I touched on this earlier today, but since Philly’s biggest superstar since, uh, Mike Schmidt, I guess, is leaving town, it’s time to have a little fun. Whether you were a sports fan or not, Allen Iverson was the biggest, and best, athlete in this city for a long time, and — even though it may be the right move — it’s a shame to see him go.
Sometime late last week, NBC 10 got Allen Iverson’s last moments at a practice on tape, in what would be his final appearance as a member of the 76ers. Hey, it’s time to savor anything we can get right now.
Peter Vecsey today reports in the New York Post that Mo Cheeks finally has a reason to stay coach of the 76ers.
Er, well, I guess that’s just the second part. He actually reports that Allen Iverson asked for a trade on Tuesday, something he’s always vowed he’d never do. Of course, it’d be hard to blame Iverson for not wanting to play for the 76ers, since they’re absolutely awful and don’t appear to be getting any better.
It’s no secret that, despite Allen Iverson’s talent, it’s time for him to go. It was his time to go three seasons ago, when, during the closed portion of an open practice at the Palestra, Iverson didn’t bother to do anything, preferring to work on his raps on the sideline — as well as drink a Pepsi.
The 76ers were unable to move him in the offseason, not getting a good enough deal. But perhaps the Sixers can get a better deal during the season with some teams looking for a superstar to guarantee a few sellouts.
Vecsey also reports a bunch of other things:
The 76ers are attempting to trade Webber, too. (No shit.)
The Sixers are willing to trade anyone in order to get rid of Iverson, including Andre Iguodala (no!) and Samuel Dalembert (yes!).
Iverson told teammates before the bowling function that he missed — he blamed medicine from a wisdom teeth extraction — was planning on skipping it.
Iverson has no beef with Mo Cheeks as a person — it’d be tough to, of course — but doesn’t like him as a coach.
And so… who could Allen Iverson be traded to? Vescey mentions Boston (Delonte West), Minnesota (Randy Foye), Atlanta (who knows) and Indiana (Stephen Jackson). But who knows. All that’s set in stone is that Iverson is on his way out, with Webber probably in tow, too, and the 76ers are finally realizing what everyone’s known since, oh, around mid-2002: It’s rebuilding mode time.
Last night, the 76ers held an event for sponsors and premium-seat ticketholders at Lucky Strike Lanes on Chestnut Street. The entire team showed up, chatted with fans, played pool and presumably even bowled a little.
Oh, I’m sorry, one player didn’t show up. Was it Steve Smith? Kyle Korver? Another player with double initials? No, Allen Iverson. Oh, now why would the fans want to see him?
Iverson didn’t just miss the Lucky Strike charity event, though. Phil Jasner writers in the Daily News:
A source said Iverson was upset when he left practice earlier in the day, less than an hour after the 11 a.m. start at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.
After practice, Cheeks said Iverson had left early because he “was a little fatigued.” Asked whether Iverson had been upset, Cheeks said, “Whatever happened between him and me, I’d like to keep that private.”
Iverson is going to be fined for missing bowling. I prefer to think of his absence as a protest of Lucky Strike’s high prices. Yeah, that must be it.
• The Inquirer reports today about the exploding business of health insurance for pets. This little chart with the article lets us know that the top insurance claim for dogs is skin allergies and the top claim for cats is urinary tract infections. Thanks, Inquirer! [Inky]
• Allen Iverson’s mom’s ABA basketball team — of course she has a basketball team — won its first game 145-141 in double overtime last night. Can’t top Enrico’s line: “The ABA, where Kyle Korver could be named defensive player of the year.” [The 700 Level]
• Pennsylvania’s Jack Murtha could become House Majority Leader. And Will Bunch is against it! Black is white, day is night, the world is spinning on its head! [Attytood]
• Thursday, the Air Force awarded a contract to Boeing to build 141 helicopters in its Ridley Township plant. This news, of course, came about a week late to help Curt Weldon. All together now: Muahahaha! [Inky, 2nd item]
So, if I drink Vitamin Water, I’ll drop 20 percent in body fat, be able to ram into seven-footers and not be injured and lead the Sixers to 15 wins this season? Sweet.
Via The 700 Level, a deleted scene from The Office. Although the 76ers might not win more than, say, 15 games this year, I must admit basketball season has me a little excited.
Here’s the dilemma for Allen Iverson. When you’re having your big bash at, uh, Crabbers Restaurant in Hampton, Va., you probably want to hire security. I mean, Crabbers gets pretty rough at times! But if you hire security, there’s a chance your security team will allegedly go apeshit on four people and you’ll get sued for $2.4 mil.
Each of the four men is looking for 600k from AI and his manager Gary Moore, stemming from what they say was a wild night:
According to Stephen Bricker, attorney to the four plaintiffs, Priest Brown and Robin Isman say they were attacked by security team members as they left the club, and Arthur Simmons and Daryl Cooper say they were assaulted while dancing.
Simmons was punched and Cooper was punched and hit with a chair, Bricker said. Brown was repeatedly kicked and punched and Isman was punched in the face as they were walking outside the club, Bricker said.
“They were looking to get the buzz that they were big, bad dudes,” Bricker said of the security team.
Hit with a chair, eh? Should be pretty simple — the culprit is obviously a former ECW wrestler.
