UPDATE! Allen Iverson’s daughter is the least of his worries.
So just last week, I posted how I had found a new respect for Allen Iverson for leaving the game he loves to take care of his ill 4-year-old daughter. Well, the Philadelphia Inquirer’s own Stephen A. Smith reports that Iverson isn’t just leaving basketball for his daughter, but to take care of some other slightly more important personal matters. Mainly that his wife (and high school sweetheart) filed for divorce March 5th, custody of their five children, alimony and child support; and he’s apparently dealing with serious alcohol and gambling problems that will cause him to “either drink himself into oblivion or gamble his life away.”
Smith says that this comes from “numerous NBA sources.” So this begs the question, are any of these “sources,” or anybody else for that matter, attempting to help him, or is everyone standing back waiting to pounce on the impending story like the Britney Spears meltdown? Look, Allen, if you need help and need to get away, you can come stay with me and my family. Seriously. Post a comment or email me. Somebody needs to help him. Stephen A. Smith suggested Iverson’s coach at Georgetown, John Thompson needs to step up and help out.
My suggestion: The NBA needs to use this as a learning tool for incoming rookies to show how the ride doesn’t last forever. If you don’t take care of the millions of dollars and instant fame that are thrown at you, you’ll end up alcoholic and in serious debt…like Vin Baker. As for Iverson, taking the time away from basketball is the least of his worries, but the first step in a postive direction. Take this time to piece your life back together. Do it for your kids. Do it for you. Do it so the tabloids don’t rip you to shreds. Just get better. Because nobody deserves to go down in a Britney Spears paparazzi-fueled blaze of glory.
