Allen Iverson Issues Retirement Statement
GENERAL By Patrick M. on November 26, 2009 at 11:09 am
After a few weeks of speculation, Allen Iverson, one of my favorite athletes ever and one of the most controversial of my lifetime, is publicly hanging up his famed Reeboks. Unhappy with his playing time in Memphis, AI apparently was unable to find any team willing to take a flyer on him. As a Celtics fan I can tell you this: He’s better than Eddie House.
I would like to announce my plans to retire from the National Basketball Association. I always thought that when I left the game, it would be because I couldn’t help my team the way that I was accustomed to. However, that is not the case.
I still have tremendous love for the game, the desire to play, and a whole lot left in my tank. I feel strongly that I can still compete at the highest level.
Why isn’t AI getting phone calls? Because of the perception that he’s damaged goods. His actions in Memphis and Detroit the last year suggest a man unwilling to accept the limitations forced upon him by age. Maybe he didn’t get a fair shake this time. In fact, maybe he never did.
His retirement eulogies by other outlets label AI as the man who brought Hip-Hop to the NBA, and, implicitly, all the “distasteful” things about the Hip-Hop image that turn off corporate suits and suburban white people. But last I checked, AI came into the league in 1996. The Fab Five and their baggy shorts were a distant memory. Shit, Shaq had already released two albums.
Luckily for Iverson fans, there’s plenty of wonderful Iverson moments that will last in eternity. Personally I will always remember his ferocious playing style, always willing to take it into the lane even though the average NBA freak outweighed him by 100 pounds. He survived on quickness and instinct to become one of the best little men in a big man’s game.
Still, barring the inevitable un-retirement to play for some team looking to take the short-term risk for the title in Starbury-esque fashion, here are one Iverson fan’s three greatest moments.
3. Crossing Jordan out of his new kicks during AI’s rookie year.
2. Ethering Tyrone Lue. As an AI-head and Laker Hater, I did believe at this moment Philly could pull it off.
1. One word: Practice.
Stephena.com Breaking Exclusive; Allen Iverson Retirement Statement [Stephen A]
Posted in GENERAL, Sports, Videos — Tags: Allen Iverson, Detroit Pistons, Memphis Grizzlies, NBA Basketball, Philadelphia 76ers, VIDEO
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20 Comments
From his exiting statements I would be surprised and sad if he stays retired. I just cannot except this day….
ol’ bubba chuck won’t stay retired long… someone will come knocking at his door. plus he’s a damn fool to retire! His lifetime contract w/ reebok pays him $6 mil for every season he plays…
Mario Elie has more rings.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Mario Elie has more rings.
____________________________________________________
*ouch*
The 76ers need to resign A.I.
Yep, when the PO’s come, someone will pick him up. Let an injury hit or they need a little extra heart for the run.
shit sounds more like a sorry ass “please pick me up”-statement than a willful retirement.
then again I guess his retirement wasn’t really willful/by his choice.
he’ll get picked up. get him a ring, let him really retire, and email espn to start playing his greatest games. I’ll watch.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LwTgriL29o&feature=player_embedded
AI’s Top Plays as a 76er, utter wildness…
His retirement eulogies by other outlets label AI as the man who brought Hip-Hop to the NBA
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Hip-Hop was in the NBA before AI wasn’t it? Was AI not wanting to abide by the rules set forth by the league considered to be “Hip-Hop”?
Don’t forget about the greatest rapper of all time…. Shaq! lol
LAAAAAAAAWWWWDDD JESUS !!!
NOOOOOOOO …….
To hell wit PRACTICE!
I don’t like to see him wrap his career up like this. Hell if I was the Nets GM i’d see if he’d go for the vet’s minimum for a year. He’d start and they can’t get any worse/irrelevant.
Do the right thing Rod.
Who remembers that J-Live joint “Practice”?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6Em_gB53eY
What are we talking bout? PRACTICE?!?
i herd today that the famous number 3 has retired? no way i mean i cant say i was suprised because the way things have ben going, but wait the same hungry allen iverson who crossed jordan his rookie year and became the symbol of heart and struggle and passion for philly? wow i mean so stoked when he played his first game , because it was supposed to be his rebirth as a player, lol ha and he came out and in my eyes was the best player out ther and seemed to score like classic A i .i mean that killer instink, that ruthless and raw skill , where, if you love him or hate hime ,all you can do is just sit back and say wow , clean, fast,easy, these are words i here when i watch him. He has will probably always be my favorit player , never seen a guy do the same moves the greats were doing , but like a whole lot faster ,i mean he won a champion ship game in highschool football and baskettball in the same year…. uhh what! have we forgot allready , peaple and coaches in bethal high school now say before ther was a michael vick, there was a alllen iverson… amazing punt return artist, and QB, he was unbelievable to watch as i chiled , ide like to call it god gifted, chiled protagy.speed of a jaguare and living in philly naturaly he had the eye of the tiger.i mean me being a baller myself i relate to hime a 100 percent, its not easy out here. it so easy to get cought up in everything out there …he has had his struggles and unlike every clean cut nba player , he was not ashamed to be real ,and hide these things that made him who he was, he was proud of his life and his tatoos they represted his journey in life and how he got out of a poverty. he is a voise to all the great street ball kids i philly and across the world , because he was the first one to stand up and say I AM… im here and you like the world cant stop me he put it all on the line and has nuthing to be ashamed of ,thank you allen for all the great moments , and nights on you tube where i can watch you amaze me yet again. as i come to my end ide just like to say dont let the tatoos the corn rows and gangster attitud daceive you , ARTIST thats what he was, like a roy jones jr , floyd mayweather, a talent that comes in once in a life time,i told myself it was always my dream to see allen iverson play one time in my life!!! when he got to memphis i bought a ticket to san antonio, spurs vs grizz sumtime in months to come, and they were right behind the grizzlies bench haha , never got to see him play, but still remember the lakers sixers game 1 champion ship when allen crossed that dude on the side lines, and then with hits the shot and steps over the guy. as to say i will not die today!!! i will love and miss you a i . hopefully you come back to us!!!! 1 last thing take this into consideration allen, jason kidd, jason williams , paul pierce ray allen , kobe bryant yeah i said it… these are guys not to long ago were out running and out hussiling, and with your heart and durable body you shoulked be out ther still showing off your pure skil.so many haters out there, but they dont understand the game or dont understand you….come back!!! i herd once that guarding you was like trying to hold water in the poum of your hand lol the answer is gone all we can do is sit back and remember….
The Boston Celtics need him.
Allen take your butt back to DC (Washington Wizards) and bring Tracy McGrady with u Dig!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Thats when the Wizards AI and MCGrady will get to to M – Top.
Good to see AI back in Philly where he belongs.
As an Iverson fan, you might dig this. Would love to hear your comments.
http://sportschump.net/2009/12/04/allen-iverson-comes-home/2410/