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End the Marbury saga now

Roderick Boone

1:05 PM EST, November 26, 2008

So here we are again, all set for the story that just won't go away about to rear its ugly head.

Lost in all of last night's hoopla surrounding the first visit of King James to Madison Square Garden since the Knicks' cap-clearing deals was the second-quarter groin injury suffered by Nate Robinson. Groin injuries are tricky and they need time to heal, so Robinson might not be able to give it a go tonight when the Knicks take on the Pistons in Detroit.

Then there's Cuttino Mobley, one half of the package the Knicks received along with Tim Thomas in exchange for dumping Zach Randolph's bloated contract -- which would've been a $17.3 million cap killer in 2010-11 -- and Mardy Collins. Mobley has a heart condition that the Knicks want to get a little more information on before they put him out on the court. Knicks president Donnie Walsh said as much last night and doesn't anticipate Mobley being available until next week at the earliest.

Conceivably, that means the Knicks could be down two guards for at least their next two games and beyond, and coach Mike D'Antoni would only have two others at his disposal in Chris Duhon and Anthony Roberson. So, you know what that means.

The whispers about whether D'Antoni will ask the $21.9 million lightening rod, otherwise known as Stephon Marbury, to suit up and play tonight will grow to a crescendo as the 8 p.m. tipoff time approaches. Here's what D'Antoni should say when the inevitable question arises: "Nah, I'm good."

Marbury's days playing for the Knicks should be in the rearview mirror and it would be a wise decision for the Knicks to make sure the Starbury train is parked at the Coney Island station for good. The guy has enough baggage to fill the cargo hold of a 777, and he certainly added another Louis Vuitton to his legacy in Milwaukee.

Let's flashback to Friday night for a little behind the scenes look at what transpired, shall we?

Before the game, when D'Antoni was asked about whether he planned to play Marbury, he told those of us who were gathered there to wait until after the game and he'd tell us all about it. Immediately, we knew something was up.

After the game, of course the question was asked. D'Antoni looked around first, making sure everyone who needed to be around was present before he went into the story. We all know how it went by now, with Marbury declining to play. The Knicks needed Marbury to be a team player that night, to be a professional and actually earn some of the tractor-trailer load of cash that's due to him. He wasn't.

Why should any of his teammates even want him to play after that? Would they even want to give him the ball, especially given his explanation for not wanting to play Friday?

"Who you waiting for," Marbury said as a pack of reporters and a MSG camera crew anxiously waited for him to slowly get dressed.

"You," someone said.

"For what?" Marbury asked incredulously.

"Tonight," was the answer.

"You serious?" was Marbury's reply as he wore a wry smile on his face.

Then, that's when he went into his bizarre statement.

"The only thing I'm at liberty to say is that I was told that they were moving forward," Marbury said, "and I'm not the person who chooses to play and who doesn't. That's the only thing that I'm able to say."

Translation: "They stuck it to me and I stuck it right back to them."

Marbury remains steadfast in getting most if not all of his money and asked a questioner recently how he would feel if Marbury owed him $100, but only gave him $80. Actually, in this current economic climate and with the way everyone's 401k is losing value, getting a return of 80 bucks for every $100 invested isn't all that bad, is it?

The Knicks have invested in Marbury, and he's delivered ... nothing

That's why it's time to end this charade. So, Steph and Donnie, please do us all a favor. Enough with the Romper Room stuff. Come to an agreement now, so this will all just go away.