Mindful of Marv Albert’s ugly exit from MSG TV, the New York Daily News’ Bob Raissman points to a recent exchange between Walt Frazier and Stephon Marbury as indication the former might receive his walking papers.
There is a situation between Frazier (above) and Marbury that has been flying under the radar, probably because not many people tune in to the MSG Network. Let’s go back to July 8, when MSG aired a summer league game between the Knicks and Suns.
During this meaningless exercise, Marbury, who came to Las Vegas to “support” his team, joined Frazier and Gus Johnson at the broadcast table. Marbury must have thrilled Knicks fans when he proclaimed: “I don’t have anything to prove to anyone. The only person I’m competing against is myself.” I’m sure all NBA players also breathed a sigh of relief after hearing that.
Marbury, in an introspective mood, went on to alert viewers that he “became a man” during his public feud with Brown. “I was pro-active,” Marbury said. “Somebody told me I went from Gandhi to Malcolm X.”
This vivid imagery reflected the self-absorbed path Marbury was driving on. Perhaps sensing that, and not wanting the interview to degenerate any further, Frazier challenged Marbury. Clyde made an excellent point that needed to be made. He reminded Marbury that Brown had put the same kind of verbal heat on Chauncey Billups and Allen Iverson.
“(Brown) always tested guys,” Frazier told Marbury. “That’s what he was looking for. He wanted to see what you were able to come up with to be a man, to handle it.”
Marbury developed a sudden case of amnesia.
“No, I’m not giving (Brown) that much credit,” Marbury said. “I’m sorry, Clyde.”
Instead of letting Marbury off the hook, Frazier dug in.
“Then where did (the motivation to become a man) come from?” Frazier, his voice raising, asked. “If (Brown) didn’t do it….”
Marbury cut off Frazier. “No, I’m not giving (Brown) that much credit,” Marbury said. “And I’m not even supposed to be talking about it. He doesn’t get that much credit.”
Only in Bizzaro Knicks World would the suits jettison Frazier, a Knicks icon – a Hall of Famer – for telling the truth.
RaptorBlog.com’s Scott Carefoot can’t resist taking a poke at poor, misunderstood Jerome James, saying of Marc Berman’s report on Jackie Butler signing with the Spurs,
There’s all sorts of unintentional comedy in the linked NY Post article. First of all, he calls the contract “staggering”, which is how I would describe the Knicks’ refusal to match the offer. Even better? The way Butler’s value to the Knicks is described as “valuable in case Jerome James were to report out of shape.” Is this in question? Did Isiah arrange to have Burger King discontinue late-night drive-through?
Serbia & Montegnegro defeated Canada, 95-83 yesterday in the Diego Gianatti tournament taking place in Italy (link courtesy Nets Daily), as Mile Ilic (above) scored 14 points for the Darko-less S&M.