Ball or Nuthin' » Allen Iverson

Iverson Not the Answer for NBA Teams…

T Lamont — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 23:06:20 +0000

It was almost exactly ten years ago when Allen Iverson was perhaps the very definition of the term ‘franchise player.’

Iverson had just completed a miraculous run that saw him take an offensively challenged Sixers team to the NBA Finals and become the league MVP. A.I. even managed to pull off a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in that series, before dropping four straight games.

But we had witnessed the complete wrath of a high-school phenom, turned college standout, turned NBA prodigy. While some of us shunned Iverson’s isolationist ways, he was unquestionably one of the very top players in the NBA. He had accomplished what players like Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter and Kevin Garnett could only dream about at the time – he had taken his team to the NBA’s biggest stage.

Inherently, we expected more greatness from Iverson. And we got more. From an individual standpoint, that is. The Hampton, Virginia native continued to post mind-boggling scoring totals, and in his final two full seasons during his first stint with Philly, he averaged more than 30 points and 7 assists per game.

But after his unexpected Finals appearance, most of us thought we could count on witnessing more team success from A.I. and his mates. But that season remained to be the peak of his career, and we were relegated to watching Iverson revert to what he was known for in his early years – filling highlight reels with his spectacular individual efforts.

Allen played out his first string for the Sixers, then coupled with Carmelo Anthony for a couple of interesting yet unsuccessful campaigns with Denver, before finally seeing his career come to a screeching halt when he joined Detroit. His Turkish stint was met with lots of hype, but it never got off of the ground.

And now, he’s looking to venture back to play for the fans who all know and love him.

There’s just one problem – no team needs him any more.

Iverson’s time in Detroit was scarred by the reality that he was no longer a number-one option on offense. His delegation to bench status was not easily accepted by Iverson, and any team who would dare to take a chance on him now would have to wonder about his mind set to adapt to such a role.

Iverson will have to listen carefully if he wants another job in the Association.

The Georgetown product could be labeled as a franchise player for most of his career due to his blinding speed, slick ball handling and aggressive scorer’s mentality. But these are the very things that disintegrate with age, forcing a smaller player to make the humbling adjustment into a floor general. Just ask former studs like Jason Kidd or Kenny Anderson. Injury or no injury, super-scorer Gilbert Arenas will be on his way there soon (if he’s not already).

Unfortunately, the Bethel High School legend never made this transition, limiting his longevity in the league to which he brought so much excitement. His blueprint as a 6’0″ scorer could only be useful in a scarce number of situations. Translation – A.I. would have to be comfortable not only with coming off of the pine, but also with playing less than 20 minutes most nights.

Has his Turkish experience made him cherish his NBA pedigree enough to make the needed sacrifices to get back?

His displays in Detroit, Memphis and Philadelphia (second time around) may have put the final nails in his NBA coffin.

Can you teach an old dog new tricks?

Maybe. But, in most cases, it’s just not worth it.

Young in Command in Titans’ Preseason Win Over Arizona

T Lamont — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 03:56:54 +0000

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The enigma of Vince Young continues.

The former Texas Longhorn looked to be in total command of the Titan offense during Tennessee’s 24-10 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. Young was 9-13 for 128 yards passing. He also added a 10-yard run.

In limited action, Chris Johnson scored a touchdown on an 8-yard scamper.

The Titans seemed to pick right where they left off last season. After losing their first six games of 2009, Tennessee won eight of their last ten regular season contests to end the season at 8-8. Young looked like the player that Tennessee thought it was getting when it drafted him. But there has been times where he has doubted himself, which ultimately led to the veteran Kerry Collins gaining the starting nod.

Vince Young is still playing with the confidence that he displayed in 2009.

But after last season’s horrific start, the Titans were left with no choice but to call on Young – and the Titans have been rolling ever since.

Arizona, however, finds itself on the opposite end of the spectrum. They’ve lost their starting quarterback, a big-name receiver, a fearless linebacker and a safety. Last season they won the NFC West, and won a playoff game before folding to the New Orleans Saints. But this year, the fans may have to prepare themselves for a big drop-off in wins.

Tonight’s game gave us a glimpse at an interesting unexpected battle for the quarterback position. Prior to the preseason, all accounts pointed to the assumption that Matt Leinart would be the man behind center for Arizona. But tonight, he delivered a quick, wishy-washy performance.

Former Cleveland Brown Derek Anderson slung the ball well (11-19, 105 yards)…as did fellow backup Max Hall. Anderson is streaky and can look extremely good when he’s not overthinking things. I’m almost sure that when the Cardinals signed Anderson, Leinart probably breathed a sigh of relief.

If he’s not careful, it could end of being a sigh of grief.

Tidewater Natives Representin’…In a Bad Way

T Lamont — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 16:32:50 +0000

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One of the richest areas for producing extraordinary professional talent is failing to produce extraordinary citizens.

While this article may go over the top a bit, it’s a good illustration of why I can be proud of the 757. Hailing from a small town positioned within the 757 area code, I have a special love for the region’s native professional athletes.

And we all thought Eazy-E was dead...

The Southern Virginia region – known for its rural landscapes and agriculture – has an athletic talent base that has proven to be the cream of the crop. And while these talents have shined in the sport of their calling, they have left much to be desired when it comes to their ability to be model citizens.

For those of you unfamiliar with the products of the 757 area code, check out the list of the most polarizing personalities in sports:

Plaxico Burress – The 6’5″ talent from Norfolk, Virginia set the college landscape ablaze at Michigan State. Thus far, Burress has split his pro career in Pittsburgh and New York – winning a Super Bowl with the latter. But his success was short lived after shooting himself in the thigh at a New York nightclub with an unlicensed Glock pistol. He’s now in the middle of a two-year prison sentence.

Allen Iverson – The miniature (don’t call me a point) guard led a revolution in the NBA. The cornrows, baggy clothes and blinging jewelry worn by every other NBA player in the late 90′s and early 2000′s trace back to the entry of the most dominant NBA player under 6’3″ in league history. A.I.’s pinnacle was in 2001, when he won the MVP award and led the Sixers to the NBA Finals. But Iverson’s disdain for all things ordinary (like practice), his past flirtation with the law, and his recent reluctance to reduce his stubbornness on the hardwood may leave him unemployed, and will certainly keep him from changing the perception of the fans.

Michael Vick – What more can we say about a man who owned and supplied the funding for a big-time dogfighting operation? Oh…I guess we can say that he also killed several dogs, himself, in the process. I can’t imagine what someone will have to do to unseat him as the top dog on the most hated lists for athletes.

And now, we have a new entry.

Merling got arrested for "illegal hands to the face" of his pregnant girlfriend.

Miami Dolphins defensive end Phillip Merling was arrested for battering his girlfriend. Listening to the 911 call from his girlfriend, things aren’t looking to good for the Portsmouth, Virginia native.

Did I forget to mention that she was pregnant?

Even with the boatload of players grown in Hampton Roads, this may be the real reason that there’ll never be a franchise rooted in the 757. Residents would be irate with the undeniable tax increase to support the ‘rehabilitation’ of their favorite players. Any potential franchise would also have to keep reserves available to counterbalance the resulting suspensions and prison terms obtained by its players.

Here’s to hoping that one day I’ll be able to support my favorite players without defending them.

Hey – even a grown man can dream.

Ten Most Disliked Sports Figures??

T Lamont — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 16:51:03 +0000

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Fox Sports recently posted its “Top 10 Most Disliked People in Sports”…and in more than a few of their choices, they missed the mark.

Let’s review their top 10:

10. Gilbert Arenas

Now obviously, Arenas was a late entry…barely making the cut at #10, which Fox Sports may believe actually makes it legit. But I’m sorry – Arenas in no way deserves to land on this list. Throughout his career, he’s been nothing but a jovial prankster – - trying to live up to a reputation as a carefree rebel without a cause. Well, that finally caught up with him this fall, and suddenly – out of the thousands of notable sports related people – he’s one of the top 1% (or less) of disliked people. I’m not buying it.

9. Allen Iverson

This must be a lifetime achievement award, if you will. Iverson hasn’t done anything of importance on or off the basketball in a few years now. The last unlikable A.I. incident was probably when he beefed about coming off the bench for Detroit (and, as sorry as they are, who in their right mind wouldn’t have beef about that?).

Of course, Iverson has been reckless during his basketball career, being involved with guns, fights, unhappy relationships with coaches, etc…

He’s one of the pioneers of the urban, street style wardrobe that was adopted by many players in the late 90′s and early 2000′s. And the Hampton, Virginia native had others copying his cornrow patterns.

Cornrows and gangsta wear? I guess that image will last in people minds’ for years to come.

8. Alex Rodriguez

With his steroid admission only a year and some change behind him, A-Rod’s championship season did little to get the haters off of his back. He’ll always be remembered as the $252-million man – and the mega-contract only generated more critics (not fans). I even know some Yankees fans who don’t like him.

"What did I do to land on this list?"

7. Terrell Owens

What can you say about T.O.? Generally speaking, people don’t his light-hearted arrogance and creative showboating. I wouldn’t say that his hate factor is very high – but maybe this position is one that fits him OK.

6. Mark McGwire

The former Bash Brother was America’s sweetheart during the magical 1998 home run battle between him and fellow doper Sammy Sosa. But after not giving much comment during the steroids in baseball Congressional hearing, his star began to fade as if it were Big Mac’s batting average. Ironically, McGwire is looking much worse than his blabbermouth ex-teammate Jose Canseco – who admitted the baseball/steroids problem to anyone who wanted to hear it.

5. Jerry Jones

Jones is spurned by those who despise the Cowboys. Although he never does or says anything particularly newsworthy, just hearing him reverberate “How ’bout them Cowboys?!!” is enough to make some people want to place him on the 40-yard line and kick him through the uprights.

4. Tiger Woods

Once again, I’d say that this one is aptly positioned. Nobody would have saw this coming a year ago…but now, how will Woods become the crowd favorite that he was? Or will people be able to move past this incident at all?

3. Ben Roethlisberger

The road from being a hero to being a villain can be a very short one at times. But Big Ben has been building a villainous case for some time now. Roethlisberger can’t seem to pry himself away from the bar scene. It’s time for the organization to take a hard-nosed stance on Ben’s future with the Steelers. For now, Roethlisberger’s earned this spot in the infamous lineup.

2. Al Davis

Davis is too busy cleaning up the colossal mess that has become the Oakland Raiders. Davis has suffered through his bad decisions for a decade – seemingly with the next big hope being available in the upcoming draft. I don’t know why the guy would be disliked so much. Perhaps its the fact, that the Raiders have struggled for so long. Or maybe Oakland fans are the loudest gripers. I’m not sure, but a #2 position is definitely much too high.

1. Michael Vick

No surprise here – Americans love pets. Vick killed potential pets (or, if you will, his own pets). People will remember that for a long time. Unfortunately, there’s not much that Vick can do to get off of this list. Time is the only thing that can help him. And not going to parties where people who were linked to his infamous criminal activities are getting shot.

As long as dogs roam the earth, Michael Vick will have plenty of haters.

Who belongs on this list that wasn’t mentioned?

Kobe Bryant

It doesn’t matter if his Lakers just won their second of back-to-back NBA titles. People either like Kobe or they don’t like him – plain and simple. My wife, who probably knows 20 NBA players by name, can’t stand him. Bryant’s attitude borders on the edge of arrogance or extreme confidence, which will sway one way or the other based on people’s individual perceptions of him. Kobe’s a great player and, unfortunately for him, one of the most polarizing figures that the sport of basketball has ever witnessed.

Barry Bonds

How could Mark McGwire be on this list, but not Bonds? He’s generated so much hatred – mainly because anyone with a television set could have observed the increase in the muscle mass of his head. However, nothing has been proven against him – which infuriates those who hold baseball records to be sacred accomplishments. Bonds is the current all-time and single-season home run leader, and now that the cat is out of the bag (about steroids) his records could stand for some time. Someone probably punched a wall just from reading that.

O.J. Simpson

Long removed from the sports scene, Simpson is hating for nothing related to athletics. Nevertheless, he was a sports figure and is one of the most despised people on the planet. The public doesn’t usually like people suspected of killing other people – off of the gridiron, that is.

What’s Allen Iverson’s NBA Legacy?

T Lamont — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 14:31:18 +0000

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Yesterday, 10-time NBA All-Star Allen Iverson announced his retirement.

But as ESPN NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith said, if any of the teams with true championship aspirations come knocking – i.e. Boston, Los Angeles, San Antonio, Cleveland – he will almost certainly be ready to hit the hardwood once again. And while we’re not certain that he’s 100% out of the game, this is a good time to look back at some of the things that he will be noted for.

1. Lethal little-man scorer: Iverson was the first small shooting guard who had a franchise designed around him. That’s how good he was. During his tenure in the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia employed a host of big point guards ranging from Eric Snow to Raja Bell to Larry Hughes. The Answer is 5th in NBA history in scoring at 27.02 points per contest. The 4-time scoring champ redefined the standard for how little guys are ‘supposed’ to play the game.

2. “We Talkin’ Bout Practice”: Definitely one of the most popular soundbites in modern sporting history, Allen Iverson’s rant will live on in infamy. Let’s revisit the humor:

3. Style: A.I. was a trend-setter in bringing the street fashion to the league. The baggy jeans, oversized T-shirts, Timberland boots, chains and diamonds - were all signature Iverson items. And, as things stand now, they are all things that David Stern has outlawed with the recently implemented NBA dress code. But for a moment in history, A.I.’s style was ingrained as the standard wardrobe of the National Basketball Association.

4. Killer Crossover: The Answer’s crossover move was a big attraction during the early part of his career. Fans waited to see who would be the next victim to get caught by his signature move. And Iverson was an equal opportunity victimizer – - meaning he unveiled his best anklebreakers on the entire league…from NBA journeyman Greg Anthony to NBA legend Michael Jordan.

So, while he was one of the smallest players in NBA history, Iverson has had one of the biggest impacts on the game that he loves.

What’s Allen Iverson’s NBA legacy? I can sum that up in one word…

Individuality.