Iverson
 

Don't forget about politicians!

and diplomats...:mad:

Re: Iverson
 

uhh . . . this isn't exactly how it happened, according to current reports.

First, the "party" was FIVE to TEN FAMILY MEMBERS - Iverson wasn't even seen outside but for a few minutes near the end of the night, and the police were informed of what was going on. There was no alcohol seen, no music, and it was very under control. That's not a "big party" kid, not even a party at all really.

He has until Tuesday to turn himself in b/c his lawyer is out of the country - the kicker is that he cannot leave his house until then, so for all intents and purposes he's in police custody already. Doesn't sound too unfair - this sort of arrangement is very common with "normal people", btw.

The charges presented against him: Felony weapons and trespassing charges, as well as misdemeanor assault. The gun supposedly used has not been found yet, to my knowledge.

As far as the contract - there's not a huge chance of intense jailtime with these charges (even if you're a "normal person", which is a bad term btw), so the Sixers would be moronic to cut the contract. Why would you lose your star player for 3 years rather than 4 months? Doesn't make sense, from a business or sports standpoint.

Why are people so fast to jump on athletes? Whether it be salary, public behavior, marital status, etc - no offense intended, PM_Mama, but commentary like yours bugs the shit out of me. Your facts aren't correct, and your conclusions are largely drawn out of some sort of bizarre "athletes get away with EVERYTHING so f--- them!" fixation. Sure, this was a dumb move on his part, but it's not made any worse just because the man is a great basketball player. Comparing this to OJ seems a bit of a stretch - OJ got away with murder b/c he was famous, rich, and got a good break with the judge and jury. AI hasn't 'gotten off' yet, and nothing about this screams preferential treatment . . . yet.

Next you'll be telling me baseball players shouldn't strike b/c they owe it to the fans, or Charles Barkley should have been a better role model . . . ugh

I was watching a sports TV show over the weekend, and they wondered how the chance of being charged with a felony would hurt his career. Well, I have the answer.....


If he is one of the most famous sports stars in the country and charged with a crime, his career is going to unaffected, b/c there are still going to be fans that still want to see him. Regardless, of the crime and/or consequences...

I saw a "talking head" last night who said the case was too high profile for the police to want to drop it. He went on to say that like many cases of domestic dispute this would probbaly be allowed to fade away, except for the fact that it is a famous person. Kind of a reverse distinction.

From a couple of interviews I've heard, they dont' have much of a case against Iverson...highly unlikely he'll get any jail time (not because of celebrity, but only because the case against him is very flimsy)

Collin

Who is this guy? The name sounds familiar, but not too familiar.

Iverson? He plays for the Philadelphia 76ers basketball team. I can't remember what position he plays, though.

Guard -- a small shooting guard. Most shooting guards are big guards.

Thanks, Steeltrap. I couldn't remember for the life of me what he played!

Thanks EC. I still have no clue who he is though. :p

Here's a site that tells you all about Iverson's crime and party:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/bas...rson_party_ap/

Thanks! Hell, that story is crazy! He looks pretty rugged if you asked me, but who was asking? :)

You're welcome! :)

Re: Iverson
 

Props to KSigRC for his thoughtful response.

PM_Mama, if you think that people (and specifically black men) are never wrongly accused of crimes, I invite you to spend a day with me at my work. It happens all the time, and athletes are guaranteed the same rights under our constitution as you are. If he is charged with a crime, the state needs to prove it BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT, and unless and until that happens, he is PRESUMED INNOCENT.

There is a huge difference between being CHARGED with a crime and being CONVICTED of one.

The "equal rights activists" are hopefully out there protecting the rights of everyone, from famous athletes to the homeless guy sleeping in the park.

Re: Re: Iverson
 

Re: Re: Re: Iverson
 

Where the hell are you from, boss? This isn't how the criminal justice system is supposed to work - there is no "proving innocent," I'd have him look into that really really fast.

uhhh . . . well, I hate to break it to ya, but first-time drug offenses aren't major crimes. AND - there are repeat offenders from every social strata . . . but celebrities are under a microscope in society, so it's much better news than when I get arrested for going back on the dope.

Bottom line: a shitload of people "get away with things", as you put it - usually it's due to OTHER PEOPLE getting them off, not themselves. Whether it be an upper-class white man paying for good lawyers, or getting off b/c a 'jury of your peers' is just that, and lets you off for no apparent reason - there's no reason to jack on a sports figure just b/c he's famous.

As a post-script - the latest from the Philly PD is that no blood was found in his wife's car - just the broken glass. The plot thins.

Re: Re: Re: Iverson
 

PM_Mama, since you didn't get the "black men" comment, I will explain it to you. I made the comment about black men being wrongly accused of crimes not because of Michael Jordan or Allen Iverson, but because of my work. I work as a public defender, which means I represent people charged with crimes who cannot afford to hire a private attorney. I spend day after day sitting in jail or lockup talking to my clients, most of whom are poor black men, about the charges they are facing, many of which are bogus. Every day I see how our society is doing a disservice to both the poor and minorities, as they are frequently arrested and thrown in jail on charges are based upon a bunch of crap.

I also don't think that you are qualified to comment on what happens when "any other normal Joe" gets convicted of a crime. Most people who are convicted of lesser felonies, including drug possession, weapons possession, forgery, theft, battery, etc., especially when it is a first offense, do NOT get jail time. Our jails are overcrowded as it is, and often probation is an option because we do not have the resources to be rounding up all the "average Joes" and throwing them in jail.

I'm not trying to argue with you, but as someone with experience in criminal law, I don't want people coming away from this thread with a grossly inaccurate picture of how it all works, or doesn't work as the case may be.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Iverson
 

Diplomats? Hehe, they'll be lucky if they could afford to fly Business class.

Update
 

Here's what the Philadelphia justice system decided to do w/little A.I.

Judge dismisses all but one charge against Iverson

By MICHAEL RUBINKAM
Associated Press Writer
July 29, 2002


PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- NBA All-Star Allen Iverson was cleared of all but a misdemeanor Monday at a hearing into charges he stormed into his cousin's apartment with a gun and threatened two men while looking for his wife.

Two counts of making terroristic threats were left standing after the six-hour preliminary hearing to determine whether prosecutors had enough evidence to try Iverson.

``It sounds like you had a relative looking for a relative at the house of a relative,'' Municipal Court Judge James DeLeon said.

The ruling followed testimony from Iverson's two accusers and his cousin Shaun Bowman.

Iverson, the NBA MVP in the 2000-01 season and a three-time league scoring champion, was accused of throwing his wife, Tawanna, out of their home, then barging into Bowman's apartment July 3.

The Philadelphia 76ers guard was arrested on 14 felony and misdemeanor charges, including assault, terroristic threats and weapons offenses. Iverson's uncle also was charged and he, too, now faces only the misdemeanor.

The original charges against Iverson carried a maximum sentence of more than 50 years.

He was the subject of intense local media scrutiny after the allegations surfaced. Hordes of reporters and photographers camped outside Iverson's suburbanrges.

It's not Iverson's first brush with the law.

As a teenager in 1993, he was arrested after a bowling-alley brawl and spent four months in jail in Virginia before he was granted clemency by the governor. The conviction was later overturned.

In 1997, Iverson pleaded no contest to gun possession.

He also made an unreleased rap CD in which he used derogatory terms for women and gays, and he's fought several times with 76ers coach Larry Brown.

Through it all, Iverson remains enormously popular.

His 76ers jersey is the among the league's top sellers, and Reebok last year gave Iverson a lifetime extension of his 10-year, $50 million endorsement contract.

updated at Mon Jul 29 13:54:11 2002 PT