About 305 years ago, a defining member of this city - William Penn - left Philadelphia for his English homeland. Today, another defining citizen of the City of Brotherly Love is on his way out of town.
As everyone has heard by now, AI has been traded to the Nuggets for Andre Miller, the expiring contract of Joe Smith (one of the top five worst #1 Overall Draft Picks of all time), and two late first round picks. Under the circumstances, this is not a horrible deal by Billy King, but that's besides the point right now.
Today is about AI and remembering how he defined the heart and soul of this city for the past decade. I can't think of another athlete that has personified the very being of this city the way AI has. The only guy I can even think of from my life time that you can even mention in the same breath as AI is Bobby Clarke.
AI was the epitome of what we have always wanted in a star athlete. On top of being supremely talented, he had the intangibles that have been missing from other Philly Sports Stars such as D Mac, Lindros, Ricky Watters, Randall, Scott Rolen, Jim Thome, Forsberg, and Barkley. He was fearless, death match competitive, tough as nails, seemingly impervious to pain, cocky, and supremely loyal. He was a latter day Warrior.
In last week's issue of SI, Chris Ballard describes AI's relationship with Philly perfectly:
There are so many moments from AI's career both on and off the court that are simply unforgettable. First and foremost, how can anyone ever forget his run through the 2001 playoffs when AI simply carried the Sixers to the NBA Finals. (The only Philly playoff performances you can even put in the same ballpark are the 2004 run by Keith Primeau, the Dude's 1993 performance in the NLCS and World Series and Ron Hextall's playoff MVP winning performance in the 1987 Stanley Cup Playoffs.) In 2001, AI carried a bunch of muckers and grinders (to borrow a hockey reference) to the championship series by sheer will and determination. During the Eastern Conference Playoffs, he would simply not let our Sixers lose. I envy my buddy the Captain. He was there for just about every game and knew he was witnessing something he'd one day tell his grandkids about.
I'll also remember little moments like the "killer crossover" against Jordan in AI's rookie year and how he reacted when he won the 2001 MVP as he immediately asked "where's coach?", as he wanted Larry Brown to share the spotlight. I'll remember his duel with Vinsanity in the 2001 Eastern Conference Semis. Their battles were simply amazing, a latter day version of Bird vs. 'Nique. Honestly though, I don't have a favorite performance by the Answer. They all kind of molded together over the years as the guy scored 40 or 50 so many times. It's just about impossible to pick a favorite.
He also had the single best professional athlete press conference of all time. For ease of reference, here it is:
Maybe the guy didn't make his teammates better and he sure wasn't going to change his game to develop younger players to help the team rebuild. For this reason, I'm ok with the trade. AI has gone as far as he could with this team and this inept GM. The Sixers owed it to him to send him to another place where he can contend and rejuvenate himself.
Unfortunately, I can't tell you that 'Melo and AI together on the Nuggets will be a match made in Heaven. Melo is obviously the best player AI has ever been paired with, but the Answer has never played nice with another perimeter scorer. For AI's sake, I hope it works out for the best, but I don't think Denver will rise much higher than the 3rd best team in the West.
While I think we're all happy for the guy and wish him the best, I'd rather focus on AI in a Sixers uniform and what it was like to have the privilege of watching him play. Thanks for the Memories AI. You won't soon be forgotten.
As everyone has heard by now, AI has been traded to the Nuggets for Andre Miller, the expiring contract of Joe Smith (one of the top five worst #1 Overall Draft Picks of all time), and two late first round picks. Under the circumstances, this is not a horrible deal by Billy King, but that's besides the point right now.
Today is about AI and remembering how he defined the heart and soul of this city for the past decade. I can't think of another athlete that has personified the very being of this city the way AI has. The only guy I can even think of from my life time that you can even mention in the same breath as AI is Bobby Clarke.
AI was the epitome of what we have always wanted in a star athlete. On top of being supremely talented, he had the intangibles that have been missing from other Philly Sports Stars such as D Mac, Lindros, Ricky Watters, Randall, Scott Rolen, Jim Thome, Forsberg, and Barkley. He was fearless, death match competitive, tough as nails, seemingly impervious to pain, cocky, and supremely loyal. He was a latter day Warrior.
In last week's issue of SI, Chris Ballard describes AI's relationship with Philly perfectly:
Philly is a city that falls in love with its sports heroes easily yet tires of them quickly, but it was different with Iverson. From the beginning, Philadelphians saw themselves in him (or at least they hoped they did), and they embraced him for it. Like Philly, he is rough around the edges, uncouth and unpredictable, but his heart is in the right place. He is undersized and plays out of position, but he never took a play off. In a city where effort is prized above talent, he was a workingman's icon.
There are so many moments from AI's career both on and off the court that are simply unforgettable. First and foremost, how can anyone ever forget his run through the 2001 playoffs when AI simply carried the Sixers to the NBA Finals. (The only Philly playoff performances you can even put in the same ballpark are the 2004 run by Keith Primeau, the Dude's 1993 performance in the NLCS and World Series and Ron Hextall's playoff MVP winning performance in the 1987 Stanley Cup Playoffs.) In 2001, AI carried a bunch of muckers and grinders (to borrow a hockey reference) to the championship series by sheer will and determination. During the Eastern Conference Playoffs, he would simply not let our Sixers lose. I envy my buddy the Captain. He was there for just about every game and knew he was witnessing something he'd one day tell his grandkids about.
I'll also remember little moments like the "killer crossover" against Jordan in AI's rookie year and how he reacted when he won the 2001 MVP as he immediately asked "where's coach?", as he wanted Larry Brown to share the spotlight. I'll remember his duel with Vinsanity in the 2001 Eastern Conference Semis. Their battles were simply amazing, a latter day version of Bird vs. 'Nique. Honestly though, I don't have a favorite performance by the Answer. They all kind of molded together over the years as the guy scored 40 or 50 so many times. It's just about impossible to pick a favorite.
He also had the single best professional athlete press conference of all time. For ease of reference, here it is:
Maybe the guy didn't make his teammates better and he sure wasn't going to change his game to develop younger players to help the team rebuild. For this reason, I'm ok with the trade. AI has gone as far as he could with this team and this inept GM. The Sixers owed it to him to send him to another place where he can contend and rejuvenate himself.
Unfortunately, I can't tell you that 'Melo and AI together on the Nuggets will be a match made in Heaven. Melo is obviously the best player AI has ever been paired with, but the Answer has never played nice with another perimeter scorer. For AI's sake, I hope it works out for the best, but I don't think Denver will rise much higher than the 3rd best team in the West.
While I think we're all happy for the guy and wish him the best, I'd rather focus on AI in a Sixers uniform and what it was like to have the privilege of watching him play. Thanks for the Memories AI. You won't soon be forgotten.
1 comment:
Great summary of 11 years of blood gut and tears. AI is a warrior and deserves better even with all his faults. I don't see it working in Denver, but it certainly wasn't gonna work here. He will be missed for sure and I suspect the fans will always appreciate AI's time in Philly. Personally, when you're gone you stay gone in my mind. ie. Barkley, Reggie, etc are dead to me. But AI will always be a favorite.
2001 playoff run was amazing and his sheer will in elimination games 3 times was something to see. He dropped 40+ against the Pacers, Raptors, and Bucks and refuesed to lose. Then, after winning game 1 in LA and almost stealing game 2 but for a no call when he was mugged going to the basket, maybe we give the Lakers a run up 2-0 and coming home. I look back at those playoff games as a once in a lifetime experience, that building was electric, with the fans chanting MVP, MVP, as he made play after play.
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