There is a report from SLAM (the mothership, not the one here) that Allen Iverson is about to announce his retirement in the next few days.
Allen Iverson. The 6'0" guard who feared no one. Someone who Magoo Marjon can really equate with the interjection "Buwis Buhay."
The guy who has the cojones to do this to His Airness.
He drove with reckless abandon, his swag was wickedly amazing. Everyone and his mama knew he is the first, second, third and fourth option in Philadelphia, and yet he still gets it done.
Those Sixers teams were perfectly built for him. Guys like Aaron McKie, George Lynch, Eric Snow, Dikembe Mutombo, Tyrone Hill. They took care of the dirty work, and let Allen take care of them. More often than not, he bailed them out in more ways than one.
He could have had a championship ring, but arguably one of the greatest teams in Lakers history stood in his way. But he did have his indelible Finals moment.
He was the anti-establishment, someone who was comfortable in his own skin and in his own image, in a way that he expressed his rebellious and exuberant on court persona made the suits in the NBA go pause. Through Allen, the hiphop culture invaded the league and helped it evolve into what eventually has turned into today. Of course, the NBA had a ready response to protect their image. But it felt inevitable, anyway.
The Answer was the anarchist, who delivered on-ball chaos with crossovers, death-defying drives, bowling ball-esque mayhem in the lane. His small frame bore the brunt of the contact and the pain and yet he still got up and did it again. Over and over.
One might say, one aspect of his game became the template for one Dwyane Wade.
He owns a legendary soundbite, and basically started the sleeve trend.
It is not about if he gets in, but when will he get in. And when that day comes, he will speak to his peers and to an audience and he will still be who he is. He is Allen Iverson. He is simply the Answer.
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