하도 심심해서... The Story Of A.I. (출처-리얼 GM)

The Story Of A.I. 7th July, 2005 - 4:53 pm By SW36 The year was 1975, and Ann Iverson, a 15 year old teenager, and unmarried, delivered her first baby, Allen, on July 7th in Hampton, Virginia. Allen’s father Michael Freeman really wasn’t around during his childhood. Due to this, Ann had to take jobs to support not only her, but Allen as well. After graduating high school, she stuck a job at Avon Fashions, a clothes packaging and distribution factory where she would work long hours, and would generally stop at four in the morning. There were even times when she was unemployed. Allen says he will never forget his mother’s efforts for him. “She took care of me for 20 years.” said Allen. Although Freeman paid child support, it wasn’t enough for running water, or even telephone lines. To make matters worse, in 1991, Allen’s father was convicted of possession of cocaine and was sentenced for 10 years. All of this happening when Allen was just starting high school. But just before Freeman went to serve his time, he told Allen something that would stick with Allen all his life, “Basketball is your family’s only way out.” Allen kept that message with him during his whole high school year. He led his school to state football and basketball titles. His coaches however, were not pleased with his life outside the court. On Valentines Day, 1993, Allen was involved in a gang fight which pitted the local white kids against the blacks, which started when Allen got into an argument with a white kid. Even though Iverson claims he left the scene when things escalated, a witness says he saw Allen hit a woman in the head with a chair. Allen was tried as an adult and the media were always on his tail. Things didn’t go as expected for Allen, who was convicted of maiming by mob. He was later sentenced to 5 years in prison. As you can imagine, this didn’t go well with Iverson’s mother, Ann. On October 10th, 1993, she visited Allen, where he then signed an affidavit that read “I am in need for my mother to conduct any and all of my affairs and make any and all decisions for me.” Several short weeks later, the current governor of Virginia, L. Douglas Wilder, granted conditional clemency to Iverson, citing sufficient doubt about his guilt. Allen was then free after four months at the City Farm. Fresh out of prison, Allen attended Georgetown, where he majored in fine arts. Allen always had an interest in drawing and often had good comments about his work. “I want to continue to draw,” Iverson said. “Every talent God gave me, I want to use it. I can’t play basketball forever.” All Allen wanted to do was play basketball when he first got to the college campus. AI was definitely a fan favorite at Georgetown, averaging 23 points per game and was named Big East Conference Defensive Player of The Year twice, during the two years he attended. Standing a mere six feet tall, and at a light 165 pounds, Iverson flourished with the team. He was quick as a rabbit, and was explosive to the hoop with his astonishing jumping ability. As the season wore on, everyone was wondering if AI would be the only Georgetown player to enter the NBA draft before his senior year. After losing in the NCAA tournament his sophomore year, coach Thompson invited him, and his mother to discuss the possibility of Allen going pro. Also attending the meeting was Thompson’s Washington based agent, who has represented almost every Hoya that has gone to the NBA, including Alonzo Mourning, Patrick Ewing and Dikembe Mutombo. Although he advised AI to stay in school, which would perhaps lead to more endorsement offers, Allen refused. His mother was living in poor conditions and Allen didn’t feel that staying in school was a viable option. On April 30th Iverson signed a contract with Falk, the Washington based agent, and the next day announced he was going pro, therefore entering his name into the 1996 NBA Draft. On draft night, Allen heard his name read first by Commissioner David Stern. “With the first pick in the 1996 NBA Draft, the Philadelphia 76ers selects Allen Iverson from Georgetown University.” AI couldn’t have been more thrilled. His was the first pick of the draft that included Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Ray Allen, and Stephon Marbury. And so it would be Philly, where AI would start his next chapter in life. Coming into the league Allen didn’t have to adjust, he fit right in. After averaging 23.5 points per game, 7.5 assists per game, the fans of Philadelphia knew they had a guy that would produce. Allen loved to score, and in just his first year he set a NBA record for rookies, scoring 40 points in five straight games, no other rookie has done anything like that to this day. As the year went on, Allen just couldn’t stop breaking records. He scored 1787 points, the most all-time for a rookie in the Sixers organization. Those stats were good enough for Allen to win the Rookie of The Year award, becoming the first Sixer to win it ever. To AI, the game was beginning to be to easy. Racking up first team honors in 1999, and 2001, winning the Most Valuable Player Award during the 2000-2001 season, and being nominated to the All-Star Game every year from the year 2000. But despite all the milestones and all the records he’s broken, Allen still longs for something that he never won. A NBA Championship. The 2000-2001 season was the closest he got, winning just one game in the NBA Finals, and eventually losing to the Lakers. In 2005, Allen got some much needed help when Chris Webber arrived, sending Kenny Thomas, among others to Sacramento. Maybe someday, with some of Webbers help, Allen can get that championship that he wants so desperately. But regardless of whether he wins a championship or not, I will always respect Allen Iverson, as a player, and as a human being, because to get to the point where he is today is literally impossible. 음...