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03/15/2004 10:19 am

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So, I'm not a basketball fan, but I went to one article about Allen Iverson, who refused to play because he wasn't going to start. The coach was just making sure he was ok to play because he had had an injury that had made him miss 3 games. So, Iverson refused to play at all.

"I'm a starter. I've been a starter here for eight years. I'm not a sixth man," Iverson said after the game. "I'm a starter. I know in this league ... if someone comes back from an injury, if he's a starter he starts. What's the difference? If you're going to cut my time down, cut my time down. It doesn't make any difference. I'm a starter."

After the game, he said he "was already taped and everything and had my uniform on. I had to take it back off, so that was rough."

"I feel real disappointed because I told the trainers I was going to play," Iverson said. "He (Ford) said I hadn't run up and down the court, and he wasn't sure about my conditioning."

Um.... so if he wanted to play, why didn't he play? If he's coming off of an injury the coach has to make sure that he's fit to play and probably doesn't want to put too much pressure on his knee. What a baby. I just liked the way he talked after he was interviewed. ooooo It was SOOO hard taking off all of my tape and my uniform. He didn't have to do that if he had just freakin' played.
I realize he's not the only one who has an attitude but but are these people so much superior than non athletes?

	Andrew (Guest) 03/15/2004 @ 12:23:21 PM
I see your point and agree...but basketball is a game that starters start. Chris Webber came back for the best team in the league after missing the entire season and started right away. If Iverson wasn't feeling good after a few minutes he could come out during a tv time out or something. I think it's a coach making moves he feels most comfortable with. Ford won't be rehired after his interem job, at least not by Philly. Yes I think it was babyish of Iverson to do this, but these players have pride and anything that could tarnish their REP hurts them. It's all about image, and I think his reaction hurt his image more than comming off the bench would.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jeremy - 9543 Posts 03/15/2004 @ 03:05:24 PM
The coach could have just as easily eased him back in letting him play the first 5 minutes as the last 5 minutes. It seems like an all around stupid situation that could have been avoided if anyone in the sports world was slightly rational.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - 6225 Posts 03/15/2004 @ 03:33:40 PM
yet another reason why the NBA as a whole is not good. I'm a huge Bucks fan, and there are lots of people who like basketball and that stuff, but the NBA really is full of players who are more interested in personal glory and gain than they are about winning.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	icbizzle - But let history remember, that as free men, we chose to make it so! 03/15/2004 @ 03:56:04 PM
The main problem here is that while some people would like to believe that it's just a game (like the current NBA pitch "I love this game"), the NBA is in fact a business. Now some players hire an agent, tell them to just get them on a team that wants them, and they go out and play because they really do love the game. Usually though, it's not quite that simple. AI is generally displeased with the 76ers and the organization as a whole. And as previously mentioned, he does have a point that when most starters suit up after injuries they immediately return to the starting lineup. AI is using this opportunity to voice his displeasure with the organization and the coach, and he really should be starting. The coach on the other hand, I'm not really sure what his problem is. Apparently he hasn't gotten along well with AI, and he is probably tring to assert his authority, for which I can't completely blame him. However, a coach is not there just to tell people what to do, he needs to be the guy to keep the team together and focused. Confronting AI like this isn't going to help anything (does this situation remind anyone else of Karl and the Bucks last year?). ps Jeremy, you should set up a thing to do NCAA picks.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jeremy - Super Chocolate Bear 03/15/2004 @ 04:13:40 PM
How about YOU do it and I'll put it up.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - 6225 Posts 03/15/2004 @ 05:23:43 PM
George KArl and the Bucks.........When the bucks went to the Eastern conference finals a few years ago, they're success had a lot to do with Karl's "tough love" for his team. After a while the team wore down, but it was not because of Karl's mentality (it was actually because of Anthony Mason and him changing the Buck's style of play) I don't think this is the same thing in Philly. AI has a big ego and is more concerned with how much he is getting paid and how much he is the center of his teams attention than with the success of his team. The NBA should be a game, not a business. Unfortunately it works out the wrong way. I find it hard to defend AI, or anyone in his situation.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	icbizzle - But let history remember, that as free men, we chose to make it so! 03/15/2004 @ 06:25:13 PM
He's had three coaches within a one year span, the rest of the team basically stinks (still got love g-rob, but he's hurt right now), and he probably doesnt' want to wait through a 3-year rebuilding process. If you worked with a bunch of morons, had had three different supervisors within a one year period (at least two of which you didn't get along with very well), and the company might need 2 or 3 years to back on its feet, wouldn't you feel bad if you got demoted to janitor? Granted making a big media fuss like he is doing may not be the answer, but I can still sympathize with him. Secondly, you can't possibly blame the entire collapse of the Karl era on Anthony Mason. Obviously it was bad move and he sucks (thank goodness he's gone). But Karl lost control of his team in much the same way that Callahan screwed up with the Raiders last year. Allen, Cassell, Robinson, and Tim Thomas are very different people and Karl decided to take the "tough love" approach with all of them (the amount of public criticism was an especially brutal touch), which resulted in a complete and utter meltdown of nuclear proportions. It also resulted in Thomas never becoming the player that he still has the chance to be.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jeremy - 9543 Posts 03/15/2004 @ 07:10:57 PM
I agree with Alex. I dont understand the mentality of "Athletes make millions and therefore have no right to ever complain about anything and should just shut up no matter what crap comes their way."		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - 6225 Posts 03/15/2004 @ 08:17:40 PM
I'm not saying they should not be able to complain, but when you leave your team out like that and refuse to play, what other reason is it for than self image? Also, Ray Allen attributed the Bucks decline the year after their great year not to George Karl at all (well, maybe a litte) but to Mason. Not because Mason was a bad player or anything, but the Bucks were a running team that depended on fast breaks and quick tempo. A player like Mason didn't fit on the Bucks. That's what I meant by that. I actually liked Tim Thomas, and I was surprised and almost shocked when he got traded.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	badger (Guest) 03/15/2004 @ 08:22:37 PM
first of all, you write your articles poorly. second of all, have a more structured argument when you argue iverson. you failed to touch on all the previous events in this soap opera for the sixers. you criticize without foundation. i think its a bit crazy you are criticizing allen iverson in any regard, when year in and year out he is a ptp'er. you showed me no basis for and no foundation behind any slams you had on iverson. i guess i shouldnt waste my time reading your crappy sports page. ill stick to espn's page 2... at least it makes me laugh. -laughing in madison		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - Get Up! Get outta here! Gone! 03/15/2004 @ 08:26:18 PM
What was that all about?		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jeremy - Pie Racist 03/15/2004 @ 08:36:58 PM
You tell me, it's your friend.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - 6225 Posts 03/15/2004 @ 08:37:20 PM
Was that Iverson's brother or something?		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	icbizzle - 3619 Posts 03/15/2004 @ 08:50:14 PM
I used to like Tim Thomas. In the Bucks' playoff runs, he actually tried and played very well. That got him a pretty fat contract considering it was all he had ever really done. Then after that he never produced like he did in those playoff games. He wined about the big 3 getting all the atention, and he didn't get enough playing time, and he didn't get enough shots, and Karl didn't like him. However, as far as I can remember he did nothing in the in 2 or 3 years after his new contract to deserve anymore playing time. His whiny attitude was also another likely reason for the collapse heard round the world. Despite all that, I hope he can do better in NY. It was definitely time for him and the Bucks to part ways, and I think Van Horn fits in pretty well. Also, I like Ray Allen, but he has never shown the killer instinct that make great players great. As the team's star player, he should have taken more responsibility than he did. Which reminds me of those new Nike commercials about being great. I love those commercials. Being great is about being great. Ray Allen is still not a great player. (I'll anticipate your next comment Scott and conclude by saying that I also wouldn't consider AI as a great player yet either. (thus, at times he needs to take more responsibility. (but he has improved some since he came into the league.))) ps Schemination		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jeremy - The pig says "My wife is a slut?" 03/15/2004 @ 08:58:22 PM
Scheme rules Also as for scott's buddy badger no one here ever really ripped AI to shreads. Sarah just thought it was childest and funny that he whined about having to change.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jeremy - 9543 Posts 03/15/2004 @ 09:11:32 PM
Plus I want to add this. My articles may suck, Sarah's articles may suck, Jon's may suck, but Matt's articles are works of art.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Matt - 3941 Posts 03/15/2004 @ 09:13:07 PM
That is true Jeremy.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	A. Iverson (Guest) 03/15/2004 @ 09:14:27 PM
PRACTICE????? PRACTICE?????		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	J. Mora (Guest) 03/15/2004 @ 09:22:39 PM
A pppt PLAYOFFS!?!? Don't talk about playoffs. Are you kidding me, PLAYOFFS!?!?		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Sarah - So's your face 03/15/2004 @ 09:27:08 PM
I saw an article on ESPN that was interesting so I did some bloggin'. I don't follow basketball AT ALL, so suck it. I read about a multi millionaire who was crying about not being able to play at the start of the game so he decided not to play and then had the gall to complain about having to take off his uniform. What a whiner. I don't care about Iverson's past and the 76ers and I don't think I ever will. But, I got some reaction out of it and that's what counts.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - 6225 Posts 03/15/2004 @ 09:31:16 PM
Ok, I think I know who Badger is now, and he definitely isn't Iverson's brother.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - On your mark...get set...Terrible! 03/15/2004 @ 09:31:56 PM
And Favre rules!!! (see, it can fit anywhere=)		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Sarah - So's your face 03/15/2004 @ 09:40:02 PM
LOL, true to life. :)		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - Ma'am, can you make sure your computer is turned on? 03/15/2004 @ 09:40:18 PM
About Ray Allen now.........I really liked Ray Allen. I truly think he had what it took to take the Bucks where they went, and he did the year they went to the East Finals. On the court he could have done more, as far as what he was capable of. He could have driven more, or lead his troops more, or something like that. One thing that has always stuck with me about Ray is on the day he was drafted by the T-wolves and immediately traded to the Bucks, he vowed to be a model citizen and a role model to anyone who looked up to him. He slowly became one of the better guards in the league and his repuation has followed him as one of the great gentlemen throughout the league, and he has never really received much attention at all for it. Why? probably because he wasn't out spoken and didn't care about self image. I'm not comparing him to anyone or using this to contrast the other allen we were talking about, but Ray Allen is a man of class. Despite the fact that he not in Milwaukee anymore, I still consider him one of my favorites, and for me to have a favorite on a team that isn't from Wisconsin is a huge deal. Him and Richie Sexson.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jon - 3443 Posts 03/17/2004 @ 03:49:47 PM
Ok, so let's look at Iverson's history. AI's got a reputation for being tough and playing through pain. He sacrifices his body night in and night out because supposedly he is a competitor. The assumption, then, is that he cares about winning. However, we can see by his actions that winning isn't his main concern since it obviously ranks below his pride. Can you imagine being one of his teammates? Looking over to the bench knowing that Iverson could play but didn't only because he wasn't going to start? I'm sure it made the loss a lot easier to take knowing AI's pride hadn't taken that hit. Hey, I'll be realistic, I know it's tough to swallow your pride, to think beyond your own interests and consider making a sacrifice. I realize none of us are perfect in this respect. So, I don't want to pick up the proverbial "first stone" against the guy. But that doesn't mean we can't acknowledge the fact that Iverson disrespected his team and their fans by not playing when he personally stated, "I could have played 48 minutes tonight." You know, the action was bad enough. The disrespect he has shown since has been sickening.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.