It is very easy to look at Stephon Marbury’s week of webcam performances and mock him, or shake your head in disbelief, or simply pity him. But in terms of branding as it relates to professional athletes, what he’s done is fascinating because it’s such an extreme example of an athlete exposing his inner life so completely to the world.
There’s a lot to be learned from it, and the reactions that have followed.
Based on what I’ve seen, it’s clearer to me than ever before that for an athlete, maintaining a significant distance between yourself, and both fans and the media, is not just important — it’s essential. That might seem contrary to everything that’s happening online right now where pro athletes are concerned, but as I’ll explain, it isn’t.
