Fri Feb 15, 2008 5:28 pm
Fri Feb 15, 2008 7:16 pm
Thu Mar 20, 2008 11:50 am
Allen Iverson planted a kiss on the 76ers logo at midcourt and blew imaginary ones to the fans.
With a packed Philadelphia crowd standing and roaring in appreciation for their former MVP, Iverson had to wonder if his career would be different had he simply kissed and made up with the Sixers last season.
All of Iverson’s arguments with former coach Larry Brown, the complaints about practice—practice!—and his falling out with coach Maurice Cheeks that led to his trade to Denver were forgotten the moment he walked into the Wachovia Center for the first time as a visitor.
Iverson hugged security guards, embraced Cheeks, kissed the team logo and joked about not knowing where to go inside the Wachovia Center. He took a different route to the arena than he did in his years with the Sixers, dressed in a new locker room and sat on the visitor’s bench.
“That is a locker room that I never wanted to end up in,” Iverson said.
All anyone in the packed arena could hear was “Ladies and gentlemen, let’s welcome back, from Georgetown University …” before the rest was completely drowned out by the wild cheers.
Iverson waved and saluted the crowd, then blew some kisses. He cupped his hand to his left ear and the ovation only become louder and longer. He pointed to all four corners of the arena and clapped his hands in approval. Only the rest of the lineup cut short the appreciation.
“I want to feel appreciated,” Iverson said before the game. “I don’t think there’s nobody that plays this sport that don’t care about what the fans think of them and think of what they gave on the basketball court. I hope it goes the way I dreamed it up.”
Iverson was cheered after all his baskets and had 12 points on 6-for-10 shooting at halftime.
Iverson had “THXPHILA” imprinted on his sneakers and the fans responded with their own tributes. Iverson’s No. 3 jerseys dotted the crowd and a few fans held signs of appreciation. One read “We Miss You A.I.” and another said “The Answer Deserves Brotherly Love.”
Iverson posted the highest scoring average in team history (28.1), is second on the points list (19,583) and holds the record for 3-pointers (877). He was a seven-time All-Star, won four scoring titles, two All-Star game MVPs and the league MVP award in 2001 after taking the Sixers to the NBA finals.
Iverson hugged arena employees, stopped to joke with Sixers center Samuel Dalembert, but did not cross paths with Cheeks. Iverson and Cheeks had a splintered relationship—it was Cheeks who banished A.I from the team—that was one of the catalysts for the former MVP getting traded.
The two had not spoken since the trade, but Iverson went over and shook hands with Cheeks shortly before tip.
“It’s time to move on, the Sixers and myself,” Iverson said. “It’s time for both of us to move ahead and look for more positive things.”
Iverson joked with his Denver teammates in the locker room before the game, then had to take care of some business.
“Where the bathrooms at?” he said, laughing. “I ain’t too familiar with this area.”
Thu Mar 20, 2008 11:57 am
Thu Mar 20, 2008 12:00 pm
Thu Mar 20, 2008 11:21 pm
Tue Mar 25, 2008 12:38 pm
Tue Mar 25, 2008 1:11 pm
Tue Mar 25, 2008 1:40 pm
Tue Mar 25, 2008 2:37 pm
SpaceFlare wrote:What's scary is they have enough cap flexibility to improve their team in the offseason.
They should address that scoring big man need and outside sniper need with their cap space in the offseason and come back as a much better team next year.
Tue Mar 25, 2008 3:22 pm
Tue Mar 25, 2008 3:34 pm
Wed Mar 26, 2008 4:27 am
sarella wrote:Today I party!!
Sixers win Boston![]()
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Play-offs here we gome!!
Wed Mar 26, 2008 6:06 am
Drex wrote:This team keeps surprising me. Amazing.
Wed Mar 26, 2008 9:15 pm
Thu Mar 27, 2008 5:53 am
Thu Mar 27, 2008 1:01 pm
Thu Mar 27, 2008 1:21 pm
Mon Mar 31, 2008 3:54 am
Sauru wrote:sarella wrote:Today I party!!
Sixers win Boston![]()
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Play-offs here we gome!!
i am gonna party too but not cause of the game, instead i party cause of the pic you are useing
Tue Apr 01, 2008 10:06 pm
Tue Apr 01, 2008 11:04 pm
shadowgrin wrote:Just who is she?
Wed Jun 04, 2008 5:56 am
Wed Jun 04, 2008 5:59 am
Wed Jun 04, 2008 6:16 am
Thu Jun 05, 2008 1:21 am