To say the very least.
According to the Arizona Republic's Paul Coro, Stoudemire has fired his personal managers because he believes they should have done a better job marketing him:
"I felt like, from a marketing standpoint, I wasn't reaching my full potential," Stoudemire said. "It's a great opportunity for me to move forward. With my personality and aura and swagger, I've got a great chance to be marketed. It was definitely hard because I had established a friendship with these guys but a lot of companies like me and adore me."
I'm really not even sure what to say to that. Just felt like it was worth noting that an NBA player is declaring that he is "adored" by major companies around this country.
Also worth noting is that, as Coro points out, Stat has big-time deals with both Nike and PowerAde.
Perhaps it's his preoccupation with his dire financial situation that his forced his mind away from other tasks of insignificance, like playing defense. But if Stoudemire continues to get lit up with regularity once he reaches the lap of luxury, we might have to begin to think that he simply isn't a very good defender. For now, however, one can't help but be sympathetic with the man's plight.
Or not.