Marbury

Whenever I think of great point guards, I think of something Sue Wicks once said about Teresa Weatherspoon. It went something along the lines of Wicks being open, but not knowing how open she was, Weatherspoon passing her the ball in perfect position to score what was at the time a much needed basket, and Wicks somehow messing up the play. Wicks recalled being upset with herself for messing up the play and in turn, the run, and looking up and seeing Weatherspoon, who gave her a pinpoint pass, gesturing to herself as if to say it was her fault instead of Wicks'.

Ask anyone what Weatherspoon's greatest attribute was as a player and they probably wouldn't hesitate to say her leadership.

This was most evident ironically in 2003. Weatherspoon seemed to be frustrated with her own play and the Liberty's season. When she allowed her frustration to be written all over her face, the team struggled. When her energy dropped and the disappointment escalated, the entire team followed suit. When she went out of games and went to the bench moping, the collective air was sucked out of the building. When her body language let everyone know she wasn't comfortable and she got snippy, so did everyone else.

There was a marked difference from the never out of it cheerleader that she once was, to the upset towel over the head point guard she became. As she struggled with her role and seemed to lose her passion, so did the team.

Thankfully, for Weatherspoon, eventually, the towel came off the head, the cheerleader returned. Eventhough the team couldn't dig themselves out of the hole they created and she couldn't get on the same page as the coach who also handled the situation incorrectly, she stopped sulking. Even as she went to LA, she looked like she enjoyed the game again and went back to being the positive Spoon we all know and love.

Even at the end of her career with the minutes and production almost non existent, Sparks teammates and opponents like Sheryl Swoopes commented on how the work ethic, energy and leadership never waivered and how her attitude toward the game was infectious.

It's not about being one of a miniscule group of WNBA players to have 1000 point and assists to go with 600 rebounds and 400 steals. That didn't make her a great point guard. The stats didn't help lead the Liberty to the finals 4 times. The stats didn't endear her to the fans. The passion, energy, intensity, leadership and effort with which she played every game did.

.................

Which leads me to Stephon Marbury. Against the Nets, Marbury had 21 points and 5 assists through 3 quarters. Decent numbers. But the team was getting blown out. Enter Nate Robinson. Yes, Robinson scored 13 points in the 4th quarter to spark a semi comeback. But his energy and intensity regardless of the score was what got the Knicks back into the game. When he came in, everyone else's energy went up. Robinson was out there hustling on both ends, clapping for and high fiving teammates through mistakes and playing as if the game was still winnable. Marbury comes back into the game after Robinson fouls out and gets resoundingly booed.

Marbury didn't get booed because of the stat sheet. He got booed because fans are tired of the lack of passion with which he seems to play if his team isn't winning. It was as if to say, had Marbury played with the intensity of Nate Robinson and led his team by example instead of having a negative disposition, the Knicks may not be in this situation in the first place.

I don't believe for a minute that Marbury doesn't play hard. It would take a lot to convince me that he's just in it for the check or doesn't want to win as bad as the next guy. If anyone in that locker room wants to see the Knicks succeed as much as the fans, I'd have to believe it would be the life long Knick fan and native New Yorker...a guy who remembers the good Knicks.

But sometimes it takes more than knowing you want something. You've got to show it. I empathize with Marbury sometimes, because I'm known for not being the most outwardly expressive person in the world, which upsets the people around me from time to time. I've had prospective interviewers tell me they can't really tell that I actually want the job due to my laid back, unexcitable demeanor. I really don't see the need to be "on" 100% of the time, or phoney. But if it means pleasing my mother or getting the job that I really do want, I will do what I have to. Even if it means being a little extra and showing emotion that I normally don't.

If basketball were an individual sport, Marbury would be a top 5 player. He really would be the best point guard in the league. But basketball is a team sport last I checked. I think part of Marbury's problem is that he's never been less than a second option or a go to player. So he doesn't understand the importance of the best players being the most positive and trusting. He doesn't understand how much his body language and demeanor alone impact the confidence and outlook of the lesser players.

Sure, great players are looked to to get into teammates' faces when they're not performing up to par. However, great players earn that right by leading when things are going well too. Marbury's ice grill of an unfocused teammate who drops a pass wouldn't be so bad if he also congratulated said teammates consistently when they do well. One example was during today's game, Marbury shoots and misses. Frye gets a great rebound and dunks it for the putback. Cut to a shot of Marbury running back down court shaking his head disgustedly at his missed shot. It just seems like every bad thing is a catastrophic, slumping, storm off, eye rolling event for him.

It's just as obvious to many of us as it is to him that he doesn't get nearly as many calls as he should, but complaining to the refs instead of hustling back on defense isn't going to win much sympathy.

Marbury is hardly the biggest problem with the Knicks. Anyone who thinks he is, is crazy. Their lack of defense, patchwork rotation, terrible roster and lack of experience are. Trading him isn't going to change much of that unless a superstar is coming back in return.

But you can't have your best player acting distant and aloof on the court. It doesn't help that this only seems to be the case when things are going wrong.

When Marbury was in Minnesota, not only was he a real point guard, which shoots the theory that he isn't and can't be out of the window. He was also high energy and positive until he decided Minnesota wasn't where he wanted to be.

It was the same way when he first got to Jersey. Until one too many injury prone, ice cream soft, hard handed teammates left him feeling All Alone.

He seemed to be on the right track in Phoenix, especially during the run that had them standing on San Antonio's throat, just unable to close it out. Then when they started losing, his attitude turned sour. Which comes first...the tude or the losses? Now with the Knicks, wash...rinse and repeat.

Much of this is media created. Every little thing is mangified and blown out of proportion. We rarely get articles about the great things he does for his team and his community. It's not like there aren't many examples of both. The notion that Marbury never smiles is a truck load of nonsense. The sports media, especially in NY will kiss your behind as long as you show them some attention. They have a supreme ugly chick complex. On the other hand, if you just go out and do your job, and keep them at arms length like the vultures they are, you become the proxy for their stupidity. If I were Marbury, I'd react the same distant way. If you want introspection, watch Oprah.

However, my problem isn't about his relationship with the media. Anyone who has ever played a team sport knows how important it is for your leaders to lead by example. By Marbury's body language signifying indifference and disappointment, and his decision making showing a lack of trust in his teammates, players that aren't on his level skill wise have no incentive to follow in his footsteps. At this level, yes, grown men should be able to inspire themselves and Marbury's attitude shouldn't determine how another man plays his game in terms of effort, but that isn't human nature. Team sports can be a classic example of the difference between social loafing and social incentive.

He's almost hard to watch. I truly believe that Marbury wants to lead and enjoys the game and his teammates. I just don't think he realizes that no matter how you may feel, appearance is everything. Even simple things like thinking a positive thought after a mistake, smiling after a turnover or running with your head up can change your whole attitude on the court. A positive attitude can lead to better focus and less compounding of mistakes.

Like I said, it's something I've had to learn the hard way. Just like I can be more qualified and still lose the job to someone with more spunk...a team can win more games with a less talented, but better intangibles leader at the point.

I'm not saying be a phoney brown noser. I'm saying let the energy, passion, intensity, and heart that you know you have on the inside show on the outside. It's not like Marbury doesn't have all of the above. He wouldn't have made it this far if he didn't.