Allen Iverson Retires!!!!!

Congratulations on an outstanding NBA career to the 1996 #1 overall pick Allen Iverson!!! Though you never won an NBA ring you have multiple individual accolades and over 100 dozen crossover victims. Your version of the crossover has changed the way point guards dribble today. Here's a tribute you the victims you've abused with your deadly crossover.

Final 4 NBA Free Agents

With the 2010 NBA Free Agency buzz pretty much dead, there remains four former mega stars that have yet to find new NBA homes. Stephon Marbury who last played in China is still on the market, former scoring champs Tracy McGrady, Allen Iverson, and Shaquille O'Neal are also waiting on that phone call from an NBA GM. At this point in their careers, these players must realize whatever team picks them up, they're no longer the #1 option on offense. Here's my take to the four free agents available:

1. T-Mac: Ten years ago T-Mac turned down the Bulls to sign with the Orlando Magic and only lasted with that organization for 4 years. This week T-Mac worked out with the Bulls and even has Derrick Rose and newly acquired Kurt Thomas saying positive things. Even McGrady talked as if he were already a part to this team. If McGrady can give the Bulls 20 minuets a night, that's fine with me. Hope he signs.
2. SHAQ - At this point in the career of the Big Cactus, he's slow, lost his scoring ability, and lost the work ethic to play a full 82 games. Reports are the Atlanta Hawks will pick up the Diesel. We all know there's no going back to Cleveland. 
3. Starbury - If the NBA were only a 1-on-1 game, Marbury would make A-Rod money. Over the years this shoot first point guard has found it difficult to catch on to an NBA team whereas he played his 2009-2010 season in China....WOW!!!!!! If Starbury can change his tone he could become a decent backup for...........The Miami Heat. He's cheap but still an excellent passer and ball handler (he's a NYPG duh) and he'll have no choice but to know his role.
4. The Answer - AI revolutionized the game today because all the young ball player emulate his version of the crossover, the shoot first point guard, and stat stuffing. After a brief retirement last season the Sixers resigned him only to send him home a few months later. This 1st ballot HOF player should sign with a team that's on the cusp on an NBA Championship. The clock is ticking AI!!!!!     

Michael Finley, Sam Cassell, Clyde Drexler, Dennis Rodman are former stars that signed with championship teams which resulted in a ring. Let's hope these 4 player are smart enough to do the same. 

Weekend Recap

Congrats to the Saints and Colts for their trip to Miami. I'm so proud of the Saints because I lived in New Orleans for 5 years while attending college. New Orleans will always be my second home. Bring the trophy back to Canal & Bourbon Street.

What happened this weekend.....

• The Knicks were so focused on the Jets game that they go worked by 50 in MSG to Dallas
• Texas losing twice this week meaning Mr. Wall and the Kentucky Wildcats will be the new #1 come Monday. They might run the tables
• Memphis Tigers looses....first Conference USA loss since President Bush first term in office
• UNC loosing twice this week will not be in the top 25 on Monday
• Northwestern Big Dance Bound?....Beating Purdue & Illinois looks really good on their resume
• Allen Iverson should not play in the all-star game
• PAC 10 Basketball is a joke
• Syracuse is really really good without Johnny Flynn

AI RETURNS...BUT NOT IN BASKETBALL SHAPE

Allen Iverson made his return against his old team the Denver Nuggets tonight and tallied 11 points. Iverson appears to be in great shape....but not basketball shape. For any of my readers knows what it means to play ball but not be in basketball shape, then you know how AI feels tonight. One play Chauncey Billups drove right, crossed left between the legs which left Iverson flat on his butt. That is the below the rim highlight of the night.

With Elton Brand, Iggy, Thaddeous Young, Louis Williams, Jason Kappano and the return of AI, the Sixers have the slasher, shooter, youth & experience to nab the #4 seed come playoff time. Cleveland, Orlando, Boston will be the top 3 seeds out the Eastern Conference.

AI just wanted the respect and in a tough town like Philadelphia that booed Santa Clause they love AI just as they loved Ryan Howard, Charles Barkley, McNabb, and Mike Schmidt. Welcome back to the League AI now  go improve your team and teach the young guys how to play the game the right way.

Iverson Retires...Jason Kidd #2

With all the Thanksgiving Tournaments televised on college basketball, the NBA has grabbed the headlines for this past week. Carmelo Anthony giving the New York Knicks 50 points would have been a huge story this week but two individual topped Melo for newsworthy stories of the week: 

• Jason Kidd: I've seen Hardaway, Thomas, Stockton, Jackson, Strickland, Anderson, Johnson (Magic & Kevin) all play in their prime but what separates Jason Kidd from the rest is that he periodically finishes the game with a triple double. A stat line of 15 points 12 assist and 11 rebounds is normal for Kidd. He's never been the quickest point guard he's the greatest passing point guard I've ever witnessed. Kidd is so good that under his leadership at the point guard slot, the New Jersey Nets had back to back NBA Finals apperences. He's been a winner every where he plays and is a guarntee lock for first ballot 6 years after he retires. 

• Allen Iverson - The Answer has decided he no longer wants to crossover other players after 14 season in the NBA. If Allen Iverson decides to hang turn over his crossover card after 14 seasons in the League then I'm disappointed. All the front office general managers refuse to put up with his late coming to practice, taking all the shots, not making his teammates better, and only concerned about his stats. On the positive side he has played with heart, passion, and talent ever since he stepped into the league 14 years ago. His role in Memphis should have been helping the development of Mike Conley and OJ Mayo become better NBA Guards not worrying about this guys stealing your shine. AI is at the stage in his career where he should help those fairly new to the League and teaching them not to make the same mistakes you made on and off the court. The Grizzlies won't win that many games this year but he had the respect from all the young ball players who honed their game after watching you crossover helpless defenders the past 14 season. AI has influenced this game pretty much the same way the Fab Five did. Multiple tattoos, braided hair, shoot first point guard with crazy hops, arriving to the game iced-out.  If those were the final three games of Allen Iverson's career then good luck with the next phase of your life.

Still Moved by MJ HOF Speech

In the spirit of Michael Jordan’s Hall of Fame Speech, I encourage you to purchase his cologne for a limited time. Bryon Russell appeared on ESPN’s Outside the Lines and has challenged his airness to a 1-on-1 game with Mitch Richmond as the referee with Mark Jackson as the announcer. Even at age 46 GOAT would still bust his ass. Just to make in interesting, G.O.A.T. wins as time expires.  Four years from now when G.O.A.T. turns 50 he still wins at the buzzard. 
Finally someone has signed Allen Iverson!! The Memphis Grizzlies gave the future first ballot Hall of Famer a 1-year deal worth $3 million. Hard to imagine The Answer had a hard time finding work. But then I realize other than scoring, will a 34 year old shoot first player help or hinder the development of young guards Mike Conley, OJ Mayo? With his career winding down, AI could teach OJ Mayo how to become a killer on the court and Conley how to attack the basket. Other than that, Conley will have to learn the point guard game from assistant coach Damon Stoudamire. Will Memphis make the playoffs? Nope but with the departure of Coach Cal to Kentucky the pro team is now offically the best basketball team in Memphis.Well training camp is around the corner and I can’t wait so my blog will be updated more often as the season begins. 

Johnny Wins!!!!! -The Answer Needs A Job

Congratulations to Johnny Flynn for winning the starting point guard position for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Flynn won this position because the 2009 5th overall pick Ricky Rubio has decided to stay overseas at least until 2011. Rubio has been dubbed the next Pistol Pete, Steve Nash, Bob Cousey....if he's that great, Rubio should bring his A game around A talent which is the NBA not the Euroleague. Don't get me wrong, there is talent in Europe but the talent does not match-up to the NBA. Just ask the Dream Team or the Redeem Team.

Rodney Stuckey was quoted saying not that the old guys are gone and with the addition of Ben Gordon, the Pistons will become a fast-break team. No disrespect to Will Bynum or Ben Gordon, but this Pistons team is headed to the 2010 NBA Lottery. The old guys (Chauncey Billups, Rasheed Wallace, Antonio McDyess) will still play relevant basketball come late May or early June while Joe Dumars is representing your team in Atlanta hoping to win the John Wall sweepstakes.

Allen Iverson is still a free agent. The Memphis Grizzlies are a potential team for The Answer. If Iverson signs with Memphis, between OJ, Gay, Conley, they need three balls on the floor just to make sure they get their 30 shot attempts per game. Why is the Answer still unemployed? Should he go overseas? I blog you decide

Happy 36th birthday to my sister and God Bless Ted Kennedy

Triple Play - Triple Thoughts

First things first I would like to give props to Phillies second basemen Eric Bruntlett for the unassisted triple play. Job well done. Now to my three topics & views for today.

Derrick Rose - I don't believe every NCAA Division 1 program cheats but I strongly believe in order to get the McDonalds All-Americans, you have to pay for play. These universities make millions of dollars of these kids but yet they're not allowed to profit. I've always had a problem with the S.A.T . because that test is biased for upper class families only. Those that do not come from upper, middle class, or two parent household usually struggle on those test. The only problem here.......Pooh got caught. Derrick Rose is in the NBA now and one of the top point guards in the League.

Allen Iverson - Having a bad reputation will keep you unemployeed (see Stephon Marbury Barry Bonds). I still can't believe this future Hall of Famer still doesn't have a team. Reports over the weekend that The Answer will sign with the Charlotte Bobcats this week. Reuniting with Larry Brown is the only positive out of this. With AI and Ray Felton in the backcourt, Gerald Henderson and DJ Augustine playing time will be cut down. At 33, Allen Iverson should be a mentor to Felton and Augustine but they'll porbably pick up bad habits and become shoot first point guards.

John Calipari - Two schools, two NCAA violations, UMASS, Memphis, two Final Fours. Calipari had an outstanding team during his UMASS days with Marcus Camby and even a better team with Memphis. Now the coach at Kentucky, Calipari has the #1 class led by John Wall whose projected to be the #1 pick in 2010. With his Memphis recruits not Wildcats, I hope his Kentucky program is clean. But if history has taught us anything, it's not.

Pro Amms 2009

Every summer in Chicago fans could gather to IIT and witness the Chicago Pro Amms. Here fans can witness there favorite local basketball greats past, present, and future play in this hot cramped gym and witness exciting games. NBA players, college players, and high school players participate and put on a great show.

Past participants include Michael Jordan, Horace Grant, Isiah Thomas, Tim Hardaway have all played in the Chicago Pro Amms. I remember back in 2001 when both Allen Iverson and Vince Carter played and put on a clinic.

Today Will Bynum, Sherron Collins, Shannon Brown, Imari Sawyer, Tyrone Kent, Antonie Walker, Bobby Simmons, Shawn Marion, Royce Parren, David Bailey, Pargo Brothers are the stars keeping the Pro Amms alive. The best part is when the crowd starts chanting WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT.....Translation: Destroy your opponent.

This summer, Chicago Pro basketball took place at South Suburban College and I did not attend a single game. When the Pro Amms were being held in IIT, there was never a fee but South Suburban College charged a $4 entry fee.

Next summer I hope the Chicago Pro Amms returns to IIT so we can see the likes of Will Bynum, Sherron Collins, Luther & Crandal Head, Derrick Rose, etc. Three of my favorite moments in the Pro Amms were watching Michael Hermon destroy Kendall Gill & Nick Anderson of crossover dribbles. Another was the the first time I witnessed Sherron Collins & Will Bynum destroy any player attepting to play defense.

I challenge Nike, NBA players, Addias to bring the Chicago Pro Amms back.