Most of the charges against A.I. were dismissed today.
I also found this interesting column by Stephen A. Smith, an AfAm Philadelphia Inquirer reporter who's been critical of Iverson:
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Posted on Fri, Jul. 19, 2002
On Basketball | Adversity may inspire Iverson
By Stephen A. Smith
Inquirer Columnist
There are some who believe Allen Iverson is finished. As a 76er. As a product endorser. And as a marketable commodity.
But anyone thinking about preparing the basketball obituary for the Sixer who took his team to the NBA Finals just two seasons ago needs to consider how the controversy of the last 21/2 weeks may actually play to Iverson's advantage.
The more negative the publicity, the more that inner-city America - Iverson's target audience - will jump to his defense. And Iverson's response to adversity will be in the same manner as always: excelling on the basketball court.
And we all know who benefits: The Sixers, who usually raise ticket prices so obliging fans can watch Iverson up close and personal. And Reebok, his corporate sponsor.
Despite what Iverson's mother, Ann Iverson, said earlier this week - "This is supposed to be the brotherly love place... . I'm not feeling it right now" -
Iverson never cared much about being a part of mainstream America anyway. He is not interested in changing his hip-hop image. Criticism over his association with gangsta rap doesn't bother him. As long as he is allowed to play basketball, get paid handsomely for doing it, and live his life with the people he knows and trusts, he could not care less about how anyone feels.
He has no desire to put mainstream America at ease, as Shaquille O'Neal does with his joking. He has no desire to emulate Grant Hill, dress like Ray Allen or adopt Kobe Bryant's eloquence and diplomacy.
Let him go ahead and have his Summer Classic softball game in Camden this weekend. Campbell's Field will be packed with fans from inner-city communities. To them, Iverson represents the underdog, and they are inspired by his ability to succeed when the odds are against him.
Reebok has every reason to cling to him like Velcro. So when 14 charges of felonies and misdemeanors were leveled against Iverson dating from an incident on July 3, Reebok appeared only too eager to come to Iverson's defense.
Iverson's line of footwear is geared toward the urban community, which, when last checked, loves him and keeps his footwear at the top of the sales lists. So Reebok's position is clearly understandable.
The Sixers, too, will benefit if Iverson is true to form. He has flourished on the court after his off-court troubles, from his 1997 probation in a marijuana- and gun-possession case to trade speculation to numerous confrontations with Sixers coach Larry Brown in 2000. In the last four seasons, Iverson has won the scoring title three times, been named MVP, and lifted the Sixers to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1983.
"Basketball is A.I.'s sanctuary," one of Iverson's confidants recently told me. "It's his haven. Every time he's on the basketball court, when you see him explode for 50 points, playing out of his mind, that's a clear sign that something is really wrong in his personal life.
"So much goes on in his life on a daily basis, basketball is the only thing that allows him to release all that fury. If there was ever a time he was furious, it is now, because he believes the media has blown this whole ordeal out of proportion. Believe me, when it's time to play ball, he will respond. It's the only way he can smack people in the face without actually hitting them."
Judging by the look on Iverson's face as he departed Police Headquarters on Tuesday, we should see plenty of explosive evenings from him this season.
That means the Sixers will have people walking through the turnstiles, buying their merchandise. That customers will still be buying Iverson's sneakers will prompt no arguments from Reebok. And Iverson will get to answer questions about his basketball exploits, instead of his personal transgressions.
If that's losing, everyone should be so miserable.
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Contact Stephen A. Smith at 215-854-5846 or
ssmith@phillynews.com.
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