Thinking out loud
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- August
- 21
I can live with Stephon Marbury labeling himself the best point guard in the league. Playing at this level requires unshakable confidence and only the locker room politicians would’ve come up with a different answer.  I don’t understand how the suddenly talkative playmaker can defend Michael Vick or lable dog-fighting a sport.
At this rate, a line of flavored Starburys is in order.
Since the latest remarks are only making the rounds via blogs, it’s hardly causing a firestorm. Does anybody else care? I think it’s an interesting debate. So let’s get into the subject here, do the fans in New York have a right to demand a certain level of character or intelligence from the athletes wearing the hometown colors?
Maybe the standard has slipped after six consecutive losing seasons.
I’m not jumping on a soap box, and I don’t have any moral hangups with any of these guys, but I’m wondering if anybody who is emotionally vested in the Knicks feels a little disappointed when somebody like Marbury produces questionable sound bites.
Fire away.
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, August 21st, 2007 at 9:42 pm by Mike Dougherty.
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Hey!...don’t hit on steph like that…he’s just trying to defend a fellow athlete. I mean…nobody else is…look we all know that vick messed up, dog fighting!...come on talk about messed up. I think that it’s as much the people that vick was trying to impress as much as a character flaw in Vick. Let’s just hope that Zach doesn’t try to impress the same type of people out here in NY!!!
Knicks Fan For Life
Wasn’t fighting and hunting black people once considered a sport?
um, yeah. I think they call it boxing. Oh, no that’s just latinos now.
I don’t know if dogfighting is sport but I will say I don’t think a man should be cruxified because of it. Vick didn’t kill anybody, he didn’t steal nothing, He didn’t cheat HE FOUGHT A WILD FIGHTING DOG WITH ANOTHER WILD FIGHTING DOG. Steph is entitled to his opinion as are you all. This case with Vick is bigger then Vick right its the (IN THING)and everyones jumping on the bandwagon and for this CAUSE they are going to cause a man his career, his stature and in the process destroy his life. So you tell me is dogfighting more important then a mans life.
I think the fans of New York have the right to demand a certain level of intelligence from the local sports writers. Stephon merely stated what many were thinking. While some people love killing deer, quail, elk, etc. for sport, others find it appalling and ‘inhumane’. While some people love to wear mink, chincilla, lynx, and other furs, there is a whole subculture out there that is totally against it. While some cultures think it’s okay to put their kids to work in sweatshops when the kids reach 8 years old, other cultures don’t think that’s such a good idea. So, while you call him unintelligent for equating dog fighting to other brutal ‘sports’ like hunting, I call you unintelligent for not being able to understand what he’s saying. And that is, take a step back and think about what’s really going on here. I’m not defending Vick. I have two dogs of my own (who fight every day, it’s called pack behavior) and I think he should go to jail. I’m just saying your statement about him being ‘unintelligent’ is ridiculous. You guys are such morons. For years you complain about Marbury not speaking to the media and not offering anything more than the standard sound bites. Now that he opens up and starts speaking his mind, EVERY…LITTLE…THING…HE…SAYS…AND…DOES get criticized. Perhaps that is why he didn’t want to talk to you dumb @sses to begin with.
AND ANOTHER THING!!! You said…
“do the fans in New York have a right to demand a certain level of character or intelligence from the athletes wearing the hometown colors?”...
So now we are to assume that because Steph suggested dog fighting to be a sport ‘behind closed doors’, we are to think of him as having a lower intelligence and character? You are such a clown. You want to take his words and label him stupid, shady character, and unworthy of wearing “the hometown colors”. I’d say donating 4 million dollars to the city’s police, fire, ems, and teachers services makes him a high character person. How about the youth basketball camps he puts together? What about the brand of ‘quality’ low cost clothing aimed at those who are less fortunate? What about the Million + he gave to the victims of Katrina? What about the things i’m sure he does that we don’t even know about. I’m PROUD to have someone like Steph wearing my ‘hometown colors’. What I’m embarrassed about are the moronic hometown writers who try to COMPLETELY DISPARAGE a good person simply because they think it’s what people want to hear. What a silly person you are.
Dogfighting is not cool, but this situation has been greatly overexaggerated, you’d think Vick’s first name was Adolph, right now… I understand Marbury’s sentiments, agree with them and have actually used the deer hunting analogy myself.
He didn’t say it was a good thing or that he supported it. People make too much out of nothing.
When people who happen to be famous athletes break the law, it’s because the media made them do it.
Alex,
Amen, brother!
There’s something nauseating about watching these sanctimonious journalists go pouncing like a pack of wolves after a piece of meat every time an athlete says something that isn’t completely prescripted or cliched. And then they whine when athletes are guarded by publicists or contemptuous of the media.
“Character or intelligence”? Honestly. How much have you donated for Katrina victims, Einstein?
Whoa, you guys are taking it a step too far. I’ll accept the criticism, but read the post again. I’m not singling out Marbury. And read the posts from past months, Marbury has gotten credit for the good deeds, as well, so don’t assume I’m not playing fair.
Mike.
WHAT?!?
This entire article is about Steph’s comments. You are specifically singling him out. You even reference his ‘best point guard in the league comment’. Which I loved by the way. I want my guys thinking they are the best. I don’t want anyone playing for the knicks walking around thinking “Gee, i’m like the 9th best point guard in the league”. The topic of this ridiculous post is ‘thinking out loud’. He thought he was the best and he thought out loud. But I digress. To respond to your question specifically, I do NOT feel disappointed when someone of Marbury’s (in my opinion) high character “produces these questionable sound items”. I’m not even sure what’s questionable about it. You just tossed that statement up on the board with no explanation. If you get a chance, please let me know what is so ‘questionable’ about what he said.
“I think we don’t say anything about people who shoot deer or shoot other animals,” “You know, from what I understand, dogfighting is a sport. It’s just behind closed doors.
“I think it’s tough that we build up Michael Vick and then we break him down.”
I really don’t see anything that can be considered questionable about this comment. I don’t think this lowers his character or makes him unintelligent. Perhaps you are referring to something that wasn’t published?
The only thing I could think that you might find questionable is..”I think it’s tough that we build up Michael Vick and then we break him down.” By this, I think he means is this is blown out of proportion. It is and it isn’t, it depends on where you stand. It’s kind of like you NY sports writers trying to tear Marbury down with these obscene tactics. You blurt out stuff like “do the fans in New York have a right to demand a certain level of character or intelligence from the athletes wearing the hometown colors?” all the while alluding to Stephs comments. You say stuff like…”I’m wondering if anybody who is emotionally vested in the Knicks feels a little disappointed when somebody like Marbury produces questionable sound bites.” Then you go…”Huh, I wasn’t singling out Marbury”.
So, back up what you said and explain what’s questionable about what he said, because I haven’t read a single post that agrees with your way of thinking.
Alex,
Here’s what I find questionable, dogfighting is not a sport, it’s a felony. Steph knows that. Again I’m not looking to tear him down. I’m not calling him a moron. I’m saying what he said on camera was not very intelligent.
I agree. Dogfighting is a crime, but so is hunting (sometimes). Bare knuckle fighting was illegal until the UFC came along. Before that, it was done in backyards for money between individuals. They considered it a sport before it was legal. Do I agree with dogfighting? Hell no. I love my Huskys. But, the statement he made was simply a fact. Not unintelligent, or poor character. The people who engage in this highly illegal and sad activity ‘behind closed doors’ consider it a sport. Here’s what he said…“You know, from what I understand, dogfighting is a sport. It’s just behind closed doors.” This is merely a fact. He’s not agreeing with it. Now, if he came out and said “Vick should be left alone. Dogfighting is great and everyone should check it out some time” THEN I’d have to call him ‘unintelligenet’ and go after his character.
I know we live in NY and that’s the job of the NY media to make inflammatory remarks out of nothing to generate traffic on their website, and in this case, i guess it worked.
I guess i’ll agree to disagree.
Hey Mike Dougherty,
The problem is that Marbury didn’t say he thinks dogfighting is a sport. He said that he’s been told dogfighting is a sport. Meaning people who have participated in it have told him that they view it as a sport. Considering Qyntel Woods was a teammate and Zach Randolph is coming aboard, I am sure that Marbury has been told about dogfighting. He said that Vick got himself in a bad situation, you and many other writers are twisting his words to make it sound like he supports dogfighting. You are generally one of the good writers because you are objective. I know about you because I am friends with Donnie McGrath and he told me that you were a good guy. Keep up the good work, but don’t resort to twisting words to get articles like Frank Isola and company. Being objective is what I have grown to like about you, you usually are just that. Please don’t change to become an Isola clone stirring up controversy and trying to kill Marbury at every opportunity you have. The guy has said some stupid things because he is just saying what is off the top of his mind, but he has also done many great things, which far outweigh the negatives, actions speak much louder then words. And I think that you and others should be praising marburys actions rather then destroying his words.
It’s not even the dogfighting itself that’s the problem. It’s the way in which Vick murdered at least a dozen dogs who didn’t “perform” by electrocution, drowning, and I read somewhere that he killed one by throwing footballs at it until it died (if true, for this and this alone he should never play in any organized football league including prison leagues). These dogs weren’t viscious enough for him, so he killed them inhumanely. He didn’t shoot them, he didn’t give them away, he didn’t inject them with drugs; he murdered them gruesomely and cold bloodedly. It’s about the rape stands and its about the fact that this guy was paid more than any other NFL player (not counting millions more in endorsements) and all he had to do to hold up his end was act like a human being. Nothing more. Well he didn’t. Michael Vick is an animal. He has forfeited the right to be treated as a human being by his own inhumane actions. Its a joke that he’s only gonna get a year or two in jail and that he might actually play in the NFL again.
Despite the fact that Stephon Marbury often appears to be less intelligent than Flipper, Mr. Ed, and most certainly Lassie, he absolutely deserves mad props for standing up, putting his money where his mouth is time and again and giving back generously to those less fortunate than him from Katrina to Coney Island to the Starbury line. He seems to understand that the best thing he can do on this planet is to help those less fortunate than him (except dogs i guess) and that he makes himself a better person by helping others achieve their own potential…
I just saw this on the MSN website, and I came here to see what people were saying. Marbury has just dropped significantly in my eyes. I’m not a hunting fan, but there’s a big difference between shooting a deer for a quick kill and having dogs live violent, tortured lives. I think Marbury is an idiot and I will have a hard time supporting him this season. I know his success means success for the Knicks, but honestly if Thomas traded him I would not care one way or the other. If he wanted to support Vick, he could have found another way to say it.
“I think it’s tough that we build up Michael Vick and then we break him down.”
Yeah, tough shit. I’ll shed a tear for him because he ruined a lucrative career by being an asshole.
Buy. Him. Out.
one of the most prominent features of narcissism is the inability to empathize, something micheal vick and apparently stephon marbury have in common. To defend torture of a living being is to condone it. while i’m a sports fan i am also a person who is disgusted by cruelty. period. their is something wrong with both these guys but i’ve yet to hear any pro athelete say “this is sick and wrong” so maybe their all above decent acts.
ISIAH FOR PRESIDENT…WOW. I didn’t know Vick did all that stuff. I thought he should go to jail just for the dogfighting. Now I’m thinking he should do SERIOUS time. That’s awful.
Chris… There isn’t that much of a difference between hunting and fighting dogs from where I stand. How many wild animals only get ‘winged’ and have to go off and die in agony over hours or even days because the jackhole hunter had poor aim. My favorite caught on video moment is the one where the ‘hunter’ sprays himself with doe urine to lure a buck. His wife is filming. The buck shows up horny as hell and beats the crap out of the hunter with it’s front hooves for like an entire minute. It’s awsome… I just found it. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6020264244416084639&q=hunter+deer&total=1194&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0
Considering what I just read from ISIAH FOR PRESIDENT, i’m inclined to think that Marbury didn’t know the full extent as to what Vick was doing. Particularly since he only made mention to the dogfighting.