littlebulldog Registered User
Posts: 2281
(8/1/05 8:32 pm)
Re: Iverson 1 hour interview on ESPN2
The funniest thing... he was a bit upset that he doesn't ever get consideration for 1st Team Defense. Said he taught Larry Hughes everything he knows.
stevesnis Registered User
Posts: 347
(8/2/05 9:19 am)
Re: Iverson 1 hour interview on ESPN2
One of the most compelling, fascinating interviews i've ever seen. This is AI. Warts and all. To me, this interview absolutely crystalizes who he is. Half of what he said had me cringing on my couch thinking "did he really just say that???", but the other half had me thinking, "go 'head AI, speak the truth...". This really showed how polarizing a figure he can be. The interview showed why so many love AI, and at the same time, so may hate AI.
Truly great stuff. When they hit the split screen and showed LB talking about AI, and AI crying while listening to it, you truly see what a profound effect LB had on him. But the people who hate AI are still gonna hate him after this. The hat down over his eyes, the Biggie/Pac t-shirt, etc won't win any new fans, but those who accept him for what he is, come away with even greater respect.
His quote of "I'd rather not play in the NBA than be fake..." was absolutely representative of this interview. Here he is, ladies and gentlemen, from your Philadelphia 76ers...........Allen Iverson.
-stevesnis
sargent1 Registered User
Posts: 150
(8/2/05 9:31 am)
Re: Iverson 1 hour interview on ESPN2
There's just no denying that he's a walking contradiction, but it's a microcosm of society. I also believe that in many instances, AI has trouble expressing exactly what he means, and it gets him in trouble. The part that sent chills up my spine was when he talked about why he hasn't left philly, and said he doesn't want to leave behind the kids that have been cheering for him, as a sixer, for the past 10 years. That loyalty, which is so rare in todays sports world, is why I love AI.
Chill Registered User
Posts: 1228
(8/2/05 11:49 am)
Re: Iverson 1 hour interview on ESPN2
how is AI a walking contradiction?
Legend76 Registered User
Posts: 1627
(8/2/05 1:47 pm)
Re: Iverson 1 hour interview on ESPN2
So Allen really did get emotional, huh? I only listened to the replay at 3:00AM while in bed. I had no idea AI almost lost it while talking about LB. Wow. Great interview by the way...
stevesnis Registered User
Posts: 348
(8/2/05 1:48 pm)
Re: Iverson 1 hour interview on ESPN2
Quote:how is AI a walking contradiction?
Because so many people view him in a certain way. Back to last night's interview, most people who don't follow the Sixers like we do, look at AI and say, "oh he's a selfish guy who can't get along with his coaches...he ran Larry Brown out of town, etc etc" And with some of AI's past actions you'd tend to think that he might not respect his coach.
But yet, if you watched him last night, sitting there with tears in his eyes when SAS played a clip of LB talking about him, you suddenly realize just how much he loves his former coach, and how much LB meant to him as a player and as a man.
sanders0n Registered User
Posts: 102
(8/2/05 1:52 pm)
Re: Iverson 1 hour interview on ESPN2
Great Interview, AI did himself, his fam and the Sixers well ... nothing new for those of us that have followed him religiously but for the 'rest' of the world, I can only imagine their response. Can't wait for TO to follow.
Not sure about SAS doing a 1hr show each night. Should be interesting.
Sanders0n-
jemagee Registered User
Posts: 355
(8/2/05 1:59 pm)
Re: Iverson 1 hour interview on ESPN2
That doesn't make AI a walking contradiction as much as it makes people stupid, asinine morons who can't be bothered to learn the facts and just take what they hear for granted as the truth. He is who he is, if other people think he's something he's not, that's on them not him.
I was impressed with SAS and his "restraint" in that interview, so unlike his annoying person on ESPN shows and no "look how smart I am" words either.
Did like when Iverson took a veiled, but pretty obvious, swipe at Eskin.
Re: Iverson 1 hour interview on ESPN2
I also watched it at 3am (stupid @#%@% ESPN! Can't they move it at 11pm say and stop showing Poker or drag racing???)
There are few things that I actually was surprised and happy to hear...
Other than the family stuff, and AI's good side which I've seen and known, there are three things that struck my attention:
Firstly, his way of telling the media, leave Kobe alone - he's who he is, don't try and make him something he's not. And he stood up and said "I know he didn't do it", in addition to using him as an example for all the young guys that one mistake can potentially ruin your career...If I am Kobe I call AI today and say "thanks". He pretty much stood up for Kobe, at least that's how I viewed it.
Secondly, his "defensive" expectations. Kidding aside, Allen did sound as if he was determined to get on that defensive team. And when he puts it on his mind, he can do it. He's not a bad defender unlike most people consider him, because I've seen him shut down his man when he absolutely had to or get crucial steals and win a game, but he's not focused on defense. If he go into training camp focused to do that, I think he can be a good defender.
Thirdly, his view of the team. Firstly he said he expects Webber to be in shape, healthy and ready to go. He said Webber and he are cool, and he said that he expects Webber to be Webber and not because he plays with him, but because he feels Webber wants that as well. But my favorite was when he pretty much said that if anyone of his teammates causes any trouble with Cheeks, he'd have to deal with Allen (and he wasn't polite on what he'd do if that happened ). Which is kind of nice to hear your best player openly warning his teammates that, look, I love you guys, but if you dare confront Mo, you'd have to deal with me first
Other than that, well, we know AI. It was an eye -opening for the rest who don't.
Theo
stevesnis Registered User
Posts: 349
(8/2/05 2:35 pm)
Re: Iverson 1 hour interview on ESPN2
Quote:That doesn't make AI a walking contradiction as much as it makes people stupid, asinine morons who can't be bothered to learn the facts and just take what they hear for granted as the truth. He is who he is, if other people think he's something he's not, that's on them not him.
But admittedly, AI has done and said things in the past that can be looked at critically, and would cause people to look at him like he's a "bad guy." Yet he also does and says things that would make even those same critics stand up and say, Wow, i had no idea how loyal he was, how hard he played, how much he gives to charity etc etc...
He basically said that he told Lebron that he should "be fake", because it's easier than "being real." Yet in the same breath, he said, "I'd rather not be in the NBA than be fake"
So i don't thinks it's that difficult to look at AI, (or any one of us for that matter) and say that at times he's contradictory.
-stevesnis
jemagee Registered User
Posts: 357
(8/2/05 2:57 pm)
Re: Iverson 1 hour interview on ESPN2
Show me a human being on this planet who isn't contradictory at times, and i'll show you a good liar
I think more grief is heaped on this guy BECAUSE of his honesty and forthrightness. He doesn't think in "PR" terms, he just speaks what he feels.
What he was doing is warning, i felt, lebron, that honesty can get you in trouble in this day and age of overzealous journalists looking for a story, blowing it out proportion in all likelihood not so much to report the news but to sell stories.
stevesnis Registered User
Posts: 350
(8/2/05 3:01 pm)
Re: Iverson 1 hour interview on ESPN2
Quote:I think more grief is heaped on this guy BECAUSE of his honesty and forthrightness. He doesn't think in "PR" terms, he just speaks what he feels.
EXACTLY!!! 100% agree with you. Which is why so many people love him, and so many hate him. He's not unlike Barkley in that way. You may not want to hear it, but it's comin out anyway.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not criticizing AI for being contradictory. Not at all. It's just fascinating to me how polarizing a public figure he is.
-stevesnis
sargent1 Registered User
Posts: 152
(8/2/05 3:37 pm)
Re: Iverson 1 hour interview on ESPN2
Maybe it's just the way he expresses himself, makes it seem like he's contradicting himself, examples: Saying he advices young players not to make the mistakes he made entering the league (one assumes hanging out with the wrong crowd, etc..) then saying that they need to be fake. Another time he says Mo is the perfect coach, him or John Thompson is what he wanted, then saying LB is the greatest coach ever. There were many quotes that fell in this category. Like I said, it may be more his manner of expression, than any contradiction.
). Which is kind of nice to hear your best player openly warning his teammates that, look, I love you guys, but if you dare confront Mo, you'd have to deal with me first 
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