Stephon Marbury, NOW's favorite NBA player, who plays for the Knicks, NOW's favorite NBA team, lost his father to a heart attack during Sunday night's game against the Phoenix Suns. But it gets worse, if possible. His dad was in the stands when he experienced heart pains early in the game and was rushed to the hospital, where he died. Apparently, everyone was privy to this except for Stephon Marbury.

Several Knicks officials knew the awful, heartbreaking truth late in the game but they said Marbury's family had asked them earlier not to tell Stephon his dad had taken ill.

"Don't tell Steph," a relative said, according to a Knicks official. "Let him play."

Good thing they chose not to tell him! It would have really affected his game, which was apparently pretty good that night. But the Knicks lost anyway. [NYP]