Keep it Reality: The NBA Blackballed Allen Iverson...

[5th Letter]

Most definitely....and to the niggas sayin A.I. would be a cancer on The Lakers....didn't he give the leadership role to Melo? I could've swore he did dawg.

If A.I. knew he was gonna get a ring & was giving up authority to a Lebron James or Kevin Durant type player, I dont think he'd care about not being the focal point of the offense..............the nigga just felt disrespected gettin benched for Mike Conley....who obviously...is garbage

it wasn't about coming off the bench for conley, i remember either iverson was hurt or he was signed late so they wanted to give him a feel of things before he became a starter

 

[H-Rap 180]

I hope ya'll dont hate on D.Rose when he gets this treatment in 6 years

These same Toms and Jigaboos will be salivating when the opportunity pops up.

 

[cobbland]

Craig Hodges was blackballed.

When the Chicago Bulls visited the White House after winning the 1992 NBA Championship, Hodges dressed in a dashiki and delivered a hand-written letter addressed to then President George H. W. Bush, expressing his discontent at the administration's treatment of the poor and minorities.[14]

Hodges also criticized his Bulls teammate Michael Jordan for not using his fame to draw attention to social and political issues, and said Jordan was "bailing out" for not being politically outspoken.[15]

In 1996, Hodges filed a $40 million lawsuit against the NBA and its then 29 teams, claiming they blackballed him for his association with Louis Farrakhan and criticism of "African-American professional athletes who failed to use their considerable wealth and influence to assist the poor and disenfranchised."[12] After he was waived by the Bulls in 1992, he did not receive an offer or a tryout from a single NBA team, even though he was only 32 years old and still able to contribute to contenders. The lawsuit claimed that Bulls assistant coach Jim Cleamons told him that the team was troubled by his criticism of players' lack of involvement in inner-city communities.[14] The suit also claimed Billy McKinney, the director of player personnel for the Seattle SuperSonics initially showed interest in Hodges in 1992, and then shortly after backed away, telling Hodges he could do nothing because "brothers have families, if you know what I mean." While a Bulls official said Hodges was waived as he was getting old and could not play defense, head coach Phil Jackson said, "I also found it strange that not a single team called to inquire about him. Usually, I get at least one call about a player we've decided not to sign. And yes, he couldn't play much defense, but a lot of guys in the league can't, but not many can shoot from his range, either."[12]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_Hodges

As was Aaron Brooks after the Raiders released him.

Brooks made some comments critical about Saints owner Tom Benson and how he tried to profit off Hurricane Katrina happening.

 

[cobbland]

Some mo...

Irony : apparent perversity of an event or circumstance in reversing human intentions.

Hodges' story is full of it.

Irony, that is.

Like how the coach who cut him from the Bulls -- and essentially out of the league -- was the one to welcome him back.

Or how prominent members of the very community he sacrificed his career to help were unwilling to help him get that career back.

And I'm not just talking NBA types.

"I asked Jesse Jackson to help me and he wouldn't," Hodges said. "I asked Johnnie Cochran to represent me and he wouldn't. I don't want to talk bad about the dead but … he represented O.J., but he wouldn't help me.

"That's messed up."

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blackhistory2008/news/story?page=granderson/080211

 

[peacetothereal1]

I hope ya'll dont hate on D.Rose when he gets this treatment in 6 years

Are you serious? D.Rose is more intelligent than A.I. and knows how to play the game...not basket ball but the GAME... and i'm sure he won't do dumb shit like A.I. Instead he'll practice hard and keep himself in great basketball shape into his mid-thirties.

You can't rebel in the league... play the game...get your money...you can even do what mutumbo, olajuwon, and many more have done in starting non-profit organizations to help the impoverished youth (which Craig Hodges should have done). But you have to be smart about what you do and not think you are above the law that these billionaire white folks have set for their league. In other words...you aint changin shit...put the uniform on and play hard, stack your bread, get out with a hundred plus million. But noooo these niggas wanna act otherwise. Smh I can't understand it.

 

[nycest_1]

I remember him coming to Philadelphia, kissing the logo, professing his love for the city, then going out to clubs in Atlanta after stating he could not play.

Allen Iverson had more chances in the NBA where there are thousands that can barely get one. What he did with those chances is the reason he's not in the NBA, not some racial, ethnic conspiracy against him.

cosignature 100%

people need to realize the conspiracy shit is fabricated.

its not a conspiracy against race, its more of a business thing.

at 1 time A.I. was good for business. good enough to overlook his character flaws.

but when his size caught up to him, his flaws stood out.

happens to alot of smaller nba players. nothing abnormal

 

[Maalik]

Allen Iverson got blackballed. Its proven in the way they changed all the rules and images that he basically promoted in the game. There are certain ball players that shouldnt be coming off the bench...could you havbe imagined a larry bird or Jordan coming off the bench? AI was the best little man in the game, and i dont blame him for not wanting to come of the bench......He didnt want to kiss the NBAs ass and he was thrown out. There are about 30 point guards id take AI over in the league NOW

They changed the way players dressed...brought more emphasis on palming and double dribbling calls, and they probably dont even let players have cornrows anymore on the low.

And its well know certain officials (steve javie, Tim donaghy just to name two) had it in for iverson those arent bonafide rule changes, but the refs are controlled by david stern and he knew of this behavior by his officials....what GREAT nba player has been treated the way iverson has.....mind you there have been woman beaters, rapists, alcoholics in this league

And lol @ people commenting on someones "mentality" that they have never had a conversaton with and judging by what the media says

Cosign all this shit...half these niggas dont know what they speak on. A.I. played team ball in Denver & in his last full year A.I. was puttin up 17 points per game & attempted 800 shots (read: not a volume shooter).

He was still good enough to start & better than 70% of the league's guards. He got blackballed.

LOL @ the nigga who said he'd take Derek Fisher over A.I. Fuck out of here nigga....

 

[playmaker88]

He didnt fit in. or want to..

Tell me why the got rid of him and bough it chancy.. because of some mass consipracy.. ?? logical........

 

[1of1]

I wish I had an opinion on this matter. I have failed to give a fuck though.

 

[G Mack]

Cosign all this shit...half these niggas dont know what they speak on. A.I. played team ball in Denver & in his last full year A.I. was puttin up 17 points per game & attempted 800 shots (read: not a volume shooter).

He was still good enough to start & better than 70% of the league's guards. He got blackballed.

LOL @ the nigga who said he'd take Derek Fisher over A.I. Fuck out of here nigga....

bruh just let it go, you obviously know very little about team basketball

and denver did not play team basketball.....AI and Melo where damn near mirror images of each other...and if they did play team basketball they would have been much better then they where with all that talent, especially in the PLAYOFFS

 

[playmaker88]

bruh just let it go, you obviously know very little about team basketball

and denver did not play team basketball.....AI and Melo where damn near mirror images of each other...and if they did play team basketball they would have been much better then they where with all that talent, especially in the PLAYOFFS

EXACTLY... Melo is another Ai in a sense.. i said it 1000.. buying into george karl after after a while and chauncey Billups made him a better player..

 

[H-Rap 180]

Cosign all this shit...half these niggas dont know what they speak on. A.I. played team ball in Denver & in his last full year A.I. was puttin up 17 points per game & attempted 800 shots (read: not a volume shooter).

He was still good enough to start & better than 70% of the league's guards. He got blackballed.

LOL @ the nigga who said he'd take Derek Fisher over A.I. Fuck out of here nigga....

Once I read the bolded about D. Fisher I just laughed and figured this is some troll shit for lames to vent.

 

[mikelewis]

cosignature 100%
people need to realize the conspiracy shit is fabricated.
its not a conspiracy against race, its more of a business thing.

at 1 time A.I. was good for business. good enough to overlook his character flaws.
but when his size caught up to him, his flaws stood out.

happens to alot of smaller nba players. nothing abnormal

Exactly, plus his personality and off-the-court antics didn't help him one bit.

Teams and clubs are no longer striving for players who want more celebrity than they do wins, they've seen that doesn't equal championships. Granted, for a while, it generates revenue and business, but those acts dry up fast.

 

[Maalik]

allen iverson cant produce on the same level as these 3 anymore.

See...i would agree with yall. A.I. wasnt A.I. no more but...the nigga was puttin up 17.4ppg the year before he got benched, he was 33 (younger than what Ray Allen & Jason Kidd are now) & averaging 7 assists..

How is that garbage? Thats still solid. He was better than all these niggas who still starting.

Carlos Arroyo

Shaun Livingston

Beno Udrih

Jeff Teague

Luke Ridnour

Derek Fisher

Jarrett Jack

Mike Conley

Mo Williams

Jrue Holiday

Andre Miller

Aaron Brooks

Jason Kidd

he got blackballed. plain & simple. I dont agree with how he did the Sixers but, by then, he probably stopped giving a fuck after MEM & DET shitted on him

 

[Maalik]

bruh just let it go, you obviously know very little about team basketball

and denver did not play team basketball.....AI and Melo where damn near mirror images of each other...and if they did play team basketball they would have been much better then they where with all that talent, especially in the PLAYOFFS

Fuck outta here....Anybody who watched them games seen A.I. had toned himself down. Im speakin facts & you talkin about the nigga's personality. And them Denver squads lost because they ran face first into L.A. & the Spurs in the first round both years (07 & 08) plus neither A.I. or Melo played a lick of defense.

 

[major pain]

See...i would agree with yall. A.I. wasnt A.I. no more but...the nigga was puttin up 17.4ppg the year before he got benched, he was 33 (younger than what Ray Allen & Jason Kidd are now) & averaging 7 assists..

How is that garbage? Thats still solid. He was better than all these niggas who still starting.

Carlos Arroyo
Shaun Livingston
Beno Udrih
Jeff Teague
Luke Ridnour
Derek Fisher
Jarrett Jack
Mike Conley
Mo Williams
Jrue Holiday
Andre Miller
Aaron Brooks
Jason Kidd

he got blackballed. plain & simple. I dont agree with how he did the Sixers but, by then, he probably stopped giving a fuck after MEM & DET shitted on him

So "someone" sent a memo to all the teams in the league like "Dont sign this nigga. Or else. *Pic of AI*" ???

 

[Maalik]

Once I read the bolded about D. Fisher I just laughed and figured this is some troll shit for lames to vent.

Niggas got the shortest memory lol...just had a thread yesterday about how garbage D. Fisher is. I think dude put up like 5 points a game lol...I think A.I. could've fit in with L.A. & I think Kobe would appreciate that nigga come playoff time

 

[G Mack]

plus neither A.I. or Melo played a lick of defense.

and yet you talk about "team basketball"

and no im not talking about personalities im talkin about overall game

 

[Maalik]

So "someone" sent a memo to all the teams in the league like "Dont sign this nigga. Or else. *Pic of AI*" ???

No...after years of A.I. being a dick in Philly he caught a rep...

And just like in this thread...coaches & GMs had perceptions of him...

No nigga...and I mean...no nigga in this thread gonna convince me Jeff Teague can start but...Iverson couldn't. Nobody.

 

[playmaker88]

Niggas got the shortest memory lol...just had a thread yesterday about how garbage D. Fisher is. I think dude put up like 5 points a game lol...I think A.I. could've fit in with L.A. & I think Kobe would appreciate that nigga come playoff time

Sorry dude.. you are dead wrong..