Saturday, March 15, 2014

Does retiring Allen Iverson's number send the right "message" to our youth?



A few weeks ago the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers retired former star guard Allen Iverson’s jersey number. On paper, it certainly made sense; supposedly one of the best pound-for-pound basketball players, the 6-0, 165-lbs Iverson averaged 26.7 points-per-game over his 17-year career, including four scoring titles. But after the 2007-2008 season playing for the Denver Nuggets, injuries, low production and “personal” issues marked his remaining few years in league. A few people might question the relevance of the honor bestowed upon him, since Iverson was blamed for the introduction and acceptance by certain demographics of “gangsta” culture in the NBA, which alienated many in the white audience. That is obvious around here, since only a hardcore group misses the departed Seattle Sonics, while the Washington Huskies basketball team has hardly been noticed, since they are not winning. 

The “Afro” hair style of the 1970s was more amusing than “threatening,” but the corn-rows, baggy shorts, tattoos, skin-piercing and wearing “street” outfits instead of suits was something else. So were players bringing guns into locker rooms, and court brawls between players and/or with fans, and deliberate attempts to maim and injure opponents. At the very least, Iverson brought the look and attitude of the “street” into the NBA, although he preferred to let those in his “entourage” do his fighting for him.\

Iverson grew-up in impoverished circumstances in Hampton, Virginia which is about evenly split between whites and blacks. Gang activity is a problem of note, although no different in scope than similar locales. Local law enforcement notes that most gang-related crimes (burglary, assault, murder) are committed by those who are legally juveniles; many civic leaders in the community complain that these offenders are often given “lenient” punishment by the court system, which does not deter further offenses. Iverson himself was “initiated” at an early age in this culture, having been present when a murder was committed when he was eight. His mother’s next boyfriend he called “dad” and who apparently was a career criminal; but Iverson never found fault with him, claiming that his “dad” committed crimes “for them.”

Iverson was a star athlete in high school, although apparently this drew as much unwanted as wanted attention in the racially-polarized city. When he was 17 he and his friends (all black) allegedly caused a “disturbance” at a local bowling alley, after which a brawl broke out with white patrons, all who would claim “self-defense.” Iverson was alleged to have beaned a woman in the head with a chair, but he claimed he left the building when the fight started. He and his friends fled before the police arrived, but the battered whites knew who Iverson was and named him as the “responsible” party. Iverson and three others were arrested and charged, but none of the whites were. The case became the occasion for charges of racism, including by the local media and the white judge who doled out outrageously heavy-handed punishment—15 years in prison, 10 suspended. The notoriety of the case was such that after four months in prison, the governor granted Iverson clemency, and his conviction was overturned on appeal. 

Iverson was sent to a high school for “at-risk” students, but Georgetown coach John Thompson took a flyer with him after Iverson’s mother paid him a visit. Iverson was a star for the Hoyas, and although he managed to avoid incidents with the law, Thompson was unable to “reform” Iverson or instill an appreciation for the educational opportunity he was being given. At a time when most star college players were still doing their four years, Iverson chose to leave college after two—the first player for Thompson to have left school early.

The next stop for Iverson was the Philadelphia 76ers, where he starred almost immediately. However, coach Larry Brown accused him of being “selfish” and “lazy.” Iverson’s high scoring percentage was clearly the product of taking a lot of shots, as his career 42 percent field-goal shooting indicated; he averaged 31.4 points in 2001-2002 despite a near career low 39.8 shooting percentage.  Charges that he was “lazy” certainly stem from this and his oft-stated aversion to “practice.” 

But it was Iverson’s iconoclastic cultural “values” that drew the most attention, mostly negative. His off-court activities—guns, drugs, alcohol, fights, gambling, out-of-control spending—merely confirmed what people saw in his manner of dress and style. Iverson’s need for “respect” apparently also required an unusually large “posse” or “entourage,” with as many as fifty people serving as “aids,” friends and moochers. Wherever they turned-up anyone in the way had to part like the Red Sea; when they didn’t, brawls were likely to occur. In at least three such incidents, Iverson and his various bodyguards were charged with assault and causing serious injury.

Ralph Wiley wrote about how like Tupac Shakur, Iverson became caught-up in the “thug life” when he didn’t need to, and wouldn’t let go of it:

I've been told Patrick Ewing tried to jack up Alley I. in a NBA locker room a couple of years ago, told him to straighten up and fly right. Or at least try. Charles Barkley tried talking to him. John Thompson tried talking to him. Pat Croce tried. Larry Brown tried. Billy Knight tried. But a Thug Lifer figures nobody knows the trouble he's seen; trouble was invented just for him. Nobody knows him, nobody but another Thug Lifer. Nobody else has been through the hell they've been through, or faced a society that didn't want him, hated him, forced him to its margins. 

Oh, no? Sure they have. All those men have been in the same or similar situations, of being the Outsider, one way or another. But they made it to the inside, and so has Allen Iverson, only he can't see it, doesn't realize it, or doesn't want to. The men who would be surrogate fathers have gotten frustrated with Allen for thinking the world had a special crucible just for him. He's too young to be bitter, but he was.

He’s not the only one, of course. Aaron Hernandez, formerly of the New England Patriots, had received a second chance after being implicated in a homicide, inking a new multi-million dollar contract and living in a mansion in an exclusive neighborhood. Unfortunately, he couldn’t leave the “thug” in him behind, or his mooching sycophantic “entourage.” Today, he awaits trial on a new murder charge, having thrown the good life away without a thought of the consequences. Others, like Ron Artest (who hypocritically calls himself “Meta World Peace”), likely would be dead or serving a long prison sentence by now if they didn’t have the good fortune of having enough talent for the NBA not to ignore.

Iverson’s refusal to live a normal life has cost him dear. The “price” for having “friends” on his payroll ran into seven-figures each year, When he filed for bankruptcy last year, past due payments, mortgages, massive gambling debts, alimony and child support were just part of his then expense account. His income was “only” $62,500 a month, and he claimed he needed $10,000 for clothes, $10,000 for groceries, $10,000 for dining and entertainment—and $1,000 for dry cleaning (for what—suits he never wore?). After taxes, that doesn’t leave much. Iverson also lost millions on his foreclosed mansions, which he seemed to have little use for himself to begin with. He eventually settled with his ex-wife after a divorce court judge told him he “didn’t know how to be a father,” paying out $3 million plus $8,000 a month in child support. 

Iverson isn’t totally broke, however; it was revealed that he has a secret “trust fund” worth $32 million set aside for him by Reebok, who had a shoe endorsement deal with Iverson. It still exists because Iverson can’t get his hands on it until 2030, at which time his ex-wife will get half of it. 

When you have a lot of money that is too easily had, it doesn’t seem real. It’s just there to spend, with no thought of the future. Iverson apparently never thought of the future, just living for the day. That’s all part of the nihilism of the “thug life,” showing off to people and buying “respect.” But at least Iverson had a good time while the money lasted, and he has his jersey hanging from the rafters. So much for sending a “message” to our youth.

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