As of a few days ago, Allen Iverson announced that he was taking a leave of absence from the Memphis Grizzles for undisclosed personal reasons. Now whether or not these personal reasons are real or are just a cover for his unhappiness with the team is anyones guess, but personally I cannot help but wonder if AI has had enough, never to come back again.
With all the drama surrounding him last season, when he played for the Detroit Pistons, one can understand AI going into the new season a bit hesitant, not knowing what to expect. While playing for the Pistons, AI quickly went from All-Star to nobody as he did not start as promised, but instead acted like a bench warmer before injuring his back and then leaving the team for good. After this little stint, AI began to market himself to other teams, hoping that whoever he would play for next would not even think twice about starting him. Unfortunately for the baller, this was not the case, and history started to repeat itself.
Coming into Memphis, AI figured that what happened to him last season, would never happen again, especially with a team who could greatly use a makeover. During preseason however, AI once again ended up injured, and once again could not showcase his talents. What happened next though is what no one, especially not Iverson, ever expected. After AI healed up and was given the doctor's ok to play, he was still coming off of the bench, following guards O.J. Mayo and Mike Conley. And true to his nature, after just one game of being stuck in this position, he started to run his mouth.
I cannot say that I am surprised at AI's reaction to coming off of the bench, as he publicly badmouthed Detroit time and time again after all of that chaos went down, however, to once again follow suit and run away from the game...that just deserves a big old headshake. True, his personal issues may be true and he may be back shortly, but my gut tells me something else is up and that AI has gone back to his old tricks.
Do I think he should start? Certainly. Though the players on Memphis deserve a spot in the spotlight as well, and have been more or less holding their ground lately, AI is a name, and especially after everything he has gone through lately deserves a chance to once again be on top. However, not everything can always go the way you want it to, and I am a bit disappointed in his childish reaction. It is easy to see where his frustration comes from, especially since it seems that once again a grand miscommunication took place, but as a veteran and a once super respected player, the right thing for Iverson to do would be to swallow his pride and peacefully work things out. Because at this rate, even if he does return to Memphis eventually, his chances of ever being who he once was again are going from slim to none. No team will want such a player representing them, no player will want to play with someone so selfish seeming and no one will want to come cheer for him.
Personally, I think there is still a chance for redemption and for AI to re-establish his career, but the time slot is getting shorter and shorter so for his sake I hope he figures his "personal issue" out as soon as possible and return to the game he was once great at.
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