury is getting $21.9 million to NOT play and have courtside seats to every Knicks game. Jealous? You should be.
This week Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni and team president Donnie Walsh announced that they have no plans to waive, buy out or trade Marbury. Instead, they will allow him to hang out on the sidelines, and if one of the top three guards (Duhon, Crawford and Robinson) gets hurt, then they might let him play.
If that sounds like the best job in the world it’s because it is. Is there an application?
Now unlike Marbury, I don't average 20 points or 8 assists per game, but I have my merits. I can run really fast, I am cute, and most importantly, I am an expert at sitting down. I even multi-task while sitting down: texting, eating nachos, drinking a beer, shouting directions at people who are actually playing on the court, I could do it all.
Citing financial reasons, the Knicks are refusing to let go of the well-paid player, but many on the sidelines are pushing for a buy out. Marbury, who is a free agent, has an ironclad contract that doesn't expire until the end of the season. So, the real question is what does it cost Stephan to sit on the bench not playing?
Obviously, he is collecting his paycheck whether he plays or not, but how painful must it be to spend week after week watching as the Knicks win or lose, and not be able to support your team in any real way?
Surely cheerleading is somewhat encouraging to a few players out there, but for any would-be baller who lives and dies at every game, we know that just watching basketball when you could be playing basketball sucks.
Now Stephon will have time to think about all his charity work, and create more designs for his super slick (but cheap) sneaker collection, Starbury. He must miss the way things used to be.
Under former Knicks coach Isiah Thomas, Marbury was the star of the show, but new coach Mike D'Antoni doesn't seem to care much for him. But Stephan won’t be sad. He’ll be getting a massage in his courtside seats at the next Knicks game.
Photo/REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
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