Allen come lately blasted by Phil Jasner Daily News Sports Writer He wouldn't say he would trade Allen Iverson. He wouldn't say he would fine or suspend him. He wouldn't say what action he would take. But Larry Brown's frustration, anger, possibly even disgust for what he views as an intolerable situation with his star player were more obvious than ever as he met with reporters yesterday to discuss why he decided to stay rather than continue to discuss the possibility of becoming the University of North Carolina coach. All of the things Brown wouldn't say, he powerfully intimated, including a skepticism about the level of influence former Los Angeles Lakers star Magic Johnson might have on the situation. Give Brown credit; when he decided to continue working for the Sixers, his eyes were wide open. Trade Iverson? Fine and/or suspend him more than last season if he continues his pattern of latenesses and absences once training camp starts? Anyone listening to Brown yesterday had to come away believing the coach was prepared to try anything. There might be a more volatile coach/player relationship in the NBA, but, then again, there might not be. "I don't think Iverson's an issue with me at all if he comes on time, if he wants to practice, to practice on a daily basis," Brown said. "If he wants to follow the rules all the other players follow, then he's not going to have a problem with me at all. "But if it continues to be a situation where he's late, he doesn't practice, he doesn't do the things the other players do, then it's going to be a problem. But he was no factor in my decision to go or stay." Iverson, though, is a huge factor in the Sixers' plans, one way or another. During his charity event last weekend in Hampton, Va., Iverson said that it would be "extremely hard" for him to continue playing for Brown, but that he could do it if necessary. Iverson also said his history of lateness for team functions and his reluctance to practice regularly amounted to "a minor thing" that easily could be corrected. "I've been hearing the same conversation about 'I'm going to change and I'm going to do better' for four years," Brown said. "Somewhere along the line, you've got to say, 'Hey, I've got to be responsible enough and care about the team enough,' and I don't know what the answer is. But I'm tired of everybody talking about my relationship with Allen Iverson. "I wonder what your relationship would be with any employee you might have who doesn't choose to come to work on time, or who doesn't choose to come to work at all, who doesn't choose to do the things everybody else in the organization does, and then says he's upset with the way he's being treated. "I've got 12 guys committed to doing what's right. We've got to have everybody on the same page. My goal is to put the best team possible on the court, to represent the city in the right way. This is the greatest team game if it's played the right way. My goal is to make sure that that happens. If his rhetoric again is right about [how] he's going to do things right, then he'll be here and be a big part of this team. "I remember the end of [the 1998-99] season, we talked about the things he needed to do, that he was going to do, and it didn't change. I had a great conversation [with Iverson] after this season, so we'll see. I'm hopeful, but. . ." Sixers president Pat Croce, in an effort to bring Brown and Iverson closer together and to promote team unity, told Iverson it "would be a major step forward" if Iverson participated in the pre-summerleague camp that begins today at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. "If it was me, I'd be here, but I don't know," Croce said, pointing out that attendance by veterans is not mandatory. "It would definitely demonstrate he's trying to extend an olive branch to Larry. [But] I don't speak for Allen Iverson. I don't speak for Larry Brown. They're both grown men. I can only speak for Pat Croce, hoping the relationship can work out. I'm trying to do everything in my power to make it work out. "If Allen can be here, it would be a major step forward. But it's so hard to get to him. You can't call him, you can't e-mail him, you can't fax him." A message left for Iverson by the Daily News through his attorney, Larry Woodward, went unanswered. Iverson, Matt Geiger and George Lynch were missing from the veteran group of players who have been scrimmaging the last couple of days at PCOM, brought together by captain Eric Snow. Geiger has been working with a personal trainer at his Florida home. Lynch was fulfilling a clinic commitment overseas. Snow said he has had teammates (with Seattle, earlier in his career) with worse records of punctuality than Iverson. "He's still a good kid, has a great heart and everybody likes him," Snow said. "The things being discussed [about him] are major in the big picture, but are definitely things than can be fixed, that can be controlled. . .all fixable. "The big thing about it, coach Brown has done it one way and one way only his whole career, and that clashes with some things Allen has done. I guess it's up to the players to help fix it, but the players can only do so much. Through all this, we still won 49 games. That should be the focus. Maybe if we correct the scenario, we'll have a better opportunity." During the NBA Finals, as Iverson discussed with Johnson the possibility of playing in Johnson's summer charity game in Los Angeles, the two also spoke about Iverson's situation with the Sixers. Johnson was a guest of Iverson last weekend, and was one of the pitchers in Iverson's charity softball game. Johnson also had a three-way conversation with Iverson and Croce that Croce felt was productive. "Magic got out of coaching [after a brief stretch with the Lakers]," Brown said. "I heard he was concerned guys had cell phones. At least they were there with their cell phones. I'm curious if Allen was Magic's teammate, if Magic would accept some of the things we're talking about. Maybe he should be coaching him." Said Snow: "I don't see how a Laker can pretty much help the Sixers that much." Again, Brown's eyes are wide open. And as the Sixers' vice president of basketball operations, holding a five-year contract believed to be worth more than $30 million, he has the authority to make whatever changes he deems necessary. "I've been here," Brown said. "They asked me to stay. We've got to get better, and that's going to be our goal. If it means changing this team, we'll change the team. But we've got a good core of players, a good group of guys. We're going to figure out a way to make this thing work. "[Iverson] is a big part of our team, he's a big asset. If he would come back and act like the rest of the guys on the team and be committed, not just showing up and playing, playing injured like he does. . . We're a team. There are other things involved in being part of the team. We're just exploring every possibility to improve this team." ------------------ "Is this thing on? I'm in charge now"-Alexander Haig
Moe, It is not that he does not have anything significant to say. The nature of his post was merely to demean everyone else. From the sound of your post, his sarcasm was obviously above you - surprising seeing as you are pretty sarcastic yourself. The purpose of this forum is to express ideas, ludicrous or otherwise. When someone who thinks they are smarter or more knowledgeable comes out to put everyone down they deserved to be called out. Believe me, I came into this BBS the same way - arrogant and insulting and I got my head handed to me and rightfully so. If you think a trade is unlikely just say so - don't hide behind witless sarcasm. By the way, when I referred to long time posters, I was speaking about everyone else - not just myself. ------------------
Moe and B-ball Freak I never knew posting on the Clutch City BBS made you knowledgable about basketball. But even so, I can tell you that this isnt the first time I have posted here. Just the first time under this username. If 80 posts is the standard for having credibility on this site I can tell you I passed that amount a few years ago under the username Rockethead2. If you dont like reading what Ive got to say simply dont read it! This is an open forum and everybody has a right to post their opinion on it. My opinion on this issue is simply this. Why don't we talk about more feasible issues than trades that will never happen. It's hard to believe that somebody could be so offended by a little sarcasm. ------------------
Freak, So you think I missed his sarcasm, huh. Hardly. I just have a hard time buying into this "long-time posters are better than newer posters" crap that seems to pop up on occasion. I particularly don't buy your "they did it to me, so I'm going to do it to someone else argument". There is plenty of sarcasm from time to time on this BBS. Just because you're a long time poster, doesn't make your sarcasm "better". I understand that Popeye got lambasted when he first started posting because he was new. It's silly to think that way. ------------------
I think popeye got lambasted pretty good when he was old too. Oh, I'm sorry, was that too sarcastic? ------------------
Don't mind me, I'm just trying to reach 300 posts so I can attain a new level of credibility. ------------------
Well, I don't see what about this is not feasible. Of course, this could not happen straight up. Other players would need to be involved, but the response you gave could have been saved for something a bit more improbable. Iverson ain't going to make it in Sixerville (read above article - I mean the coach is calling him out publicly). I prefer he is exiled to Clipperland myself. How can you compare that to Shaq or Vince? In this "open forum", why would you choose to make someone feel foolish for a scenario that is not so crazy? That is what *issed me off. ------------------
Moe, Get off the credibility-schtick. That was never said by me. There is a way to disagree without belittling. People put their ideas on the line in here. Why not say why it is improbable instead of making fun of the original poster? ------------------
You gonna need more than 500 posts to gain credibility around here! I get no respect! To be great you must be have a complex... Clutch: Great Gatsby syndrome. Jenna: Boo hoo! I need some attention Dignity Bear: Bad Boy syndrome Oil Pere: Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde complex Bob Fin: Mr "Chat"ty Jeff: To be or not to be?, that is my next question. ------------------ humble, but hungry.
BigDady: I was never insulted by your remark. If you don't wanna talk about this scenario, then dont, but you dont have to be an @$$ about it either. Anyway, I was getting sick of hearing about Rashard Lewis and Austin Croshere, so I thought I'd make a new thread. Oh well! ------------------ President of the Chris Webber fan club.
didn't mean to come off like an @$$ and wasn't trying to offend anyone and wasn't trying to use sarcasm to make others feel foolish and certainly wasn't comparing Iverson to Carter or Shaq. Just my way of saying I didn't think the 6 ers would go for it. Truthfully though, if we could make it work with Francis, Iverson, and Anderson at the 1,2,3......Hmmmmm, who cares about a power forward. Wouldn't that be too much fun to see? Who cares about Iverson's attitude. Rudy is a much different coach than Brown. Brown is a no nonsense, do as I say sort of coach and Rudy seems to be more of a players coach. I think Rudy could make it work well. I just don't see it happening. That's all. ------------------
PhiSlammaJamma Does dignity bear still post? Havn't been to the board in just over 9 months. Last I heard, Clutch took care of this cancer. ------------------
Doesnt this page indicate that the ROCKETS are over the cap for about 15$million>>> ------------------ I dont have one but ..............................maybe later
Iverson and Francis. Wow. That might be the fastest, most altheltic, high flying backcourt in the history of the league. Maybe damn near unstoppable. Nobody could match it. Nobody could stop it. The quickness unleashed would leave a trail of destruction longer than the Great Wall of China. Would be awesome. But will never happen. ------------------ humble, but hungry.
I'd rather have Mobley than Iverson. Heck, I'd rather have almost anybody than Iverson. ------------------ I Hate Every Bone in Your Body But Mine
BigdaddyD, We like our little scenarios here. Your weak attempt at sarcasm is unappreciated, especially since you are a first time poster. You have never put your two balls on the court, so to speak, to say anything in this forum. You probably registered just to slam us long time posters. Tell you what, why don't you say something significant a couple times before you earn the right to come in here and be dissin and dismissin. nuff said ------------------
No. I think we stuffed the dignity bear and mounted him in the rafters somewhere. The nightmare is over. ------------------ humble, but hungry.
the only way the rocks will ever get Iverson is if we trade francis for him straight up ------------------ "There are two rules for success... 1) Never tell everything you know."
