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Posted by Travis Rodgers on Mar 9, 2010

Why Do I Feel for Iverson? #NBA

Categories: NBA | View Comments

Things are not good for Allen Iverson. At all. He is done playing basketball for the season, if not for the rest of his life. He is dealing with his four year old daughter’s undisclosed illness. His wife has filed for divorce and now, according to reports, Iverson is an alcohol and gambling addict whose life is spiraling out of control.

Stephen A. Smith, of the Philadelphia Inquirer, wrote that according to people he has spoken to, Iverson "will either drink himself into oblivion or gamble his life away." That’s not good.

Iverson acknowledged that he was having a hard time, writing a series of tweets about his life...

"To my fans: You all know that my life isn't perfect. I am going through some very tough times right now, like I am sure that we all do from time to time," Iverson wrote. "However, I will stand tall like always with 'rhino' thick skin."

Iverson has had a disastrous season on the floor, and has been banned from several casinos. What do you have to do to get banned from a casino? I'm dying to know. There are also rumors that Iverson, who has made $153 million according to Basketballreference.com, is nearly busted financially.

So, with all the problems, all the reckless behavior, why do I have sympathy for the guy? Why am I pulling for the guy? If it were Kobe Bryant, I would be throwing a "Kobe's broke, let's celebrate party'. How does anyone have anything other than contempt for a guy who pisses away $153+ million? Short answer is, I don’t know. But I do.

Iverson is fascinating to me. He never once pretended to be anything other than what he was. A tough, uncompromising, street kid who was going to do it his way, and if you didn’t like it, you could go to hell. He didn’t practice, he thought he was above the rules of the team (he was), and then he went out in a game of giants, as a small man, and dominated.

Firing through $153+ million is inexcusable. That fortune should have been used to set up the Iverson clan for the rest of human existence, not left in casino coffers or at the bottom of a bottle of Cristal or whatever his drink of choice was.

But unlike so many other knuckleheads who wasted huge stacks of money (Antoine Walker, MC Hammer, John Daly), I don’t get angry when I think of Iverson’s failure. I get sad.

I don’t know why I hope he makes it out of this mess, a mess that he seems to have created all by himself, but I do. I was appalled by the way he lived his life, the choices he made, his attitude towards authority, and the ungodly amount of cash he wasted. I am fascinated that he is as uncompromising as he is and probably always will be. In a word, Iverson is authentic. Unlike Rodman, who was just trying to shock and make a buck, or Kobe Bryant who changes his persona as often as Tiger Woods changed his cell number, Iverson was true to himself from the beginning. A hard nosed guy with neck tatts, who truly doesn't give a damn what you, I, or anyone else thinks about his life.

Anyone who has the courage (stupidty?) to say “screw you, I am doing it my way, and my way includes losing $153 million’ is someone I can’t root against.

I don’t want the guy to manage my stock portfolio, or run a Laundromat for that matter, but I hope he comes out of this mess in one piece.

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  • Wayne Bergeron
    Now that I got the serious comment out of the way, I can ask T-Rodge what the hell is up with that photo of AI? Shirtless men in what appears to be a hot sweaty room holding faux golf clubs. This image is on par with the one of Vince Young surrounded by other shirtless males downing Patron.

    Frankly, it's unsavory and it's unncessary.
  • I'm glad you enjoyed it and took such time to find the finer details.
  • Wayne Bergeron
    Why do you feel sorry for Allen Iverson? He was given an opportunity that few have: an opportunity to attend one of the finest universities in the world at Georgetown at no cost to him. Better yet, he also was coached by one of the finest coaches in the history of the NCAA in John Thompson. Apparently, he wasn't cut out for higher education and left early to turn pro.

    He was then given an opportunity that fewer still ever get: being drafted and signed by an NBA team. Granted, he had freakish natural ability and was one of the most talented scorers of his time, but his attitude and determination limited his potential at greatness (remember "Practice? Practice?").

    Now comes word that he might be broke. I can't say I'm surprised, and no Tawanna didn't tell me that. This is proof that he has never been thankful and appreciative of every opportunity given to him. He pissed away a world-class education, his reputation on the NBA hardwood, his marriage, and now every dime he ever made as a pro. T-Rodge, don't feel sorry for him. See him and use him as a cautionary tale for every senior in high school who dreams of playing in the NBA. He hated hard work and planning. Now karma has reared up and bit him in the ass. Welcome to the real world, AI.

    Yeah, Iverson was true to himself alright. He refused to mature and take advantage of his time in college to get a degree and make contacts that would have served him long after his playing days were over. Remember Bill Bradley, anyone? Grant Hill is another player who comes to mind (although he is still playing). He remained a thug and now he is going to get the chance to live the hard-knock life for real.

    So don't feel sorry for "The Answer." If you want to feel sorry, do so for his soon to be ex-wife and five kids. 'Cuz going from cristal and caviar to food stamps and WIC is going to suck ass.
  • You are right. Seriously. I don't disagree with a single word that you have written. That said, I still like Iverson, and I am not sure exactly why. I am certainly not going to use him as a role model, or someone to admire, but I hope he survives.
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