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Gangster Rap Album Threatens Iverson's NBA Career

by Blake Rehberg

Well, well, well, Allen Iverson. Looks like you're the little bitch now.

Iverson, the breakout point guard for the Philadelphia 76ers, is recording a hard-core gangster rap album. The single "40 Bars" is already out and turning heads. Unfortunately for Iverson the heads aren't turning his way in appreciation for his musical skills, but in disgust and shock at the content and style of the music.

OK, so what's the lowdown on his playing? He's awesome. He was Philadelphia's first round draft pick, and immediately justified that choice, scoring 30 points in his debut appearance. As a rookie he was selected as rookie of the month twice, named MVP of the Schick Rookie Game and the Schick rookie of the year. At one point he went on runaway stretch scoring over 40 points in five straight games.

Iverson has led the 76ers in points in three of the four seasons he has completed with them. He has averaged 24.9 points a game for his five-year career. That places him third among the players still playing in the NBA today, trailing only Karl Malone and Shaquille O'Neal.

He possesses possibly the best offensive creativity seen in the league today. Yet he was overlooked for the Olympic basketball team. Bizarre? Not really. Especially since there was little doubt the USA would win (although they did came close to losing it). There was no need to include Iverson. He may add a lot on the court offensively, but his attitude is severely lacking.

Iverson probably won't miss the Olympic gold. He wears enough gold and silver of his own. But what he may have to worry about now is his NBA career. Over the off-season the 76ers were attempting to trade him and nobody wanted him. Iverson seems to think that all it takes is skills (and he does have amazing skills) but professional sports are a business just like any other one. Iverson might find out the hard way that stepping on everyone's toes is the fastest way straight to the bottom.

Although I have not heard the single, it is reported in Newsweek to include disdain for "bitches" and "faggots." Well, that's nice Allen. I'm not sure what road he is following with his music. Maybe he didn't notice that Eminem has been protested heavily for his latest release, which included gay-bashing lyrics.

Iverson had a rough childhood growing up in the projects. His mother was only 15 when she had him and his father pretty much stayed in jail. I admit I don't know where Iverson is coming from, and this makes me hesitant to criticize the cultural significance of his record. But he is so inflammatory I can't resist.

It seems to me that Iverson is just cashing in. He is in the spotlight, and what better way to exploit the limelight than to produce a product that will be bought up rapidly. He already has a $70.9 million contract with the 76ers and a $50 million endorsement contract with Reebok. Sadly, gangster rap usually explodes off the shelf straight into hallways of middle schools across the country. There is a whole world of progressive hip-hop, which is all created by individuals who were culturally and economically oppressed like Iverson, but they bring a positive message to their art. Iverson does no such thing.

I think the cultural backwardness starts at the top. Does Iverson have any idea the impact that his album will have? I doubt it. How many youngsters will adopt his disdain for "bitches" and "faggots?" One would be too many. It seems so unfortunate that it will probably be so many more than I could ever care to guess.

The other impact Iverson is unaware of is the one on his career. His album upset the NBA but also the NAACP. Initially Iverson told NBA boss David Stern that he would make changes in the album, but he was later quoted in Newsweek as saying, "I ain't changing s‹t."

I'm not sure Stern is the right man to mess with. Stern seems to be more than just a last name especially after he enforced a $3.5 million fine against the Minnesota Timberwolves along with other penalties for signing an illegal contract.

His album is not the only black mark Iverson has against him. The relationship between 76ers head coach Larry Brown and Iverson is extremely stressed and threatened to keep Brown from returning to the team for this season. The players on the team seem to side with Brown in what sounds like one big unhappy family. The poor team relationships didn't keep the team out of the post-season last year, but it sounds like someone is about to turn the fan on and the shit is just waiting.

Iverson is incredibly unreliable, coming late to a playoff game and more than 50 practices, not to mention the ones he skipped all together. His friendship with Magic Johnson was curtailed when he didn't show up as the featured star for Johnson's charity game for the United Negro College fund. Iverson had stayed out late partying and had been unable to make his plane.

Iverson also refuses to lift weights or to do conditioning work during the off-season. According to his friends he didn't even play over the off-season. Iverson seems to think that he is a naturally unstoppable talent. Few can stop him on the court.

"It's like anything else in my life. People attack everything I do," Iverson said in an interview with Newsweek. I don't think Iverson should worry about anyone trying to stop him on or off the court. If he doesn't change something soon, he'll beat them all to it.

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Copyright © 2000, The Oberlin Review.
Volume 129, Number 7, November 3, 2000

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