<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Allen Iverson's metamorphosis might be aptly described as Extreme Makeover: Conformity Edition. Iverson's tattoos are more likely to be covered by a business-casual collared shirt or a designer suit these days than a throwback jersey; the cornrows are no longer concealed by an askew cap, and his signature sneaks are for games only, please. Thanks to an NBA dress code that's wiped out the so-called hip-hop element, Iverson looks more like a million bucks than 50 Cent. Iverson's changes are more than cosmetic, however. Not only is Iverson talkin' about practice, he loves it so much under new Philadelphia 76ers coach Maurice Cheeks that he wants to arrive early and play as hard when the baskets don't count as he does when they're official. Then there's how Iverson prays -- even with his cross now tucked safely under his shirt -- first to become a better person, husband and father before asking for blessings on the basketball court. Then again, that last prayer was answered a long time ago. Throw a suit on him, throw whatever you want at the 76ers' franchise player, and what will never change -- what no league edict can ever control -- is the way the undersized guard with the supersized heart plays, as he always says, like every game is his last. "I just continue to play the way that made me successful in this league," Iverson said. "Once I stop being aggressive on the basketball court, I'll be hurting my team more than helping them." It's hard to argue Iverson has done much to hurt the Sixers the last nine years. Sure, he jacks up shots like he may never get the ball again. OK, sometimes he's made headlines for all the wrong reasons. But when it comes to Sixers greats, there seems little argument about the hierarchy: Wilt. Dr. J. A.I. Hard to believe it's season No. 10 for Iverson, a decade in which he made nearly as much news for his off-court theater as his gutty play. Now he's the elder statesman on a Sixers team that he helped grow into a title contender -- and a city that helped him grow into a man. "I had a lot of growing up to do," Iverson said. "A lot of times, I learned the hard way."</div> <div align="center"> Contracosta Times</div>
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Hard to believe it's season No. 10 for Iverson, a decade in which he made nearly as much news for his off-court theater as his gutty play. Now he's the elder statesman on a Sixers team that he helped grow into a title contender -- and a city that helped him grow into a man.</div> Am I missing something?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Purple Fever:</div><div class="quote_post">Am I missing something?</div> He meant it in the terms that Allen is no longer a young man ( in his twenties) and he has become more of a leader. A mature player, or in other words a elder statesman. This team only has four players over the age thirty ( Nailon, Iverson, Webber, and Ollie) so he is really one of the older guys on the team. A lot of people think of a elder statesman as what Charles Barkley was to the Houston Rockets towards the end of his career, but it is used a lot of time in reference to older players in the league that are surrounded by a young cast.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AznxBaller:</div><div class="quote_post">I think Purple Fever was referring to the Sixers as title contenders...</div> In that case I guess they are reffering to 2001.
