A.I. will make his debut to play for the 76ers on Monday against the Nuggets .. So much for “Retirement”

What we talkin bout emotions? Not the game but emotions!
This aint about Memphis or my time in Denver .. It’s about emotions!

As I posted earlier this week, Allen Iverson has officially signed a 1 year deal with the Philadelphia 76ers worth 1.3 million dollars. During his press conference today, he was more than emotional as he talked about how happy he was to be back with his former team. “The last couple of years has been hell because all I want to do is play basketball and help the guys that I play with. I was born to be a basketball player and the only thing that I can do better than play basketball is be a father and a husband..

I have a little soft spot in my heart for a man that ain’t afraid to cry.

I’m supposed to be a franchise player and we in here talking about practice? Not a game! Not A Game? But Practice?

That line will never get old…

Click here to view the video on youtube…

I have a few thoughts to share about the Spurs, the Celtics, Allen Iverson, and maybe some Real World/Road Rules Challenge if I feel up to it.

I will start with Iverson because, well, why not? It isn’t technically “news” anymore, but Iverson inked a deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, with whom he made his Hall-of-Fame case and MVP-worthy status seemingly forever ago. That dynamic will be interesting, but not as much as the events that preceded it.

Iverson, in a matter of weeks, went from being the bellyaching selfish player who couldn’t recognize his own basketball skill mortality to being the kid that nobody else would let play in the sandbox. I am still not sure how he managed to pull this maneuver off, although I am glad he did (probably had something to do with Larry Brown being on his side).

He has become this sympathetic character who desires only to play basketball and to win games, something that nobody could disagree with. When he retired, although I can’t think of one logical person who believed he would stay that way, the typical highlight reels were played on SportsCenter and the sports world remembered exactly what made Allen so great.

I became nostalgic, as did most NBA fans that tuned in anytime after 1996, and longed for Allen to come back and cement his legacy. This isn’t exactly what I had in mind seeing as how the 76ers aren’t on any radar screen right now; however, it is a tremendous runner up.

Now Allen can finish his career where he belongs, in a city that will cherish his remaining minutes on the court and appreciate the tremendous impact that he has made, not only in Philadelphia, but also around the league. That is, as long as he doesn’t have to come off of the bench.

The 76ers have to start Iverson, right? He is certainly a better scorer than Williams at this point and they serve primarily the same function of scoring point guard. He comes to a team with already defined roles, well, I am not sure what exactly Elton Brand’s role is anymore with Eddie Jordan preferring to rest the big man down the stretch. Still, he can come in and contribute to a team that needs Allen as much as he needs them.

Speaking of the 76ers, I underestimated the impact of Andre Miller on the teams he plays on. He isn’t going to be a Baron Davis type of scoring threat or as flashy as Nash or Paul, but he is as solid as they come. Without him, the 76ers are nowhere near as capable (although they did have to deal with injuries), and the Blazers are a far better defensive team.

Okay, on to the next one: the San Antonio Spurs. I watched the Spurs and Celtics game last night while studying for exams and a few things struck me. The first of which is that I must have overestimated Richard Jefferson as much as I underestimated Andre Miller. I managed to forget the impact of age and wear and tear on a player after they have spent around a decade in the league. I thought that Jefferson could breath some new life into the aging Spurs and be a more productive Bruce Bowen.

Well, so far, I have been wrong about that. He hasn’t been a tremendous defensive player and he has resorted to shooting threes more often than driving. There is nothing wrong with playing that way, it worked for Bowen and the Spurs, however, he isn’t as good as I thought he was. Now, this can all be turned around by a winning streak of 8-10 games which is nothing less than typical for a Popovich coached Spurs team.

The Celtics were clearly the superior team last night, at least from what I saw. Kevin Garnett had one of his good days and his knee seemed to hold up nicely. If the Celtics are going to contend late in the year they will pray that Garnett’s knee doesn’t become troublesome down the road. Anyway, he played with his usual fire and passion and displayed that outside shooting touch that made him impossible to defend when he was an upstart in Minnesota.

Now this has become trite at this point, but Garnett single-handedly impacts this defense more than just about any other player in the league (for me it’s a toss up between KG and Howard just because of the fear he puts into players when they think about driving into the lane). He makes everyone around him better and brings the intensity that you need in order to play great defense.

Also, Ray Allen is probably the most eloquent speaker that I have seen on the basketball sidelines this year (including Stan Van Gundy). He acts like he plays: smooth, calm, collected, introspective, and you never doubt for a moment that he is going to deliver. Long live Jesus Shuttlesworth.

Also, when Matt Bonner matched up with Brian Scalabrine I thought that my TV was going to explode. Not only are these two white NBA basketball players who aren’t exactly sculpted, but also they each sport the fire hair. I couldn’t believe what my eyes were telling me to be the truth. A matchup like that doesn’t happen too often, kind of like a solar eclipse in both rarity and magnitude.

And I feel really dumb and shallow about this, but I can’t stand Kendrick Perkins. I mean, I love his play and think that he has developed into a worthy starting center that plays tremendous defense against some of the best in the league, but there is something about him that irks me beyond all comprehension. I think it is his King Tut beard that he is trying to grow, sort of like Rashard Lewis only not as suave. Plus, he just looks angry all the time, when really, he has no reason to be. If he would just shave that chin music then I would love to watch Perkins play at all times.

This is where the Real World/Road Rules challenge stuff would go, but I don’t have the energy to delve into the dilemma on the Champions team. However, I am so glad that Casey was finally sent home and I am really rooting for the Challengers to overthrow the Champions, even though I know that this is a hope beyond all hopes.

I originally wrote this post on 11/30, but never published the draft. So excuse the dated information. 

Remember this: 

In 1996, Iverson brought the cross-over, a playground basketball move, to the professional hardwood.  Sure he wasn’t the first to use the “carrying” technique, but he definitely perfected and was most well known for breaking a few ankles.  Ask Jordan. 

In his glory days, Iverson had his share of ups and downs.  He rose to the top, had a major shoe endorsement with Reebok that built his brand from his infant stages, and also brought Reebok back to reasonable competition with Nike, by releasing these (and some others after): 

The 76ers was a team that had its share of legends, but for the new generation (Gen Y), Iverson was the face of the franchise.  His urban persona helped change the fashion of the league as players opted out of shorts above the knees and began to wear them low as fashion moved to loose fitting clothes.  He ushered a new wave of hairstyles going away from the fade to the cornrows and even rocking a natural 90s ‘fro.   Iverson had earned a title of the league’s “bad boy.” In fact, the NBAs player dress code  (2005) was the result of such an impact.

When Iverson began having issues with coach Larry Brown, the question wasn’t if he would be traded, but when?  In 2006, Iverson’s tenure with the 76ers came to an end as he headed west to the Nuggets and to a team who had already had its rising star in Carmelo Anthony, but a dream team was thought to be bound to happen.  After 2 short years and 2 failed attempts to reach the playoffs, the Nuggets moved forward and traded Iverson to the Pistons and by 2009 the 13-year vet was coming off the bench for the Memphis Grizzlies. 

Clearly, that didn’t last. 

So in 2009 Iverson said he was retiring.  Perhaps a publicity stunt or perhaps a loud cry for help.  Iverson isn’t a “come off the bench” type of guy and whether he’s slowed down a bit or not, his credits are still more than those in the league today and he still has a lot of basketball left in him.  Sure that’s yet to be seen and who knows what kind of impact he could have had with the Grizzlies if he had given it a chance.

But, the 76ers heard his cry and picked him up- an obvious move, to me.  Iverson was great for the 76ers and has an opportunity to be great for them again.  As I predicted, Reebok also plans to re-release “The Question” (pictured above) and with the 76ers logo back to the retro version, this placement seems destined.  Not to mention, A.I. has even returned to his braids. 

A.I., the player who once complained about practice (about 25 times in one press conference) presented himself as a grown man during his press conference after signing with the 76ers.  He shed some tears as he admitted to “being human” and acknowledging that he’ll probably make more mistakes as a result of it, but he ultimately noted that he “just wants to play basketball.”

I, for one, am excited to see Iverson back home.  I hope it goes well.

Will Allen Iverson be great again or is it all hype?

Allen Iverson has ended his shorrt lived retirement (As many expected would happen) and has returned to the NBA with the team the originally drafted and brought him into the league…the Philadelphia 76ers.

Iverson has signed a 1-year deal with the Sixers for $1.3 million. A.I. was emotional in being brought back “home” and declared that would like to finish his career and retire in Philly when he really does retire. Check out the video.

Welcome Back A.I.

Allen Iverson will return to the team that drafted him in the NBA and made him “a household name” (according to him) this Monday in Philadelphia. For everyone going to that game, he will bring an excitement that has been missing from the Sixers since the day he left. Even though most people (including myself) thought it was time for him to go when he was eventually traded to the Nuggets, I am welcoming him back with open arms. Why, you ask?

In 2006, it was clear that Iverson was not the same player, nor were the Sixers the same team, that could compete for a championship. Rather then trying to rebuild another successful team with role players around Allen, it made logical sense to free up his salary space, get really bad, and shoot for a high pick in the lottery over the next few seasons. After all, that’s who you rebuild in the NBA (thanks to guaranteed contracts and players like Glenn Robinson, aka Elton Brand).

Unfortunately, the Sixers never became one of the worst teams in the NBA, struggling to make the playoffs each year, only to get knocked out by a much higher seed in the first round. Without any drastic change, teams like this are destined to be stuck in “no man’s land” of the NBA – too good to get in the lottery and get significant help from the draft, but not good enough to ever compete among the elite teams in the playoffs.

So why bring #3 back, other than for “basketball” reasons, such as needing a point guard to replace Lou Williams while he’s injured?

Fan excitement. Let me say that I’m not under the delusion that Iverson will bring back the excitement of 2001 and lead us into the NBA finals to face the Lakers once again. But, he does offer what this team has failed at miserably, other than winning basketball games – me caring about basketball again. Regardless of how well he plays or how many more (or less) games they win, I will watch the Sixers, something I have been unable to stomach much of over the last few seasons. No matter how much he “has left in the tank”, or whether or not I think he will hurt the development of younger players (what players?), he will still bring the energy and passion that we grew to love him for back to Philadelphia.

Do you think this was a good move? Do you think he’ll help this team win, lose, or make no difference? Do you care about basketball enough to even finish reading this article (obviously you do if you’re reading this far)? I have a feeling a lot of people will be watching Monday night, whether or not they admit to it. I’m just glad to have a reason to talk about basketball again. Maybe his nickname this time around will be, “The Reason”? Just a thought…

by Jack Maidment

Allen Iverson may well have hung up his sneakers last week, but news that the Philadelphia 76ers have approached and signed the supposedly retired guard seem to suggest that the Hall of Fame bound guard never truly intended to ride off into the sunset just yet.

Their can be little doubt that The Answer has at least something left in his diminutive frame to contribute to, if not necessarily lead, an NBA franchise, and perhaps there in lies the problem so evident in his stints in Detroit and Memphis: AI’s evaluation of his own abilities are clearly not on the same page as GMs around the League.

At 34, the Philly legend is certainly not done. If other players around the League can be relied on as any kind of indicators of age restrictions, Steve Nash, for example, who, regardless of his 36 years, has outplayed all before him to cement his position as one of the NBA’s elite point guards for at least another year, seems to suggest AI cab ball a while yet.

The problem, it would seem, is one of ego. Iverson still sees himself as franchise material and anything less than starting minutes and first option shots would appear to be so incomprehensible to the one time League MVP as to warrant him to walk away in mystified disgust a la Ron Burgundy:

“Do you know who i am? I’m kind of a big deal…”

And so the questions which awaited him in Detroit and Memphis will welcome him back to the city and the team that he could once call his own.

For the 76ers, the decision to bring back Iverson can easily be derided as financially motivated, designed to entice more people to go watch a team struggling on the court. Indeed, his arrival will probably be worth a few thousand ticket sales.

However, scepticism aside, the acquisition of Iverson in terms of aiding the team can only be viewed as low risk, high reward.

Recent problems assure that the Sixers will pay the equivalent of a bag of skittles for his services and there is of course the possibility that this situation might actually work out for all those involved. Hell, if it can’t work in Philadelphia, it’s not going to work anywhere.

Last chance saloon? Undoubtedly. But there is cause for optimism:

With no point guard, the minutes are available for AI and with Andre Igoudala and Elton Brand the only players even resembling offensive first options, AI should be able to hoist enough shots every game to get his, while not treading on anyone’s toes.

Eddie Jordan has said that Iverson starting is very much in his “thought process”. Unlike at the Pistons where there was an evident jam of personnel in the back court, and at the Grizzlies where youth development was always going to be a stumbling block for the veteran, the Sixers actually want him. More than that, they actually want him for who he is: a greedy scorer.

The Nuggets, Pistons and Grizzlies all traded for Iverson in the naïve belief that a player who had dominated his team since entering the League could suddenly become a selfless rotation player. That’s not hoping for a mild adaptation; that’s praying for the ultimate character switcheroo.

Philadelphia knows exactly what they are getting. They dealt with Mr Practice? For 10 years. Their knowledge of the man could well be the key to unlocking the player.

He could re-ignite a flailing team’s season or he might just score points for a team destined for mediocrity. Or he might last a week and leave, the Sixers having lost nothing.

Maybe, just maybe, this could work, giving one of the game’s best ever players the final curtain that his career deserves.

SOTD – “Stay or Leave” – Dave Matthews

Yesterday, Allen Iverson held his presser announcing his triumphant return to Philly. Actually, I think his press conference was more an apology to Philly fans for cheating on them with Denver, and then again with Detroit, and then again with Memphis. But its ok, in his tearful apology, he explained that he loved the other fans, but they don’t have the connection with him the Philly does.

1st on my sports wish list for things that could happen today is Tiger Woods holding this same press conference.

“I would be lying if I said it didn’t bother me. Because I think I created… with the mistakes I made in my life, I created a picture of me that’s…. that’s not me. I just want to play the game of golf”

Also, Brett Favre should give this same press conference when he unretires next fall.

Houston Rockets – Used their scrappiness to out up-tempo the up-tempo Warriors 111-109, with Big-timing Aaron Brooks making the clutch play and free throws to seal it.

Houston Texans – The Chron just figured out that the only reason the Texans D sucks is because the D-line they keep spending money on still sucks. They play the same style of football as UH, they just don’t have an offense as good, nor is their special teams as good, nor do they have heart. Actually, that sounds more like the Art Briles Houston Cougars teams.

Houston Cougars – The chron projects a UH win this weekend by predicting UH to the Liberty Bowl. But if you read this on Coogfans, it would have said that the Chron hates UH by listing them at the bottom of the chronological list. If you need more UH coverage, here is an article I’m too lazy to read, while you wait for your lunch time OE today.

Check out the press conference from Allen Iverson’s return to the Philadelphia 76ers. He gets real emotional.

~Signing Off~
AGE

Back Where He Belongs

by Richie Wisniewski

The Prodigal Son has returned back to the place he started.

And the city is divided.

Those for signing Allen Iverson feel the Sixers now have something worth watching. They feel he is exciting, talented, and just an overall fan favorite that will make basketball fun again, considering the Sixers haven’t been fun since, well… since Iverson left.

Those against the signing feel this is just a PR stunt  to get fans in the stands. Still others feel the team is using him as a way of hanging on to those glory days of the late 90’s.

Philadelphia sports radio personalities like Anthony Gargano, Glen Macnow, and Howard Eskin are saying  this was a stupid move and they hope it blows up in the Sixers’ face. Gargano believes Iverson represents a sort of teleportation that takes fans back to those winning years of Sixers basketball, before it all went south.

Ok, so Iverson was a little arrogant, had issues with his team, his coach, and yes, practice. However, on the court he was quick and always brought us something new. Early in his career his ball handling was some of the flashiest the league had. His hustle was exhausting to watch and his passion for the game gave chills to fans of all ages.

Photo courtesy of Philly.com

And he was one of the few that actually grew up in Philadelphia. Not literally grew up, but he blossomed in to a star, in our town, in our city, in our backyard. The Sixers are not signing a ready-made superstar who made his name in some other city, and they are getting their sloppy seconds. No, they are getting their star back.

 “I always dreamed about it,” Iverson told the media at his press conference on Thursday, when asked about playing in Philly again. “I dreamed about it plenty of times.”

Now, obviously he isn’t that 27 year old star who would hop around and jump into the arms of his teammates and play 57 minutes. But at 34, he isn’t “over-the-hill”. Sure, people may look at him and think that, since leaving Philly he hasn’t been the star he once was, but it all had to do with where he was and other teams’ expectations.

 “I never felt comfortable with another uniform on,” Iverson stated.

And to be honest, neither were we. Seeing Iverson play in Detroit and Denver was as uncomfortable as it was for people in Chicago to watch Michael Jordan in Washington… Or the same way it was uncomfortable for New Yorkers to watch Patrick Ewing play for Seattle… Or seeing Karl Malone play for the Lakers. Some players just fit with a city, a team, and a fan base.

“They gave me everything they had,” said Iverson about the fans. “And as a result it was easy for me to give them everything I had.”

Let’s face it Philly, he’s ours. For years, we have been described as a city that either runs people out of town. Sometimes, in the case of T.O., they run themselves out of town. But A.I. isn’t like that.

 “It’s such a blessing to play here,” Iverson said.

A blessing? Here? Who says that? Donovan McNabb doesn’t say it. Scott Rolen didn’t think so. Eric Lindros? Nope.

But A.I. “It was really a blessing. I can only see something positive from this. I want to retire here.”

There are a lot of people I know who have this mentality: they don’t let themselves get to close to anyone because in the end, they will only hurt you. I’ve done it, my boss does it. And I think us fans in Philly have done it. They don’t let themselves get to close to a player because in the end they will only hurt you, or leave you, and they don’t care.

Despite what the radio may say, the newspapers may write, or the rest of the league may think, for the people of Philadelphia, Allen Iverson is The Answer.

My Answer has been submitted!

What if we all were to keep our mouths closed and had our focus on our own bodies of water. I would love to posses the humility that exists no matter how small I seemed to be to someone else and humbled by my mistakes without anyone seeing me trip.

I challenge not only my facebook friends but myself to put down the “i tripped but you fell mentality” and wear the hat of another human.

Endorse your own mistake with your peers when they need another human’s support in their time of flaw.

It is a human quality  and it is defined as understanding. I endorse understanding, because your mistakes would most likely be my mistakes if I were in your shoes. In-fact your mistakes are probably my mistakes and I barely know who you are.

It boils down to this my friends – If you are concerned with how your kids are being influenced by the Tiger Woods and Jay-Z’s of the world because of their stature or accomplishments–Learn how to teach without persecution.

Keep your mouth off business that is not yours and you will avoid looking hypocritical.

Trust yourself as someone who is enough to be heard and study your Bible.

The truth will prevail and the righteous will be rewarded.

It was a short retirement for Allen Iverson. On Wednesday he agreed to a one-year $1.3 million non-guaranteed contract with the 76ers. Today’s press conference to re-introduce him was an emotional one, with Iverson choking back tears for much of its 35-minute duration.

He says he has learned from his mistakes, saying “the last couple years have been hell cuz all I wanted to do was play basketball.”

As for the fans, he spoke positively. “I have a love for them and they love me and it’s evident,” Iverson said. “When I had the opportunity to come back here (choking back tears). I couldn’t turn it down.”

Today we saw a very emotional side of the 34-year old Iverson, one whose skills may be waning, but be obvious can still play – and pack the house. The Wachovia Center’s Hall of Fame room was packed with reporters. Philadelphia fans have been many memorable moments over the years and this press conference is sure to rank near the top. Whether or not you support this signing, what he means to this franchise can not be denied.

He is slated to play on Monday when the team returns home to face one of his former teams, the Denver Nuggets.

Finally … someone who sees my way on this whole A.I deal.

Fire away, Michael Rosenberg: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/michael_rosenberg/12/03/iverson/index.html?eref=sihp

Leave it to Ron Artest(notes) to try and steal a little of Tiger Woods and Allen Iverson’s(notes) headline thunder.

In a lengthy and candid interview for the upcoming issue of Sporting News magazine, Artest — best known as the central figure in the infamous Malice at the Palace in Detroit — lets it fly, including a startling admission that he drank alcohol during games as a member of the Chicago Bulls.

“I used to drink Hennessy … at halftime,” said Artest, who played with the Bulls from 1999-2002 and now is with the Los Angeles Lakers. “I [kept it] in my locker. I’d just walk to the liquor store [near the stadium] and get it.”

Read full article…

What do you think of Ron Artest? You don’t think he has a mental problem do you?

Two Future HOF's Right Here.

 The Champ gives his thoughts on the game on a restful Thursday evening.

1st Half:

Just thought we’d start off with an inspirational quote from a great player.

Boston puts up eight unanswered points to lead 10-4.

The Champ thinks the Spurs need this win more than the Celts.

Hey remember this?

Richard Jefferson is called for the travel on a fast break. Good call from the refs. I bet the Nets would want him now.

So Rajon Rondo thinks he can beat my man Chris Johnson of the Tennessee Titans in a race? No way, I don’t even know where Rondo gets these ideas. Sure the NBA is based on quickness, and Rondo is a quick player, but I don’t think he understands how much speed plays into the game of professional football.

Kevin Garnett is really good. The man plays with passion, any person who contends there is no heart in professional basketball hasn’t seen Garnett play. When football players and baseball players win Super Bowls and World Series they pop champagne and celebrate. Basketball players openly weep, don’t give me there’s no heart.

Tony Parker to Richard Jefferson what a pass!

Rasheed Wallace leads the league in technicals, what a surprise.

Reggie Miller on AI: contrite, thoughtful, and thankful.

I love the Ginobili/Allen matchup, two great number 20s.

Michael Finley had a beautiful move to the basket.

Garnett makes a shot to lead 34-29.

Ginobili behind the back and scores! SA still down by ten.

The Paints Dudes must attend to other matters, sorry readers but we hope you enjoy our first half analysis.

A.I. had the tears flowing yesterday evening during his return to Philly press conference.  Peep his emotional moment when you