March 14
Philadelphia Inquirer
columnist Stephen A. Smith
"
Once upon a time it was hard to decipher what was more difficult to stomach: the foolish, detrimental behavior of a professional athlete or the apologists disguised as their inner circle, eager to excuse the inexcusable. And then there came Allen Iverson, who didn't make it difficult at all. We can sit around and pretend that Iverson was victimized last week. That somehow he was outed and his personal business was thrown out into the street. But the truth is, from missed practices to excessive tardiness to a flagrant disdain for authority in any venue he's frequented in the past decade, nothing new about Iverson's habits was revealed in the last few days. If only the same can be said about ..."
March 8
Philadelphia Inquirer
columnist Stephen A. Smith
"
His closest confidant asked the basketball world to pray for Allen Iverson, as if no one has all these years while seeing this train wreck coming. He acted as if the former 76ers star hadn't needed a significant dose of prayer, luck, and divine intervention until now. And as the rest of us are forced to bear witness to a disintegration, the rapid decline of a career clearly lacking nurturing, the time has arrived for Iverson's inner circle to stand up and be counted, to provide some semblance of tough love - by any means necessary. Unless those people are willing to write his epitaph instead. Just listening to Gary Moore, Iverson's business manager and the person he trusts most, they may ..."
March 4
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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A week after the Philadelphia 76ers' Allen Iverson announced he was leaving basketball for the rest of the season to be with his sick 4-year-old daughter, the star's wife filed for divorce in Fulton County Superior Court. In the divorce petition filed on Tuesday, Tawanna Iverson said her 8 ½-year-long marriage to the guard was "irretrievably broken." In the petition, Tawanna Iverson asked for temporary and permanent custody of their five children as well as child support and alimony. She did not ask for a specific dollar amount. The children range in ages from 17 months to 15 years."
February 23
Philadelphia Inquirer
columnist Stephen A. Smith
"
It's over. The tears. The jogging out to midcourt at the Wachovia Center to kiss the floor to raucous, rabid applause. The crackling voice, filled with gratitude and appreciation for an organization that said, "You can come home again." It all ended for Allen Iverson yesterday afternoon when the 76ers announced that, arguably, the greatest player in franchise history would be out "indefinitely" because of his daughter's illness - undoubtedly ending The Answer's career in Philadelphia. It wasn't supposed to end this way, of course. Not in Philadelphia. Not for Iverson, and not in the way he is departing. We can listen to Ed Stefanski, the Sixers' president and general manager, tell us that ..."
February 14
Philadelphia Inquirer
columnist Stephen A. Smith
"
As reporters went from table to table, they appeared entertained by Dwight Howard, transfixed by Kobe Bryant, and mesmerized by Kevin Garnett. Philadelphia's perennial all-star guard, Allen Iverson used to be one of those players, too. But on the eve of the 59th annual NBA All Star Game, times have changed for the 76ers' 11-time all-star. Howard is the future. Garnett is a former champion who will fight to the last breath. Bryant is a current champion who will gladly facilitate the demise of both. Meanwhile Iverson is barely an afterthought, headed toward irrelevance. Iverson, who was voted an all-star starter by the fans, declined to play in order to attend to the health of his sick ..."
February 13
Detroit Free Press
columnist Stephen A. Smith
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Now that Allen Iverson has elected to skip Sunday's NBA All-Star Game, reports circulating throughout the league have him retiring soon. According to those close to the Answer, there's no truth to that. But considering the personal issues that Iverson has endured of late, combined with how they have affected his willingness to play, we have to wonder: Is it time for Iverson to call it a career? It's a legitimate question, now more than ever."
February 12
Philadelphia Inquirer
columnist Stephen A. Smith
"
Now that Allen Iverson has elected to skip Sunday's NBA All-Star Game, reports circulating throughout the league have him retiring soon. According to those close to the Answer, there's no truth to that. But considering the personal issues that Iverson has endured of late, combined with how they have affected his willingness to play, we have to wonder: Is it time for Iverson to call it a career? It's a legitimate question, now more than ever. The 59th annual NBA All-Star Game is scheduled to take place at the new Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. More than 80,000 fans are expected, which would break the NBA's attendance record. Consider that Iverson received more than a million votes to ..."
February 12
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"
Ever since the All-Star reserves were announced and Smoove didn't make it, it's seemed everyone around him has been more outraged about it. Family, friends, fans, media-everyone seems to think Smoove got screwed, except for Smoove. And it continued that way right up to the All-Star break. After the Hawks lost to the Heat last night, someone asked Smoove if he hoped to be picked as the replacement for A. I., who it turns out won't play for personal reasons. Commish Stern picked Knicks center David Lee to replace him. "My flight is booked," Smoove said, laughing. "I'm really not even thinking about that. I am thinking about sticking my feet in the sand." He's headed to the Turks and Caicos ..."