Allen Iverson Live

It’s easy to forget about all the positive things a person has accomplished during times of negative events. Today’s links focuses on reminding us all the incredible accomplishments that Allen Iverson has achieved so far during his career (I say that optimistically hoping that he will return).

The following piece talks about how Allen Iverson needed a championship, something that would have probably helped him avoid the personal problem’s he’s facing:

No matter what happens in his personal life Allen Iverson will go down as one of the greatest basketball players to ever play and arguably is pound for pound the best player to ever play the game he had a legendary career and is the best small player the league has ever seen.

If Iverson won a championship he would be viewed differently as a player and person. He would still be on a NBA team and would probably be the 1st or 2nd option like he should be. He wouldn’t lose love for the game and wouldn’t have gambling and drinking problems. He would have done it all and could have retired anytime and it would be a happy ending because he would walk away from the game having done it all.

This article titled The Answer? Brotherly Love: Standing By Allen Iverson When It Counts also outlines his accomplishments and a message to those who are quick to judge:

The next time you find yourself quick to judge a man that you don’t know beyond the basketball court– think about how you would answer those questions.  Think about the player who stood at center court holding an All-Star MVP trophy and asking for his coach.  Think about the player who sat at the podium with his children falling asleep at his chest after leading his team during the 2001 playoffs.  Think about the player who started the CrossOver Foundation and numerous charity events to empower the dreams of the youth.  Think about the player who created the Allen Iverson Scholarship Endowment to support the success of underprivileged student athletes.  Think about the player who walked to center court and kissed the Sixers logo on the hardwood upon his return to Philadelphia.  Think about the basketball player that you do know.

Detroit Pistons showed once again that they can beat the hottest teams in the L by beating the Orlando Magic 88-82.

“I’m not used to seeing myself with 15 points and knowing that I had a good game,” he said. “Before, even if I only had 20 points, I didn’t think I was doing my job.”

Iverson was Detroit’s fourth-leading scorer on a night when no Pistons player reached 20.

“This is a different feeling, but I like it a lot,” he said. “I’ve won four scoring titles and I’ve scored 23,000 points, so I’ve done a lot of big things when it comes to scoring the basketball, but now I’ve got different goals.”

That goal is to win a championship.  With this team, he finally has a chance.

Links:

Shaq still a scorer, Iverson doesn’t need to be

AI and Sheed talk to John Thompson

In an interview on TNT with John Thompson, AI talks from the heart on how serious he is on winning a champsionship:

“I have to win a championship,” Iverson told TNT’s John Thompson in an interview Thursday night. “A lot of people tell me, day in and day out, that if I don’t, I still had a great career and I accomplished a lot of things. But I don’t feel that way. I feel like if I don’t win the championship, then everything that I’ve done goes down the drain.”

AI’s wrong, no matter if he wins or not, he will still go down as one of the greatest players who ever played (hopefully in the hall of fame).  But his attitude is spot on.  He needs to have that mentality and for the first time in his career, he has a champsionship-proven team by his side.  He certainly isn’t getting any younger and in his 14th year, and last year of contract this is his one chance.

Similar thoughts on this post: Iverson’s First Real Chance