7/29/2019 OnionArticle_QuoteReview_Stephon Marbury Embroils Celtics.docx

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Stephon Marbury Embroils

Celtics' Big 3 In Elaborate

Shakespearean Intrigue

SPORTS NEWSBasketball Mar 5, 2009

Article Text Quote Review

BOSTONSaying that (1) "We cannot all be masters, nor all masters /

Cannot be truly follow'd," disruptive point guard Stephon Marbury has been

scheming to turn Boston's "Big Three" against one another since he signed with

the Celtics last month, apparently trying to claim the team for his own.

Sources within the NBA said that within hours of reporting to his first

practice, Marbury had met separately with forward Kevin Garnett, guard Ray

Allen, and shooting guard Paul Pierce, and was seen whispering to each in turn

while pointing at the other two. When asked what he had said to his teammates,

Marbury answered, "I am nothing, if not critical," and refused further comment.

When the Celtics lost Sunday's home game to Detroit 105-95, Marbury, who

was scoreless in his 12 minutes of play, could be seen smiling coldly from the

bench as Pierce and Allen displayed greatly reduced chemistry, failing to pass the

ball to open men or execute picks as effectively as they had in the past.

(2) "I shall of these three fools now make my purse," Marbury was heard to

say after the game, although he appeared to be addressing no one and perhaps

spoke only to himself. (3) "These stars are of a free and open nature, / And think

men honest that but seem to be so, / And will as tenderly be led by the nose / As

asses are."

When questioned about the meaning of his aside, Marbury said only, (4) "I am

not what I am."

Although Garnett, Allen, and Pierce originally welcomed Marbury to the team,

stating that they believed he would be valuable coming off the bench and were

looking forward to playing with him, they have since stated publicly that Marbury's

secretive nature, conspiring attitude, and constant requests to speak with them

alone are already beginning to wear on them.

"After the Detroit loss he pulled me aside and said that I should be as famous

as Paul and Kevin," said Allen, who admitted that he found both Marbury's

attitude and his language difficult to understand. "Except he said it like, (5)

'Reputation is an idle and most false / imposition: oft got without merit, and lost

1. Who:To whom:When:

2. What is ones purse?

Who says something about thepurse? Why?

3. Who says it:To whom:About whom:When:

4: Who says it:To whom:When:

5. Who says it:To whom:

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without / deserving,' and I was like, 'Come on, man, I don't want to hear that.' My

numbers are up since I played with them, is all I know, and they don't try and

confuse me all the time."

"Stephon told me that the other two guys hated me because I was the most

talented," said Pierce, who said speaking with Marbury was beginning to make him

feel uncomfortable. (6) "He said I should beware jealousy because it was 'the

green-ey'd monster which doth mock / The meat it feeds on.' But I was like,

'Stephon, first of all, Kevin is a way better player than I am.' He just walked away

muttering. I don't know what's up with that dude."

Garnett expressed a similar bewilderment with Marbury's behavior.

"Weird thing is, he kept calling the other guys moors, which is just really

messed up," the 12-time all-star said. "I mean, what is that, anyway? He didn't say

it like it was a good thing. If he plays good basketball he can do what he wants, but

I'm not going to listen to anyone call me or my guys moors."

All three men also commented that Marbury had at some point pulled eachone of them aside and told them the other two had been (7) "making the beast

with two backs."

"I was freaked out, but then I realized he expected me to be jealous, and that

freaked me out even more," Garnett said. "Especially when I heard him tell people

that's how I injured my right knee. I know Stephon was trouble even way back

when we both played for the Timberwolveshe's been trouble everywhere he

goesbut this is a whole new level."

Conferring with one another, the Big Three all agreed that Marbury had

implied, if not expressly stated, that perhaps Celtics coach Doc Rivers should be

stabbed to death, an implication they found unnerving.

When asked for comment, Marbury expressed surprise that his teammates

would react to his presence in this way.

"Is it my contract?" asked Marbury, who will receive a prorated veteran's

minimum of $1.3 million from the Celtics this season. "Because the money means

nothing to me without the respect of my teammates. (8) Good name in man and

woman, dear my lord, / Is the immediate jewel of their souls: / Who steals my

purse steals trash... / But he that filches from me my good name / Robs me of

that which not enriches him / And makes me poor indeed."

When asked for clarification, Marbury responded, "Demand me nothing: what

you know, you know: / From this time forth I never will speak [a] word," and

requested that all further questions be directed to his agent, one Roderigo of

Venice, who as of press time could not be reached.

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When:

6. Who says it:To whom:When:

7. Who says it:To whom:What does he mean?:Whos doing it?:

8. Who says it:

To whom:When: