Philadelphia, here I go!*

Frank Sinatra – As Time Goes By

One of the greats announced this week that he’s calling it a day. Allen Iverson is set to hang up his tats and leave the NBA a duller place.

An unbelievable player for the 69ers, ‘AI’ – who was quick to defend the ‘hip-hop’ culture of the league’s players, summed up everything that middle America grew to hate about the organisation with his heavily-inked arms, perceived bad attitude (check out his press conference) and busy social life.

Rick Reilly – then of Sports Illustrated – once challenged the prejudice against Iverson (and there was a major of racial element to this reputation, I think) with a piece that introduces an unnamed player, detailing his many (real and often unpublicised) virtues and achievements until – taddah! – the curtain is dramatically drawn back, leaving the haters spluttering cornflakes all over the diner counter.

There was however, the inconvenient truth; Iverson’s long rap-sheet. One incident in 2002, was brought to mind today when I gave pause for taught on ‘ol A.I.

As some might be prompted to remember a summer passed by the delicate scent of a late grandmother’s favourite flower in bloom. Or two faint bars of an old song might bring to mind a tide of happy memories, I found myself back in Wildwood, New Jersey thanks to Iverson.

A summer pushing shopping trolleys around a car park, wasting weeks arguing about Saipan (I’m missing half a tooth) and drinking cheap, warm beer ran parallel to the Philadelphia star’s own downward spiral.

In a sequence of events that ODB would have been a bit embarrassed about telling Method Man, Iverson threw his wife out of thier luxury home. And then the next night went around to his cousin’s house – I love that detail – with, allegedly, a weapon to look for soemone he thought was a love rival or something. The details are sketchy in my mind, I must admit. I think he got off in the end.

I’ll miss the crazy bastard.

*Yes, I know he’s actually a free agent and hasn’t played for the 69ers in years.