What comes to mind when you think of Allen Iverson?
A courageous, fearless, mentally tough, and passionate player?
No?
Then you've clearly never watched a Sixers or Nuggets game.
If you said coach-killing, dissatisfied thug you only know of him from his famous "practice" soliloquy or off-court run-ins with the police.
But Iverson is actually the toughest basketball player to have ever represented an NBA franchise with the Jerry West silhouette on his jersey.
He's a 6-foot, 165-pound dynamo who approaches the basket with the ferocity that Michael Jordan only wished Kwame Brown had when he drafted him No. 1 overall.
The result of his assault on the rim? Seven feet, 320 pound monsters are left in his path, flat-footed with their long arms and enormous hands around his ankles as he flies over them for one the most athletic dunks ever.
If you haven't figured it out yet, yes, Iverson is my favorite my basketball player of all-time and the athlete I respect the most.
I first became enarmored with Iverson during his tenure at Georgetown—before he was "The Answer," with the cornrows and tattoos that now adorn his slender frame.
Watching him as a freshman at Georgetown I saw the fastest human I have ever seen with a ball in his hands. I witnessed a kid explode to the rim, constantly getting knocked down by the likes of UMass' Marcus Camby and Syracuse's John Wallace—but he always got up. ALWAYS.
He played with the pride Jim Brown often spoke of when asked about his career. Brown, would always get up, no matter how hard he was hit, so that he other man would never have the satisfaction of knowing he got the best of him.
Iverson did not only rack up the points in college, he also played the best defense in the country the two years he was a Hoya. He was the total package, kind of like Lex Luger.
After two season at Georgetown, Iverson was selected by Philadelphia as the first overall pick in the NBA Draft. I instantly became a Sixers fan—overnight, Iverson became "The Answer."
- B/R Ticket Guide
It was around this time that some of the troubles that have hurt his reputation began to surface. As Biggie once rapped, "Mo' Money, Mo' Problems." Some of Iverson's friends from Hampton were arrested, bringing him down while he was trying to bring them up.
I admire Iverson for standing by his friends during the media backlash. He said that these were the guys who stuck with him when his electric was shut off and protected him from the negative influences of the streets.
Add his trademark tatts and cornrows to the mix and his rep just got worse—he was often referred to as the "NBA 2Pac." But Iverson wasn't backing down from anyone—on or off the court.
His strong will was not the only thing I grew to respect. In his rookie campaign at All-Star weekend, there was the annual Rookies Game that pitted two self-assured future stars on opposite sides—Iverson for the East and a young Kobe Bryant for the West.
At halftime, Iverson advised his teammates that they had to stop Kobe to win. This game was just an exhibition, and there were 16 other guys on the floor, but to these two young men this was Game Seven of the NBA Finals—they had to show the other up.
The East won 96-91, Iverson received MVP honors, and Kobe finished with 31 points. That day I knew the two of them were going to be predominant players in the NBA. Their competitiveness was synonymous with Michael Jordan's.
Now, fast forward to the 2001 NBA Finals that pitted Iverson's Sixers against Shaq, Kobe, and the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers. In a remarkable performance in NBA Finals history, Iverson scored 48 points in Game One, leading the 76ers to upset the Lakers 107-101 in OT.
Although the Lakers ended up winning the championship, the world got to see Iverson's drive and determination to be a champion. That series reminded me of the 1997 Super Bowl where the Packers faced the Broncos. Brett Favre had the will, but John Elway had Terrell Davis.
The toughness Favre has displayed during his career as a Green Bay Packer is similar to Iverson's. His consecutive game streak alone is the stuff that legends are made of, but it is also his competitiveness and gunslinger mentality that has made Favre one of the most respected football players of all-time. His talent and arm strength make blowhards like John Madden weak in the knees.
Favre has also had his off-field personal drama, much like Iverson. I'm just not sure why Favre, who has shown his fair share of vulnerability, is worshipped while Iverson is villified by the media.
I have to believe it has to do with race. Most of the media is controlled by white men. Take ESPN for example—with the exception of corny Stuart Scott and the insane Stephen A. Smith, they are all white. Black athletes do not have a voice to represent them and, at times, defend them against harsh criticism. A lot of black athletes have brought the negative scrutiny upon themselves (Ron Artest, T.O., Marcus Vick, Mo Clarett, etc.), which has given other black athletes a bad rap.
As athletes and men, I believe Iverson and Fave were cut from the same cloth. Racial divide is the only reason Favre is so adored while Iverson is so misunderstood.
Before I am crucified by young white guys for desecrating Favre by comparing him to (in their words) "a thug like Iverson who hates to practice," let it be known that I am a young white male who believes Favre is one of the three best QBs of all time. (For those scoring at home it's Marino, Elway, and Favre.) I respect him, but I also feel Iverson is the NBA version of Favre who just doesn't get as much respect across the board.
Maybe it's Favre's ring, or the fact that he's a QB, the most recognizable position in sports. Or maybe it's Iverson's appearance and the fact that there are still people in America who are unable to look past the "hip hop culture" and/or skin color.
I would like to believe it's the former.
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about 1 year ago
good article
about 1 year ago
I really like A.I. and I agree with most of what you say.
However, I don't think it has much of anything to do with race. First, Favre has the most public position, as you say, and has played 16 seasons for one of the country's most popular teams.
Also, I think that it is based heavily on first impressions. The feeling that anyone gets from watching Favre for two minutes (whether he is playing, talking or watching) is that he wants to win and he is willing to give everything he has, every day, every play in order to achieve that goal. Favre has shown the world what it is like to be human, to deal with adversity and to survive.
A two-minute study of some of Iverson's most memorable moments reflect that he simply doesn't care. While he is a great player, he has slipped too often into a 'me-first, f*#@-the-team' persona that the public sees and responds to.
Brett Favre is white and Allen Iverson is black. This is true. However, in every single action that he takes, Favre shows that he is all about winning. Iverson, simply put, does not.
about 1 year ago
I really like A.I. and I agree with most of what you say.
However, I don't think it has much of anything to do with race. First, Favre has the most public position, as you say, and has played 16 seasons for one of the country's most popular teams.
Also, I think that it is based heavily on first impressions. The feeling that anyone gets from watching Favre for two minutes (whether he is playing, talking or watching) is that he wants to win and he is willing to give everything he has, every day, every play in order to achieve that goal. Favre has shown the world what it is like to be human, to deal with adversity and to survive.
A two-minute study of some of Iverson's most memorable moments reflect that he simply doesn't care. While he is a great player, he has slipped too often into a 'me-first, f*#@-the-team' persona that the public sees and responds to.
Brett Favre is white and Allen Iverson is black. This is true. However, in every single action that he takes, Favre shows that he is all about winning. Iverson, simply put, does not.
about 1 year ago
I'M PROBALY TO ME THE GREATEST FAN OUT HERE IN THE WORLD , AND I LOVE THIS ARTICLE CAUSE I'VE BEEN WIT ALLEN SINCE HIS HE PLAYED FOOTBALL IN HIGHSCHOOL. TO ME AND TO ALOT OTHERS IVERSON IS THE PERFECT ROLE MODEL FOR THE NBA. HIS HEART,DETERMINATION AND GAME TO ME IS THE REASON FOR BASKETBALL. HIS FAVORITE WORDS ARE PLAY WITH YOUR HEART PLAY EVERY GAME LIKE ITS YOR LAST AND HE MEANS EVERYTHING YOU DO DO IT LIKE ITS YOUR LAST TIME DOIN IT. WHAT OTHER PLAYER DO YOU KNOW THAT HAVE SAID THAT TO THE THEIR FANS AND THE YOUTH NO ONE AND I'M NOT NO KID I'M 26 AND BEEN WITH ALLEN FROM DAY ONE AND BEYOND THAT
about 1 year ago
I agree to a degree. Iverson has never been surrounded by talent and neither has Favre. Iverson made a bad comment or two in the past... so did Favre, he blasted his general manager this summer when he didnt get Randy Moss. I'm originally from Wisconsin so I've seen every Favre game since I can remember, and I think Allen Iverson is from the same cloth. He is by far my favorite player because he clearly is the biggest competitor in the NBA regardless of whether his team sucks or not. Just like Favre... just not quite as good
about 1 year ago
Great article here Scott.
It's about time someone made this comparison. Favre and Iverson are both warrriors in the truest sense they play through injuries and put their team's on their backs during the toughest of times.
I consider it a privilege to have seen both of these men play throughout their primes and into their later years, always with the same fighting spirit and determination to win.
A few comments:
1) Iverson may be listed at 6'0, but he's more like 5'10. The fact that he can do what he does at his size is simply amazing I sincerely doubt that we'll ever see anything like that again.
2) AI may have been villified in his early days (what with the "Practice?" bit and all), but I feel that most basketball fans who are worth a damn have since come to embrace him for being the hero on the court that he is. Does anyone in the media accuse Iverson of not playing with heart? If any reporter, analyst, or otherwise were to question Iverson's toughness, I would guess that their would be national outcry amongst fans. Maybe I'm wrong though (I hope I'm not).
3) Favre is definitely worshiped to a far greater degree than Iverson, and yes I think a lot of it has to do with race (and culture too, for that matter). However the big difference I feel is that all football fans, black and white alike, seem to be able to identify with Favre where as very few white fans are able to see through Iverson's cornrows, tats and slang tendencies in press conferences and embrace the man as one of them.
4) Elway, Favre, and Marino are three excellent QBs but how in the world do you justify taking them over Montana Magic?!?!
about 1 year ago
Iverson has never been accused of not being fearless, courageous, passionate, and mentally tough. The problems with him are the fact that he's a very reckless and undisciplined talent, who's jump shot is less than adequate (though it doesn't stop him from taking so many a game), who overhandles constantly, who can't defend, and who isn't that great of a finisher. He also has times where he is very tempermental as he was during last year with Philly.
But anybody criticizes Iverson as just being a loser thug is clearly only looking at Iverson's surface.
about 1 year ago
I am a die hard Iverson fan, and i live in Zimbabwe (africa) i don't get to see too many games of his coz espn seeems to like showing everyone else. Allen is a true role model , not perfect and with his own problems but that is what makes him so good . Love him or hate the truth is he is one of the greatest . This year the way him Melo and marcus are playing denver has a really good chance . Like a lot of us out there i was a sixer fan now i am a Nuggets fan becoz of one man A.I The answer.
Jonathan
Zim
about 1 year ago
Interesting article. You say both men have had "off field personal drama" but Favre is praised for it and Iverson vilified. Race and culture surely have a lot to do with it, but Favre never pulled a gun on his wife. Instead Favre is known for caring for his wife who has breast cancer and playing in that Monday night game after his dad died . A lot of people have pointed out how the media and most fans sympathize with Favre's pain killer addiction but not Ricky William's drug use. I think that's a valid point and adds to your argument about media bias.
about 1 year ago
Usually I don't like to comment on stuff I have already penned, I much prefer to let the it breathe and have the article stand alone.
But I need to say somethings,
Iverson was alledgedly accused of pulling a gun on his cousin who was housing his wife.
Iverson is a great defender (2 time Big East Defenive Player of the Year), yes he does take alot of shots but so did #23.
If Iverson was neatly polished, say like Tiki Barber. He would go over a lot better with white folks who then would only be able to see him for his toughness, will and talent. But he may not be as popular with people of his color from the streets. Where he is from. We can make fun of "street cred" used as a marketing term, but most of the guys we cheer for on Sundays, or in the NBA came from nothing. Allen is just being Allen, and I think environment plays a gigantic role in our character makeup. Hope I didn't just come across as a VP of Marketing for Reebok or A.I. publicist, but he truly is my favorite athlete, not just for what he does on the court, but (what was edited out) what he could have done on the football field.
Montana had D. Clark, J. Rice, E. Cooper, R. Craig, J. Taylor, Brent Jones, if I am leaving anyone out let me know.
Marino only had Duper and Clayton, OJ McDuffie sucked and dropped too many passes, and I bet most of you could not name one running back that played well with the Dolphins in Marino's backfield.
Elway is great, but he couldn't do it without TD, and Favre? Look what the man is doing this year the guy is amazing and he was amazing at So. Miss just ask Crimson Tide fans.
about 1 year ago
I know some things is two words, not somethings, forgive me.
about 1 year ago
Yup. AI's the bizzle nizzle, fo shizzle.
11 months ago
Scott, saw on Bleacher Report's blog that ESPN's J.A. Adande (yes, *that* J.A. Adande the one from 'Around the Horn') mentioned this article in his recent Allen Iverson article. Just wanted to say congrats on the mention.
6 months ago
GREAT ARTICLE!
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