Worthy of Your Attention
Allen Iverson Returns to Philly
I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m still not entirely used to the idea that Allen Iverson is no longer a Philadelphia Sixer. There’s something about him hooping in a powder blue uniform that’s a little, um, off. For me, and I suspect for many others, A.I. is (and will always be) a Sixer.
Last week, I stumbled upon an old game that NBA TV was showing. It was A.I. giving a shell-shocked Orlando Magic team 60 points. It was the quintessential Iverson performance: Jumpers from all over the gym, fearless drives into the trees, ankle-breakers against hapless guards, free throws galore, and the raw emotion (from Allen and the ravenous Philly crowd.)
He may be on a substantially better team now, but I just don’t see that kind of scene (and unbridled joy) being replicated in Denver.
Tonight, Iverson steps on the court in Philly as a member of a visiting squad for the first time, and things will be emotional. Emotional for Allen and for the viewing public. The standing ovation will be long and heartfelt, and the noise might just blow the roof of the sucker.
(Shockingly, tickets to the game were still available as of yesterday. As Mark Jackson might opine, Come on Philly, you’re better than that!)
With Denver and Philly desperately battling for their postseason lives, the drama will be thick as the outcome of tonight’s game will have a major impact on the Playoff picture in both conferences. Should be a great one.
32 Responses to “Worthy of Your Attention”
Mar.19 at 3:03 pm
Beth says:
First?
Mar.19 at 3:07 pm
Beth says:
And I totally agree…
It just doesn’t look right. I still watch my old tapes of him stepping over Tyrone Lue in game 1 versus the Lakers in ‘01…I want him to go off for 50 and give those Philly fans a show.
Mar.19 at 3:10 pm
Andrew says:
The return of the prodigal son.
Mar.19 at 3:13 pm
TADOne says:
Pat Croce needs to be at the game.
Mar.19 at 3:14 pm
illydiva says:
As of last month, you couldn’t even buy single game tix to this game…you had to buy them as part of a multi-game package. That may be why there are tix left. Unless there is a flood of sentiment today, this plan may have backfired on Commiecast.
Mar.19 at 3:25 pm
Captain America says:
Neither team is destined for much this year. At least the Sixers can play some team defense. Nuggets are like watching a tennis match.
Mar.19 at 3:35 pm
Jonah Lehmann says:
Hey Captain America…
is that y the Nuggets had the defensive player of the year last year in Marcus Camby!!
Mar.19 at 3:41 pm
Slamyomama says:
Jonah obviously dosent know sh*t are u seriously trying to tell us that Denver is a good defensive team so the f*ck what if Camby was defensive player of the year 3 blocks a game isnt enough to make a real impact defensively oh and i hope the sixers win the nuggets are hopeless although i enjoy watching them.
Mar.19 at 3:51 pm
canadian says:
Having the defensive player of the year has nothing to do with team defense.
Mar.19 at 4:04 pm
BETCATS says:
cheese steaks!!!
Mar.19 at 4:13 pm
what says:
KG in green doesn’t look right either.
Mar.19 at 4:31 pm
Allenp says:
Uh, Minnesota had green as a color.
Mar.19 at 4:31 pm
Allenp says:
I just want the Nuggets to win, they need a win bad.
Mar.19 at 4:41 pm
Gerard Himself says:
speaking of Croce, what is he doing nowadays?
Mar.19 at 5:45 pm
Dre's on point says:
Thats wierd, I just read somewhere else that they are sold out for tonights game. They said that this game and the Celtics game has been the only sell outs this season…anyway, I don’t know how I feel about Iverson being in Denver. Part of me was happy for him to get a fresh start and another part wishes he would have just stayed in Philly because Denvers team doesn’t seem as if they are ready to take their situation to the next level. Their players talk a good game, but they just don’t seem like they want it bad enough, which is unfortounate for Iverson. And its funny, I see some Nuggets fans having the nerve to complain on the Internet about what Iverson needs to do and how he can change this or that, but the fact is they have a lot of lazy players on that team that seem to be not commited at all times in general and always have way before Iverson ever got there… I guess they are used to cheering for players that give half effort. Anyhow, I also think it a crime that this game isn’t on national t.v… Lebron is one of my favorites, but is it really necessary to show the Cavs play the Pistons for the 100th time on National t.v? The Iverson return to Philly is far more interresting and important. imo, if this was Shaq or Kobe or even Steve Nash returning to their former teams, David Stern would have made sure it was nationally televised. I guess it pays to be “cookie cutter”. SMH
Mar.19 at 5:49 pm
Dre's on point says:
Oh yeah and the Denver crowd sucks compared to Phillys crowds. It takes an act of god to get those people to cheer for anything, sometimes you can hear a pin drop. Thats what I miss about Iverson playing in Philly…how bananas the crowds were. I get that picture of AI putting his hand up to his ear and skipping around the floor…. the good times.
Mar.19 at 6:16 pm
jeremy says:
SMOKE EM AI!!!
Mar.19 at 6:52 pm
ogjc says:
amen i feel exactly the same i agree he is a more mature player but i miss his rookie days when he would just go off on people and he definitely belongs in a sixers jersey
Mar.19 at 7:19 pm
Johnny Kilroy says:
Dre’s: he put his hand to his ear that one last time.
Mar.19 at 7:22 pm
Joel O's says:
Camby’s a good defender… but is he really DPOY? His stats are inflated because the Nuggets play such a frenetic style, there’s loads of rebounds to grab - and he’s the ONLY one really playing D.
Mar.19 at 7:46 pm
Bubba Chuck says:
Allen f*cking Iverson!
Mar.19 at 8:03 pm
BK says:
“101 to 99 here’s Iverson against Tyrone Lue baseline right he steps back he fires two ball. Got it again he’s way to good!” …CLASSIC
Mar.19 at 10:09 pm
Ben Osborne says:
Saw the end of the game. Rough loss for AI and the Nugs. There is one or two Slamonline writers at the game so check back tomorrow for some game notes.
Mar.19 at 10:26 pm
tealish says:
I feel for AI. He went from one bad team to another. Carmelo is so overrated, it’s beyond belief. I know their team defense as a whole is a joke and AI’s defense isn’t great either, but Melo is 6′8 and a big strong guy (the commentators keep saying) - yet he is INVISIBLE on D. He expends no effort at all. His offense consists of a jumpshot and that’s basically it. Occasionally he drives halfway towards the hoop for a forced double clutcher, after which he cries about the non-call.
If only AI were still in Philly and had Andre Miller as his PG… Now that team would be kickass.
Mar.19 at 10:56 pm
illydiva says:
Obviously, I’m glad about the outcome of the game, but I’m even happier about the way the fans showed love for AI and he them. There were a lot of Philly fans who didn’t care for AI–on the court or off–but I knew those who made the effort to show up for this game would do him lovely the way he deserved. It didn’t sound like much on TV, but I know it was heartfelt and AI appreciated it. And Tealish, you are so right about the Nuggets.
Mar.19 at 11:15 pm
The Notorious King says:
It was the saddest day of my life
He was the heart and soul of the franchise
he dragged them to the 2001 finals
and he is the truth
Mar.20 at 1:09 am
Michael Tillery says:
I gotcha covered Ben. This was absolutely an amazing night. Both of AI’s press conferences were classic.
Mar.20 at 1:46 am
Dre's on point says:
That welcoming ovation that Philly gave Iverson gave me chills and when he put his hand up to his ear (like “Johnny Kilroy” already said)…man. SMH, that was great. Even though they lost in a nail biter (I was pissed as hell at first about that, LOL)…Iverson should not let the media or anyone else take that night away from him. The way some people try to act as if Philly doesn’t love or need Iverson, some people even went as far as to say people might boo him…and to turn around and see that much love for that guy goes to show what AI has not only meant for that 76ers organization…but what AI has meant to b-ball in general. People need to stop hating and show respect..real talk. They said that, up untill tonight, the only sellout was against Boston (they had like 19,100 people there) they said tonight the sale out was over 20,500. That guy is LEGENDARY STATUS. I have to admit I used to hate on AI back in the day, LOL, but I have so much respect for that guy and what he has done in his career, I truly hope he gets a ring when all is said and done….and yes “tealish”, I was going to come on here as well ranting about that Nuggets team but I don’t even have the energy at this point. LOL!
Mar.20 at 10:16 am
Bubba Chuck says:
it was a good game
Mar.20 at 10:20 am
d.Y. says:
damn. right for the sixers to go out with the w tho.
Mar.20 at 7:13 pm
daman says:
denva sux lyk hell nw, bt they sch a gd team, mks me sd…
Mar.21 at 2:56 am
Weapon X says:
He’s “The Answer” whether in Illadelphi or Mile High!