It's only a matter of time before Iverson departs

[Tammo29@xxxxxxx]

Posted on Mon, Mar. 15, 2004
 
It's only a matter of time before Iverson departs

By Stephen A. Smith

Inquirer Columnist


AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - The line in the sand has been drawn.
Any thought of the 76ers being a family, that Allen Iverson is actually a 
part of it, or, for the moment, that Iverson aspires to remain in Philadelphia, 
has been vastly overstated. And for those who want to get bold and call 
Iverson's supposed affinity for the franchise that signs his checks a flat-out lie, 
no one's stopping you.
Iverson may love this city, the people in it, the mansion he's built, the 
school his kids attend, but his commitment to and affection for the Sixers and 
the coach they presently employ has all but evaporated.
You can almost hear the beat inside Iverson's heart, thumping: "Houston, 
L.A., New York... please come get me out of here," while Sixers president Billy 
King languishes in the background, saying, "Give it time, little fella. Give it 
time."
As if further evidence was needed to illustrate the huge divide that exists 
between the Sixers' organization and their box-office draw, both parties 
provided the latest episode of this soap opera yesterday before a sellout crowd, a 
national television audience, and former 76ers coach Larry Brown.
Iverson, having missed the last three games, came out yesterday ready to 
play, but interim coach Chris Ford wouldn't let him. Concerned about Iverson's 
conditioning, based on the mercurial guard's lack of participation in practice, 
Ford told Iverson he could play only if he were willing to come off the bench.
"I'm a starter. Why would I come off the bench?" Iverson said, following the 
Sixers' 85-69 loss to the Pistons. "I've been a starter here for eight 
years... . I know it's been with us as Sixers that when a guy comes back off an 
injury, if he's been a starter, he starts."
Evidently, the rules have changed. And if anyone believes it is intentional, 
consider yourself a genius for a day.
The Sixers are fed up with acquiescing to Iverson. They're tired of yielding 
to him, bowing to his whim. If they need to fine him, bench him - whatever - 
hesitation no long will enter their minds.
"Somebody's got to make the decisions around here," Ford was overheard by 
reporters muttering to himself.
To some, such actions are an exercise in authority.
To others, they might be stupidity.
We are talking about the Sixers, after all.
Contrary to what the misinformed may believe, the Sixers are not better 
without Iverson. The main reason they entered yesterday's game with a 6-1 record 
without Iverson and Glenn Robinson in the lineup was because John Salmons is the 
antithesis of the man appropriately nicknamed the "Big Dog." Salmons actually 
believes in playing defense.
Yesterday served as the latest example of the Sixers' futility, as they were 
held to 31 second-half points, becoming the fifth straight team held under 70 
points by the Pistons. They were embarrassed by their former coach, possessing 
a much better roster than anything the Sixers have had in a decade.
Yet despite the Sixers' travails without Iverson, both Ford and Iverson think 
they are right in this latest episode.
The coach has the right to decide if a player should play, if he hasn't seen 
him endure a full-fledged practice. The player, particularly a star, has the 
right to expect to play whenever he says he's fit.
If right or wrong is the criterion, this situation would be a stalemate based 
on the evidence. But circumstantial or not, this situation is just the latest 
example of the Sixers taking a stand, finding every excuse necessary to flex 
their muscles against their $104 million man.
"[A coach questioning my conditioning] is something I've never been through 
in my life," Iverson said. "Some doctors can't stop me from playing... . Then 
for Coach to say that he thinks my conditioning isn't there, that was something 
new for me, because nobody ever told me that."
Said Ford: "He has yet to scrimmage full-court. If you look at the number of 
days he's been out, it's been quite a few days. I was concerned that if he 
would go out there and try to play, we could now lose him for another five games 
down the road... . I'm looking out for the good of A.I., plus the good of the 
team. That's what my job is to do."
Actually, it's just one of them.
In the world of the NBA, appeasing your star would qualify as another.
The Sixers have tired of that notion, so there's no need wondering if Iverson 
has tired of them.
Obviously, he has. When he'll let the rest of us know remains to be seen.


Contact columnist Stephen A. Smith at 215-854-5846 or ssmith@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 



TAM