NEW YORK — New York Knicks guard Stephon Marbury defended Michael Vick, calling dogfighting a sport and comparing it to hunting.
Marbury spoke Monday about the federal dogfighting conspiracy charges against Vick while promoting his new shoe in Albany, N.Y.
"I think it's tough," Marbury said, according to Albany TV station Capital News 9. "I think, you know, we don't say anything about people who shoot deer or shoot other animals. You know, from what I hear, dogfighting is a sport. It's just behind closed doors."
"I think it's tough that we build Michael Vick up and then we break him down," Marbury said. "I think he's one of the superb athletes, and he's a good human being. I just think that he fell into a bad situation."
HAWKS HIRE LISTER: The Atlanta Hawks shook up their coaching staff on Wednesday, hiring Alton Lister as an assistant coach and giving two assistants new duties. Herb Brown and Greg Ballard, who had been on the bench with coach Mike Woodson, will work as a consultant and a scout, respectively.