An article from my local paper

[alfdogg 0]

This is from my paper in Anderson (Indiana, not Pennsylvania). This guy writes some good columns that I've wanted to post here, but haven't really got around to it.

 

We should be glad Iverson represents our country

By Mike Beas

 

Earlier this week the United States began fighting for its Olympic basketball life at the FIBA Americas Olympic qualifying tournament in Puerto Rico.

 

This, of course, wouldn't be necessary had the US not laid a sixth-place eggat last summer's forgettable World Championships in Indianapolis.

 

That US squad didn't include Allen Iverson: This one does.

 

Arguably the world's premier roundball talent not standing 6-1 or taller, the 6-foot, 165-pounds-soaking-wet Iverson is chomping at the bit to lead his country to Olympic gold in Athens in 2004. He's smiling. Engaging. A kid let loose in a hoops candy store.

 

And yet there are those who believe Iverson shouldn't represent the United States because, shall we say, he's not an accurate representation of what our country is about.

 

Oh, really? Let's delve a bit deeper.

 

* Iverson for all 28 years of his life has been a resident of this country. We could even go as far as saying he's more American than his US qualifying team teammates due to the fact he was born and raised in the Commonwealth of Virginia, which helped kick off this 50 states thing all those years ago.

 

* Those cornrows, tattoos and 'do rags - sorry to break it to you, folks, but Iverson didn't exactly corner the market on these street-motivated methods of self-expression. They were here long before he arrived and will be here long after he launches his final 3-pointer.

 

* Our Olympic coach is none other than Larry Brown, the 62-year-old nomad for whom Iverson played for six seasons in Philadelphia. Iverson knows Brown's system and expectations better than anyone. Heck, he may know Brown better than anyone - the obvious exception being, of course, Mrs. Brown.

 

The United States of America long has encouraged its reputation as the ultimate melting pot, comprised of people of various skin colors, religions, political beliefs and nationalities.

 

Like it or not, Iverson is one of ours, so be careful who you're looking to kick to the curb. Especially if that guy possesses a first step quicker than Roseanne after someone yells "dinner."

 

This is just my opinion, but the ultimate starting five against the rest of the globe would be Iverson at point guard, Kobe Bryant at the 2-guard, Shaquille O'Neal in the post and Tim Duncan and the Indiana Pacers' Jermaine O'Neal at the forwards.

 

Kobe won't be there for reasons well-publicized and Shaq is spending his off-season months in the weightroom sweating off the cupcake-created spare tire that in 2002-03 slowed down the Los Angeles Lakers' bid for another NBA crown.

 

But we still have Duncan, Jermaine O'Neal, Ray Allen, etc. And we have Allen Iverson. Guaranteed that a year from now you'll be glad we do.

 

What do *you* guys think?

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

Pretty short column, and it didn't do that much for me.

 

I'm an A.I. fan and think he should be on any national team if he wants the job.

 

If he doesn't get on one of these "dream" teams, I can still sleep at night though...

[Guest Choken One]

Iverson is a great player for the team and is a good representive...

[Rendclaw 0]

and if it wasn;t for the apathy of the majority of players in the league, we would still be undefeated.

 

I remember what Magic said when the original Dream Team came together... they weren't there to disrespect anybody. They were there to win the gold medal and no one was going to stop them.

 

No one did.

 

The Dream Team II came about, with a mixture of veterans and the young lions of the league, and some of them started showing disrespect for the opposition, never mind the Dream Team III antics.