Stephon Marbury

Growing up poor with seven siblings and in a rough-and-tumble Coney Island, N.Y., neighborhood, NBA star Stephon Marbury has told the story about how he always wanted to be one of the kids boasting about their fresh-out-the-box pairs of Air Jordan sneakers. Today, the New York Knicks point guard is a millionaire with money to burn. But as far as he's concerned, families should not have to choose between the light bill and a pair of $150 sneakers - the kind of shoes for which kids have competed and sometimes fought and died over.

Stephon Marbury was ordered to stay away from the New York Knicks yesterday while the team looks for a solution to the latest controversy surrounding its point guard. "After meeting with Stephon and his representative this afternoon, we have directed Stephon not to participate in practice or attend games until further notice," Knicks president Donnie Walsh said in a statement. Walsh suspended Marbury for one game without pay and docked him an additional game's salary last week after the Knicks said the point guard refused coach Mike D'Antoni's request to play in a loss to the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday.

As he hears Minnesota Timberwolves coach Flip Saunders call his name to enter the game, Stephon Marbury rips off his sweats and half trots to the scorers table. And, while coming off the bench is an odd experience, he seems fine as he walks onto the court. But, from the first time he touches the ball, it's clear that this is not the real Stephon Marbury.The real Stephon Marbury would have gotten by his man with a flashy stutter-step dribble, either creating a layup for a cutting teammate, or an open jump shot for himself.

1 Go west: No East Coast bias: Nevada at Fresno State football (9 p.m., ESPN2). The writer William Saroyan was from Fresno. Just throwing that out there. 2 Must be the shoes: The Knicks come to Washington to face the Wizards (7 p.m., Comcast SportsNet), but don't expect to see Stephon Marbury (left) on the court. He and his big contract continue to be inactive. 3 Postseason hopes: Despite its three forfeits, No. 12 Joppatowne could still make the state football playoffs with a win at home against C. Milton Wright (7 p.m.)

Good morning -- Stephon Marbury -- You lose $182,000 here and $182,000 there, pretty soon we're talking real money.

"I'll hold on - I don't want to see somebody wearing 80 in green and white that fast." Wayne Chrebet New York Jets receiver, on not filing his retirement papers until after the season "I know I'll always be remembered for Game 7 to help get us to the World Series, and I know I'm also going to be remembered for jumping sides." Johnny Damon On his legacy upon leaving the Boston Red Sox for the New York Yankees "That's New York. I understand New York." Stephon Marbury Knicks point guard and native New Yorker, on being booed at Madison Square Garden

Tim Duncan most likely will miss no more than a few games after injuring his right ankle and knee. The San Antonio Spurs star was hurt against the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday, and the team said his magnetic resonance imaging came back negative yesterday. He has a sprained right ankle and will miss tomorrow's game against Dallas, San Antonio spokesman Tom James said. The injury will be reassessed this week. Knicks -- Stephon Marbury played the second half of New York's loss to Phoenix on Sunday night unaware his father had been taken to a hospital, where he died before the game ended.

New York Knicks guard Stephon Marbury returned to practice yesterday after missing a week while mourning the death of his father. Marbury plans to play tonight against the visiting Indiana Pacers. He had missed four straight games after briefly trying to return after the Dec. 2 death of his father, Donald. Looking noticeably thinner, Marbury said he started working out again a few days ago. He has appeared in just two of the past seven games. "Eventually, I was going to have to get back into it," Marbury said.

1 Go west: No East Coast bias: Nevada at Fresno State football (9 p.m., ESPN2). The writer William Saroyan was from Fresno. Just throwing that out there. 2 Must be the shoes: The Knicks come to Washington to face the Wizards (7 p.m., Comcast SportsNet), but don't expect to see Stephon Marbury (left) on the court. He and his big contract continue to be inactive. 3 Postseason hopes: Despite its three forfeits, No. 12 Joppatowne could still make the state football playoffs with a win at home against C. Milton Wright (7 p.m.)

Southeast RegionalAt Rupp Arena, Lexington, Ky.Connecticut (32-2) vs. Mississippi State (24-7)Time: 7: 40TV: Chs. 13, 9Line: Connecticut by 8Outlook: Mississippi State had to grind it out against Princeton last week, and now the Bulldogs will have to run with UConn's sprinters. One critical matchup sends UConn's Ray Allen (23.4 ppg, 6.5 rpg) against MSU's Darryl Wilson (17.8 ppg). The Bulldogs hope to get the upper hand inside, where 6-foot-11, 265-pound Erick Dampier will lean heavily on Travis Knight (7-0, 235)

Two suspects were arrested and will be charged with carjacking Atlanta Hawks forward Shelden Williams at gunpoint. The men have been accused of five armed robberies near Atlanta and are being held at the Douglas County jail, police said yesterday. They are to be charged in Fulton County on Williams' carjacking but first must answer to the charges in Douglas County. The suspects were identified as Bernard Moss and Darius Mathis, each 18 with an Atlanta address. They appeared in court yesterday.

New York Knicks guard Stephon Marbury returned to practice yesterday after missing a week while mourning the death of his father. Marbury plans to play tonight against the visiting Indiana Pacers. He had missed four straight games after briefly trying to return after the Dec. 2 death of his father, Donald. Looking noticeably thinner, Marbury said he started working out again a few days ago. He has appeared in just two of the past seven games. "Eventually, I was going to have to get back into it," Marbury said.

Tim Duncan most likely will miss no more than a few games after injuring his right ankle and knee. The San Antonio Spurs star was hurt against the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday, and the team said his magnetic resonance imaging came back negative yesterday. He has a sprained right ankle and will miss tomorrow's game against Dallas, San Antonio spokesman Tom James said. The injury will be reassessed this week. Knicks -- Stephon Marbury played the second half of New York's loss to Phoenix on Sunday night unaware his father had been taken to a hospital, where he died before the game ended.

Good morning -- Stephon Marbury -- You lose $182,000 here and $182,000 there, pretty soon we're talking real money.

Growing up poor with seven siblings and in a rough-and-tumble Coney Island, N.Y., neighborhood, NBA star Stephon Marbury has told the story about how he always wanted to be one of the kids boasting about their fresh-out-the-box pairs of Air Jordan sneakers. Today, the New York Knicks point guard is a millionaire with money to burn. But as far as he's concerned, families should not have to choose between the light bill and a pair of $150 sneakers - the kind of shoes for which kids have competed and sometimes fought and died over.

"I'll hold on - I don't want to see somebody wearing 80 in green and white that fast." Wayne Chrebet New York Jets receiver, on not filing his retirement papers until after the season "I know I'll always be remembered for Game 7 to help get us to the World Series, and I know I'm also going to be remembered for jumping sides." Johnny Damon On his legacy upon leaving the Boston Red Sox for the New York Yankees "That's New York. I understand New York." Stephon Marbury Knicks point guard and native New Yorker, on being booed at Madison Square Garden

Two suspects were arrested and will be charged with carjacking Atlanta Hawks forward Shelden Williams at gunpoint. The men have been accused of five armed robberies near Atlanta and are being held at the Douglas County jail, police said yesterday. They are to be charged in Fulton County on Williams' carjacking but first must answer to the charges in Douglas County. The suspects were identified as Bernard Moss and Darius Mathis, each 18 with an Atlanta address. They appeared in court yesterday.

Stephon Marbury was ordered to stay away from the New York Knicks yesterday while the team looks for a solution to the latest controversy surrounding its point guard. "After meeting with Stephon and his representative this afternoon, we have directed Stephon not to participate in practice or attend games until further notice," Knicks president Donnie Walsh said in a statement. Walsh suspended Marbury for one game without pay and docked him an additional game's salary last week after the Knicks said the point guard refused coach Mike D'Antoni's request to play in a loss to the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday.

Vince Carter faced the decision last season: Should I return for my senior year, or go to the NBA?Carter chose to leave North Carolina. He was drafted fifth by Golden State, then traded to Toronto for the fourth pick, Carolina teammate Antawn Jamison.Today, Carter is one of the league's top rookies, averaging a team-high 16.2 points per game. His advice for Maryland's Steve Francis? Project where you'll be drafted, then decide."It all depends on what he wants," Carter said yesterday. "He had a great year.

Sitting on the podium at the news conference discussing the trade of Stephon Marbury, Minnesota Timberwolves general manager Kevin McHale appeared to be a beaten man."I guess loyalty and some other words are long forgotten these days," McHale said. "It's a very difficult time to be an executive in the NBA, I'll tell you that."And it's got to be very, very difficult to be a fan in Minnesota these days. In a nationally televised game on Tuesday, the Timberwolves were playing their hearts out, looking like the team of the future in an emotional win over Seattle.