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Allen Iverson Admits To His Wife That He Couldn’t Afford A Cheeseburger
Allen Iverson
is in bad shape. Not, bad meaning “good”, but “bad” meaning bad.
According to a new piece in the Washington Post the iconic NBA baller
“has hit rock bottom” and there are many people who love him, and are
concerned about him.
Via Washington Post
Three years after Iverson’s last NBA game, the spotlight
has shifted from his play to his flaws. His refusal back then to play by
society’s rules was seen as an independent player’s quirks, part of the
character and the brand, same as his cornrows and tattoos.
Practicing with hangovers added to the legend. Skipping team
functions and refusing to obey the league’s dress code was a man who
wouldn’t be held down. And embarrassing defenders on the way to the
basket, in the NBA and before that at Georgetown, was a nightly
statement by the 6-foot, 165-pound guard: If a man, no matter his size,
is determined enough, he can get the better of giants.
But Iverson isn’t a basketball player anymore. This is something most
everyone but Iverson has accepted, and for years a question worried
those closest to him: What happens when the most important part of a
man’s identity, the beam supporting the other unstable matter, is no
longer there?
For the past three years, as Iverson chased an NBA comeback, his
marriage fell apart and much of his fortune – he earned more than $150
million in salary alone during his career – dissolved. Now, those who
once ignored past signals have recognized that basketball may have been
the only thing holding Iverson’s life together.
“He has hit rock bottom, and he just hasn’t accepted it yet,” says former Philadelphia teammate Roshown McLeod.
As sad as that sounds, nothing can compare to the scene described during Iverson’s divorce trial in 2012.
Iverson stood during a divorce proceeding in Atlanta in
2012 and pulled out his pants pockets. “I don’t even have money for a
cheeseburger,” he shouted toward his estranged wife, Tawanna, who then
handed him $61.
To make matters worse, alcholism has been said to be a major contributor to A.I.’s spiraling struggle.
Tawanna testified that during a 2009 family vacation in
Orlando, Iverson spent evenings with a friend while his family made
plans without him. On the day they were to fly home, Iverson nursed a
hangover in a van, lying on the floor with a foot draped on the seat.
While their children saw a movie, Tawanna sat for hours with her
husband, afraid if he was left alone the driver would take photographs.
Hopefully someone can reach out to Allen to help him get his life
together. Despite how bad his situation is, there is a silver lining in
Iverson’s playbook.
Basketball was Iverson’s sanctuary, and he signed huge
contracts: a six-year deal in 1999 worth $70.9 million and, four years
later, a new agreement worth $76.7 million. Reebok signed him to a huge
endorsement deal, including a deferred trust worth more than $30
million, a lump sum he can’t touch until he turns 55.
It’s a LONG time to wait, but if the braided-baller can hold on just 18 more years, there just might be some hope.
As bad as many people feel for A.I. it appears that all his wounds
are self-inflicted. Iverson’s ignorance, lack of responsibility, and a
general I-don’t-give-a-fawk demeanor makes it hard to feel too bad for
him. That said, Iverson was one of the greatest basketball players that
most of us have ever seen grace the court, it’s a shame that won’t be
the way we remember him. Image via AP
Dear Diary,
For my birthday this year, my family (the dear s) purchased a week of personal training at the local health club for
me.
Although I am still in great shape, I decided it would be a good idea to go
ahead and give it a try.
I called the club and made my reservations with a personal trainer named Brad, who identified himself as a 26-year-old aerobics
instructor and model for athletic clothing and swim wear.
My daughter seemed pleased with my enthusiasm to get started! The club encouraged me to keep a diary to chart my progress.
MONDAY:
Started my day at 6:00 a.m. Tough to get out of bed, but found it was
well worth it when I arrived at the health club to find Brad
waiting for me. He is something of a Greek god - with blond hair,
dancing eyes and a dazzling white smile. Woo Hoo!! Brad gave me
a tour and showed me the machines. I enjoyed watching the skilful way in which he
conducted his aerobics class after my workout today. Very inspiring!
Brad was encouraging as I did my sit-ups, although my gut was already aching from holding it in the whole time he was around.
This is going to be a FANTASTIC week-!!
TUESDAY:
I drank a whole pot of coffee, but I finally made it out the door.
Brad made me lie on my back and push a heavy iron bar into the air then
he put weights on it! My legs were a little wobbly on the
treadmill, but I made the full mile. Brad's rewarding smile made it all
worthwhile. I feel GREAT-!! It's a whole new life for me.
WEDNESDAY:
The only way I can brush my teeth is by laying the toothbrush on the counter and moving my mouth back and forth over it. I
believe I have a hernia in both pectorals.
Driving was OK as long as I didn't try to steer or stop.
Brad was impatient with me, insisting that my screams bothered other club members. His
voice is a little too perky for early in the morning and when he scolds, he gets this
nasally whine that is VERY annoying. My chest hurt when I got on the treadmill, so Brad put
me on the stair monster. Why the hell would anyone invent a machine to simulate an
activity rendered obsolete by elevators? Brad told me it would help me get in shape and
enjoy life. He said some other sh*t too.
THURSDAY:
Brad was waiting for me with his vampire-like teeth exposed as his thin, cruel lips were
pulled back in a full snarl. I couldn't help being a half an hour late, it took me that long to tie my shoes.
Brad took me to work out with dumbbells. When he was not looking, I ran
and hid in the restroom. He sent some skinny #!%*% to find
me.
Then, as punishment, he put me on the rowing machine -- which I sank.
FRIDAY:
I hate that Brad more than any human being has ever hated any other human being in the history of the world.
Brad wanted me to work on my triceps. I don't have any triceps! And if
you don't want dents in the floor, don't hand me the damn barbells
or anything that weighs more than a sandwich.
The treadmill flung me off and I landed on a health and nutrition teacher.
Why couldn't it have been someone softer, like the drama coach or the choir director?
SATURDAY:
Brad left a message on my answering machine in his grating, shrilly voice wondering why I
did not show up today. Just hearing him made me want to smash the machine with my planner.
However, I lacked the strength to even use the TV remote and ended up catching eleven straight hours of the Weather Channel.
SUNDAY:
I'm having the Church van pick me up for services today so I can go and thank GOD that
this week is over. I will also pray that next year my family (the little
sh*t s ) will choose a gift for me that is fun -- like a
root canal or a hysterectomy. I still say if God had wanted me to bend over, he would have
sprinkled the floor with diamonds!!!
__________________ If you be loved, be worthy of love.
Starring at the past, in comparison with who I am today, that person I
was, before meeting you, clearly shows how much I love you and how
important you are to me. In times like these I see how much I involved
and how much you taught me.
With no great effort, without any resource or maybe without even
knowing, you transformed me into a better and happier man. Yes, my
darling, you did this, by filling my soul, until then futile and empty,
with solid concepts of humanity, generosity and clarity. Somehow, you
filled that empty soul with the most fertile of seeds and made then grow
here in my chest.
That’s why I spare no expense in keeping you, always by my side, because
the person that showed me what love is, is precisely the one that
deserves all the love in the world, because she carries only light and
sweetness in her noble heart.
You bring me peace and serenity, because you are able to transmit, every
day and every hour, the certainly that it’s thrilling to be alive.
When I look at you I breathe and the certainty that to me, having your
company, I will feel realized until the fullness of my soul.
Dear John,
I was emotionally unavailable when we met. I didn't give you the time of day or notice how hard you were trying to get my attention. I've been chased by boys before, but none of them as persistent as you. Usually my moodiness would make people give up, but you? You were different. You pushed me out of my comfort zone and I slowly started realizing you were going to be a significant figure in my life. We learned all about each other and you knew me better than I knew myself. Sure we've had our fair share of fights, but you always pulled me back in. Times are really hard now because you're gone. I have no way of speaking to you. I know I could say anything and everything to you and you truly cared. I can only hope you come back, and very soon. Because.. I fell in love with you. Yes we've said it countless times to each other, and yes I thought I was sure I meant it. But the feelings I have now don't compare to any feelings I've had before. I was so sure "love" was a myth. You changed my outlook on that. I know you'll never see this and we may never speak again, but you must know you impacted me. I don't want to think of starting over with someone else. I am young though, so its bound to happen. All great things come to an end eventually, right? You were definitely something great. Thank you baby, thank you for everything.
Love,
Your babygirl, Ketty
A letter I would send to him if I could. If only he knew how much I still care. Yes his name is John and yes my name is Ketty.