Larry Platt

Nicknamed 'The Answer' (hint at 'the answer' to the famous question then on everyone's lips: who will succeed to Michael Jordan?), well-known for the speed of his moves and his creativity ball in hands, him whose cross-overs became legendary, Allen Iverson was also a controversial star, admired as much as he was hated. The journalist Larry Platt retells here his journey, in an interesting book written when Iverson was still playing at Philadelphia, and in which he not only delves into his show more career, but, also, throws some reflections to try and explain such a phenomenon.

The thing is, rebel, subversive in some way, difficult to control, Iverson was more than a mere athlete. He was, also, reflecting a part of an America that America would happily refuse to see. Indeed, if he certainly wasn't the first Black players coming from the ghettos, he might have been the first to have brought the ghetto with him into the NBA. He, in any case, wasn't your bubble-gum type of guy willing to surrender to the business gurus ruling the league in order to offer a neat image, mostly for sponsorships sake! As such, Iverson was never far away from scandals.

Keeping a whole set of dubious relationships (gangsters, drug dealers), having friends who ended up killed in various gun shootings, himself having issues which often involved the police, and, up until his look (dressing like a gang member -something he never was) and his extra-curricular activities outside the court (a hip hop singer whose lyrics, at time, caused controversy) his whole attitude and persona in fact costed him dearly -e.g. he never was selected for the Dream Team. It's not about judging, though, far from that! For Larry Platt indeed, such personality cannot be understood unless Iverson's background and personal history are, themselves, understood. Were they? His tumultuous relationship with Larry Brown, his coach, are, about, a case in point.

Constantly drawing parallels between his career as a player and his attitude outside the courts, the author is not interested in Iverson's outrageous behaviours for the sake of offering yet another set of sensationalist headlines. What he does, on the contrary, is to try and shed lights upon a misunderstood character. His sentencing to five years in jail (he served only three months) while he was a teenager and following a fight between White and Black in a club, an event which had then crystallised his hometown, reveals itself to be crucial. Beyond basketball, Iverson's life, then, puts us indeed in front of deeper issues, such as the racial tensions plaguing the USA and undermining even professional sports.

All in all, then, here's an intelligent biography going beyond the judgemental clichés, and, also, going beyond sports itself to unravel a controversial personality -no matter what you think of Iverson. A good read. show less

Throughout the beggining of this novel, the protagonist, Allen Iverson, struggles in the streets of Virginia, trying vigorously to balance sports with school, yet he also was weighed down with the responsibility of raising his family while his mother worked. His talent on the field was evident, a small, quick quaterback who could throw the ball 100 yards, while also having the ability to split through the defense for TD's. Once introduced to basketball by his mother, his fame was spread like show more a virus. All around his city he was known as Bubbachuck, the sports star; he led his team to win championships in two sports, basketball and football. His greatness would soon cease as people questioned him and his future after an accident at the bowling alley which, to this day, haunts city. This event put him in jail for a few days but later was taken out for insignificant evidence for the assult of a young lady. Was he a sports icon, or a thug in a jersey? The middle of this novel descriptively describes the struggles he faced throughout college and the NBA. Throughout his season he was continueously known as a thug: the tattoos, braids, cockyness, his unwillingness to wear suits on game days... He has been put in jail numerous times in his carreer and caught with drugs and weapons. Although he has been beat down with critisism, he hasn't failed to stay loyal to his friends and family back in Virginia. He led his team, the 76ers, in points, steals, and assists and won the MVP a couple times. He has attended numerous all-star games and later, towards the end, the novel illustrates his and his team's struggles to win a championship. By the end though, he gets to the finals, however has a bitter ending as he faces the Lakers. show less