With Allen Iverson making his return to Philadelphia, there are three things that you can rest assure will remain the same. He will still have a shoot first, pass never mentality, he is still going to be hanging out at the TGI Fridays on City Line Avenue and the Sixers are going to be a subpar team. With that being said the question looms as to why Philly fans are so eager to embrace him. It’s simple. Allen Iverson IS Philadelphia.
This city of Philadelphia thrived on Iverson’s love for the game of basketball as well as his desire to give everything that he had to the Sixers organization. His passion lead to a trip to the NBA Finals in 2001 as well as a slew of individual accolades. Who could forget the way the home crowd erupted when he crossed over Michael Jordan or the numerous 40+ point performances that he seemed to provide so effortlessly. Philadelphians thought of these occurrences when Iverson was announced as a Sixer for the second time in his career. It’s the rest of the sports world that recalls the selfish style of play, lack of ability to win a championship and the infamous “We talkin ‘bout practice” press conference. These are the fans that are left puzzled as to why we are so excited about the opportunity to rise from NBA cellar dwellers to members of mediocrity.
In order to answer this question you have to understand exactly who the Allen Iverson fan is. Iverson fans, for the most part, are people from the city of Philadelphia between the ages of seventeen and thirty-five of all different nationalities and socio-economic backgrounds. During his hay day, these people saw him as more than just a basketball player. He was one of the first individuals that they saw wear cornrows. He was the person who made it socially acceptable to don a canvas of tattoos on their skin. He was a social icon for the game of basketball, and it began with the young fans in Philadelphia.
It goes beyond being a social icon. It has to do with being someone that the fans could relate on a personal level. Philadelphians could relate to the anger that he must have felt when he was incarcerated for being in the wrong place at the wrong time after a racially charged fight in a Virginia bowling alley. Many of them too have gotten into trouble for hanging with the wrong crowd. Sure he has made similar mistakes over and over again for the past thirteen years, but don’t we all have someone in our family who never seems to grow out of their childish way. Yes it is frustrating but we still put our arm around them and tell them that everything will be okay. The same way we did to AI after the gun charges in 1997, the manhunt he went on for his wife in 2002, and the countless times he showed up late for practices and games.
That leaves us with one final hurdle…Winning. Iverson never bought this town a championship. How can you root for the superstar that never bought us an NBA title? We didn’t forget that we never got to see AI ride in a parade down Broad Street, and I don’t think anyone is expecting one with his return to the city. Fact of the matter is, we are not used to winning anyway. Sure older fans who had witnessed the early Sixers dynasties were disappointed, but to those of us who belong to the younger generation didn’t know what a championship smelled like during Iverson’s tenure. Until the Phillies won the World Series last year, this town was title-less since 1983 (Unless you count the Philadelphia Wings lacrosse team.LOL) We were content as long as we beat the Lakers during the regular season an advanced past the Orlando Magic in the first round of the playoffs.
So we understand the reservations that the rest of the NBA has about us signing Allen Iverson. Philadelphia is willing to put those issues aside. We simply want something to cheer for again. We yearn for someone who we can relate to. We NEED a reason to go to the Wachovia Center and support a team that is an eight-seed at best. And even if it is a temporary solution for the Sixers roster woes, for the second time in his career Iverson is ‘The Answer’ to our prayers.
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar