Some of us pastors and administrative staff in Victory U-Belt recently joined the ESPN Victory NBA Fantasy League, where each person could function like a coach and general manager, at least in his own dream.
Iverson: From superstar to a shooting star?
Well, since I couldn’t experience playing in the NBA, I figured to at least join ESPN’s NBA Fantasy League to be able to act like a coach to some of the world’ top-caliber players.
Anyway, I thought of writing this blog in response and to also make some comments on Memphis Grizzlies’ newly-acquired point guard Allen Iverson, who is getting into the limelight again of NBA news, not because of his scoring exploit, but because of his annoying and self-promoting attitude.
I do admire Iverson’s skills as an NBA athlete. Who wouldn’t?
He won Rookie of the Year honor in 1996 as the rising star of the Philadelphia 76ers, the club that NBA legend Julius “Dr. J” Erving used to lead during the 1970s through the mid 1980s.
He also won an MVP award in 2001, the year he powered the Sixers to the NBA Finals, where Philadelphia eventually succumbed in five games to Shaquille O’Neal-Kobe Bryant tandem and the Los Angeles Lakers.
But in any sport, as talented as you are like Iverson, talent alone won’t be the factor to getting the big W (win) or the LOB (Larry O’Brien) trophy.
Side by side with talent is the character (unselfishness, team player, respect for teammates and coach, etc.) each player has to possess.
However, from Iverson’s latest controversy, there’s obviously none of the character any coach or team owner would like to see.
While it’s understandable that Iverson wants to win, he just can’t simply win by disregarding the teammates he has at the Grizzles.
He’s been a one-man show from the very beginning of his NBA career, no wonder, in his 14th season this year, he remains “ring-less” in the NBA, meaning without a championship—and he’s about to his the sunset of his career!
Here’s what worsened his supposed entry into the rebuilding Memphis squad, a team that has never enjoyed a winning season in the last three years:
“I think that’s probably the worst part of all this,” Iverson said after the Grizzlies’ loss to the Lakers. “That while all this is going on, we (with coach Lionel Hollins) have never talked to each other. That’s probably why it’s at this point right now. We’ve just never had a conversation, so it’s probably going to always be hard for me and him to see eye-to-eye, because we’ve never even talked to each other. Obviously that’s what you do if you’re trying to accomplish the same goal.”
We all know how vital communication is in any team sport. Without communication, a team won’t be able to accomplish its goal.
With Iverson now taking an indefinite leave of absence from the team according to NBA.com’s report, I believe his absence could bring positive light to the troubled Grizzling organization already.
With a 1-6 start for the 2010 NBA season, Memphis can’t afford to have an ego-trip athlete who hardly cares for his teammates but only for himself, wearing the grizzlies uniform.
Memphis must remember that Iverson doesn’t have all “the Answer” to their playoffs dream puzzle.
Photo Source: http://blogs.nashvillescene.com/pitw/iverson.jpg
