Waiting for Stephon

Strangle hold or Hug? Yet to be determined.

Stephon is the most capable and popular basketball player to take this long of a break since Michael Jordan. Amazingly Michael hitting under .200 for a minor league team was less embarrassing then what Stephon has put himself through. Is it understandable? No, not really. Can it be explained in any sort of rational way? Only by the most die hard of Celtic's fans.

So here we go...

Stephon was a very talented player. He was the captain of the leagues most financially successful team. I remember his quote in NBA commercials. "I want to bring excitement back to The Garden" He may have done that if he had the right mentor, the right team mates, and the right fans. The hardest most emotionally tolling year Stephon ever had was under a bumbling and inept coach. The one figure he did love and respect was his his father. His father Don was attending a game in the Garden one night against Phonix. He watched his son play a great game. Stephon scored 21 points in a losing effort to the Suns. By the end of the game his father passed away. Stephon never played the same. He only played in a handful of games the next two weeks and then went on an extended leave. That summer he became religious and his bizarre behavior made it seem like he was done for good. A mental case. His experiences with death, being booed on his home court, and being the constant discussion of rumor on every sports page in America proved too much for him to handle.

He Would have ruined your career too.

Almost 2 years later. He's free of the team that hates him and the fans that longed to get rid of him. Coaches have labeled him a headcase and journalists have called him a cancer. Now he has far less pressure. He is a backup to a budding point guard that is destined to be an all star for the next 10 years. He doesn't have to be Starbury anymore.

Stephon can score zero points for the next 20 games and Boston will still win at least 80% of them. If he can come out and lead the team while Rajon rests, then the Celtics might win more than 80% of their games, and they might get home court advantage. They might cruise through the playoffs and meet with the Lakers or San Antonio. He might have a breakout game and he might show the world what he can still do when people have faith in him. If he holds out his fist next year and you see a big shiny ring on it then I want to hear it stop. Because everyone deserves a second chance, and even if you're not a Celtics fan, by this time next year, you might want Stephon Marbury on your team. You might.