Stephon Marbury's Return Home Appears to Be Over

It appears that after having surgery to remove bone spurs from his ankle, New York Knicks point guard Stephon Marbury will miss the rest of the 2007-2008 NBA regular season.

You know, I remember that electrifying moment during the 2003-2004 NBA season when Isiah Thomas was brought on as the team president in December of 2003. Shortly thereafter, an even more exhilarating moment occurred when Isiah engineered a trade that would end up bring New York City's prodigal son back to the city that loved him so dearly.

New York Knicks fans were so excited to see Marbury in Knicks uniform. Never in recent history was there a player in the blue and orange who the fans could really call their own. But when the man they had known since his high school days brought his "Starbury" aura back to the locale where that name had originated, the Knicks finally had that star that they had waited for since Patrick Ewing's glory days.

The fans actually got some instant gratification out of Marbury's return. Before his arrival to the team that season, the Knicks were headed for "Nowhereville" and clearly weren't going to sniff the NBA's postseason. However, when Marbury got there, he brought a different brand of basketball to the Mecca of all basketball, and his 20 points per game, along with his 8 assists, inspired an unanticipated run to the playoffs that had been nothing more than a dream going into the season.

But oh, how times have changed. Four seasons later and the Knicks still have not sniffed the playoffs. In fact, they have only been the eighth seed or higher for one small stint, which was last season some time back in March. And in those same four seasons, Marbury has fallen out of favor with the New York fans and media.

Yet, with Marbury, as it usually is, it wasn't so much about the wins and losses, because quite frankly, he has never ever been on a team with a whole lot of wins. Marbury's falling out with the city that berthed him had more to do with his attitude and demeanor. From slouching on the bench during losses. To seemingly not caring on the court. To having public spats with two high profile coaches that, for lack of a nicer way of putting it, have more influence in this league than he will ever have.

And skipping town the evening before a road game, going on television apparently high, and having sex with a Madison Square Garden intern in the backseat of an SUV, didn't exactly fit the profile of a guy New York City could love.

Thus brings us to a point where maybe Marbury's injury is the culmination of what was his career with the New York Knicks. The Knicks are likely to buy Steph out, trade him, or just let his contract run its course. But it is unlikely that this team in disarray could allow a person whose career is in disarray back into the fold.

Marbury's case is not new. Just like many prodigies, inside and outside of sports, "Starbury" was not able to live up to the hometown expectations. He gave them a taste of what he could do in short bursts, but he never turned his talent into a consistent, steady, and productive force on the court of play.

So, goodbye to Marbury. I wish him well in his next endeavors outside of the NY. However, his stint at the Garden appears to have run its course, and he doesn't take one these bridges or tunnels to get out of this city soon, he just might find himself with no other place to go. That's not a good thing when there is no clear refuge in your hometown.