Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
He hasn’t played like an all-star for a few years now, but nevertheless, it appears that Denver Detroit Philadelphia (that’s better) guard Allen Iverson will be named a starter in this year’s All-Star game. From Yahoo! Sports:
The Philadelphia 76ers’ Allen Iverson was also voted into the Feb. 14th game in Dallas as a starter for the Eastern Conference, sources said.
Because Iverson started the season with the Memphis Grizzlies, Iverson was on the Western Conference ballot. Yet the Grizzlies waived him and Iverson signed with Philadelphia on Dec. 3. He’s averaged 14.8 points for the 76ers. This will be Iverson’s 11th All-Star appearance.
It should be noted that while Iverson as a starter may have the NBA blushing, they at least averted the crisis that would have ensued had wobbly, inactive Tracy McGrady been voted in. He lost out to Steve Nash in the eleventh hour.
As for Iverson, this is really the only stage where he matters anymore. Iverson, the symbol, is far more compelling than AI, the player. And where else but All-Star Weekend can we celebrate the idealized version of NBA basketball?
Looking for the league’s ten best players? Then wait for the All-NBA lists at the end of the year. The All-Star Game’s an event conceived with the fans in mind, and Iverson won their hearts a long time ago. As long as he’s active, he’ll be starting at shooting guard, delighting the tens of millions of fans that still look to him as a counter-culture hero.
Because people LOVE soapboxing about the integrity of the NBA All-Star Game—quite possibly the most ridiculous notion ever, when you think about it—and because it’s Iverson, you can be assured there’ll be some uproar.
But really, why waste everyone’s time?
1 comment
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agreed
Don’t care, nor should anyone. It’s a fan exhibition, the fans voted.
I guess if I had one change it’d be that more people paid attention to the all-nba selections as opposed to all-star appearances, so that the ‘status’ of the all-star game would be appropriately diminished.
USE THE SOFTWARE. Actions-> Rec/Flag. Reply to comments with the reply button. Rec good fanposts/fanshots so the crud gets pushed down.
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 21, 2010 5:41 PM EST reply actions
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