It seems all too common nowadays, especially in the NBA: athlete makes millions, athlete blows millions, athlete does anything for money.
In the case of Allen Iverson, the sad trend continues.
Milton Nunez, president of the Dominican team Pueblo Nuevo announced the 36 year old Iverson will be joining the team. Nunez declined how much money Iverson will be making during his time with Pueblo Nuevo.
On Friday, March 23rd, Iverson's agent announced Iverson will not be playing with Pueblo Nuevo. However, Iverson has kept all options open this year. In February, Iverson weighed a contract offer from a different Venezuelan team, and almost signed with the Lakers D-League affiliate.
An indoor soccer team in Rochester, New York, offered Iverson a contract of $25,000 per game, with a $5,000 bonus for every goal he scores.
On Friday, March 23rd, Iverson's agent announced Iverson will not be playing with Pueblo Nuevo. However, Iverson has kept all options open this year. In February, Iverson weighed a contract offer from a different Venezuelan team, and almost signed with the Lakers D-League affiliate.
An indoor soccer team in Rochester, New York, offered Iverson a contract of $25,000 per game, with a $5,000 bonus for every goal he scores.
If Iverson needs money so desperately that he almost had to go to Venezuela, his financial situation must be bleak.
In 2010, Stephen A. Smith posted a piece in the Philadelphia Inquirer that according to numerous NBA sources, Iverson would "either drink himself into oblivion or gamble his life away."
As a fan of the NBA (and a fan of Philly sports), it pains me to see Iverson's "fall from glory". There have been reports for years that AI was broke, but to see him crumble right in front of our eyes is horrifying.
Growing up, there was no athlete whose play I admired more. I can easily say Allen Iverson is the best point guard I have ever seen. His ball handling was magical, and his shot was absolutely deadly. "The Answer" had a decent surrounding cast, but he single-handedly carried the Sixers for ten years, before being traded.
The city of Philadelphia embraced Iverson, and in return, he dropped 25 plus points a night.
The game winning shot and step over of Tyronn Lue in Game 1 of the 2001 NBA Finals summed up his time in Philadelphia. He was the man, and nobody was taking that title from him.
That was, until 2006.
Towards the end of his time in Philadelphia, there were whispers of Iverson's off the court antics. Those whispers turned into screams. Iverson was being kicked out of multiple casinos in Atlantic City, and being asked not to return.
In 2005, Iverson's bodyguard assaulted a man in a DC nightclub, and he was forced to pay up $260,000 in damages.
When Iverson and teammate Chris Webber showed up at tip-off on fan appreciation night, the management and fans had grown tired of his antics.
Iverson would be shipped off to Denver the following season.
The rest of his career was basically a blur. Once the NBA's finest player, he had now become a journeyman. After three seasons and a total of 135 games, Iverson went to Detroit.
He found himself out of a job once again, and signed in Memphis for 2009.
He would play only three games there.
Iverson's lavish lifestyle had finally caught up with him. The cars, the houses, the jewelry, Iverson could no longer afford the way he was living.
Iverson was brought back to Philly in 2009 for 25 games, primarily as a promotional tool.
Since then, Iverson has been exiled from NBA.
His expensive lifestyle continued, even without the income to support it.
Now, Iverson finds himself playing in a foreign country, desperately trying to make any money.
The Iverson of the early 2000's seemed almost invincible. Now, Allen Iverson is his own kryptonite.
No longer is he remembered for his great play and his incredible scoring ability, but rather for his troubles off the court.
"The Answer" has become the problem, and it may be to late to save him.
Growing up, there was no athlete whose play I admired more. I can easily say Allen Iverson is the best point guard I have ever seen. His ball handling was magical, and his shot was absolutely deadly. "The Answer" had a decent surrounding cast, but he single-handedly carried the Sixers for ten years, before being traded.
The city of Philadelphia embraced Iverson, and in return, he dropped 25 plus points a night.
The game winning shot and step over of Tyronn Lue in Game 1 of the 2001 NBA Finals summed up his time in Philadelphia. He was the man, and nobody was taking that title from him.
That was, until 2006.
Towards the end of his time in Philadelphia, there were whispers of Iverson's off the court antics. Those whispers turned into screams. Iverson was being kicked out of multiple casinos in Atlantic City, and being asked not to return.
In 2005, Iverson's bodyguard assaulted a man in a DC nightclub, and he was forced to pay up $260,000 in damages.
When Iverson and teammate Chris Webber showed up at tip-off on fan appreciation night, the management and fans had grown tired of his antics.
Iverson would be shipped off to Denver the following season.
The rest of his career was basically a blur. Once the NBA's finest player, he had now become a journeyman. After three seasons and a total of 135 games, Iverson went to Detroit.
He found himself out of a job once again, and signed in Memphis for 2009.
He would play only three games there.
Iverson's lavish lifestyle had finally caught up with him. The cars, the houses, the jewelry, Iverson could no longer afford the way he was living.
Iverson was brought back to Philly in 2009 for 25 games, primarily as a promotional tool.
His expensive lifestyle continued, even without the income to support it.
Now, Iverson finds himself playing in a foreign country, desperately trying to make any money.
The Iverson of the early 2000's seemed almost invincible. Now, Allen Iverson is his own kryptonite.
No longer is he remembered for his great play and his incredible scoring ability, but rather for his troubles off the court.
"The Answer" has become the problem, and it may be to late to save him.
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