Some Say Allen Iverson Was Misunderstood
One of the most talked about players in the NBA in the past 20 years was Allen Iverson. Some loved him, while others loved to root against him. One thing that everyone could agree on was that Allen Iverson loved the game of basketball.
To this day, Iverson remains one of the most polarizing figures in sports history. Inundated with on-court accolades and off-court controversy, he elicited a true emotional reaction from every person he encountered – they either loved him, or hated him. There was no in-between.
The former, revered him for his heart and his hustle. It wasn’t hard to notice that Iverson left it all out on the court, putting up record numbers and enduring unrelenting punishment to his six-foot frame, only to get right back up for more. He played with an unrivaled fearlessness, prolific skill and an iconic style that earned the love of a city and the respect of fans across the country.
While Iverson’s character and talent captivated a slew of admirers, it procured just as many adversaries. He was condemned for his rocky past and distaste for authority. Drew criticism for unprofessional behavior and poor practice attendance. He was chided for his hairstyle, his tattoos and his tendency to say whatever was on his mind. At its worst, he was accused of playing “hero ball” before “hero ball” was even a thing.
But despite the assumptions of his critics, and perhaps even, the assumptions of his fans, Allen Iverson didn’t set out to make a statement with his style or cause controversy for the sake of it. Iverson just wanted to be himself…and win his game.
And while the stories and opinions will follow him, forever branding him as the game’s most controversial player, what he really was, was misunderstood.
The ‘Misunderstood’ takes inspiration from newspaper headlines and other notable quotes about Allen, both positive and negative, in a black and white colorway. The Question Misunderstood will be available on Friday, April 1 for $129.99 at Jimmy Jazz, Shoe Palace, Villa, and Reebok.com.
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| Print article | This entry was posted by Art Eddy III on March 22, 2016 at 4:17 am, and is filed under Lifestyle. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed. |
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