Love Affair With AI....OVER!

Ten years ago, even as recently as one year ago, one could count Allen Iverson as one of my favored if not favorite player in the league.

Not many players have exhibited the heart, passion, and competitive drive as my Jordan-era Bulls team.  Really, not many... there's that guy in L.A., Kevin Garnett, LBJ, just to name a few who have come along and reminded us what its like to see a player bring it every night with a passion for the game thats unmatched in todays league.

But there he was, Allen Iverson, ushering me through my depression of the retirement of the Bulls Michael Jordan.  I couldnt understand why the media gave him so much flack. They viewed him as a cancer, a player whose image was not desirable for the league.  Every misstep or bad decision whether it be on or off the court was placed under a microscope and magnified to an unreasonable degree.  What I could not understand was the public's inability to recognize his passion for the game: how he willingly sacrificed his small frame every single night.  He was the very definition of "Bringing It", and people, A.I. brought it every game, (maybe not every practice) but every night.  He was non stop, all the time.  He, in my opinion, has always been a winner.  And what do winners want above all else?  Yes, you're brilliant!  They want to win. 

Philly, in the end, didnt work out.  The Chauncey Billups trade that sent A.I. to Detroit exposed more than a few weaknesses in Iverson's ability to lead a team.  As a fan of A.I., watching him in Detroit was painful.  And I wasnt too enthused with his reaction to a reduced role and minutes with his new team.  Yes, Detroit was a mess waiting to happen when he came in, but I expected someone with his passion and experience to handle those challenges better than a pouting 3 year old.

But I digress. Who knows what it had to be like for a player of his caliber to experience what he did last year. I refused to judge him, and gave him the benefit of the doubt.  I looked forward to the summer, Free Agency. 

Now, one of the best and most courageous players in the game, that winner, Allen Iverson, is going to be handed a golden opportunity.  As a free agent he can sign with most any team in the league. Who wouldnt have use for him if he were willing to give them what they asked for, and play within the team's system.  I'm thinking A.I at this stage in his career, like every other great, once they have surpassed their peak, will make the necessary adjustments to reach that ultimate goal.  I mean they all say that they're playing for a championship right?

So how the hell did he end up in Memphis in the 1st place? A 34 year old 6 foot guard should be hunting for one thing and one thing only.  And sorry, Memphis fans, the Grizzlies aint it!  Disappointed with that choice? Absolutely.  That tells me one thing.  He's not who I once thought he was. That choice was completely about him and him only.  Dont get me wrong, if all he wanted was an emptly stage on which he and he only could shine, then I see no problem.  Except thats not what I came to expect from him. He had me thinking he wanted to win above all else. I was bamboozled/

Now lets fast forward to today. The last straw on the proverbial camels back is his desertion of this team at the very bottom of the league after only a handful of games.  "I'm not getting my way, I dont want to play anymore. I'm taking my ball and going home."  How many times have we heard that on the playground, as kids?

Is he telling me that the only things important to him is that he starts, dominates the ball, is the focal point of a team and takes the majority of the shots?  Is that who Iverson really is?  How could I have been fooled all these years?  We're throwing tantrums now?....Retreating to a corner to pout?  What part of the game is this? Today, I officially declare my love affair with Mr. Allen Iverson to be over.