<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">SEATTLE - This was June 24, 2003, as 19-year-old Kevin Johnson waited for a trolley at 52nd Street and Chester Avenue in Southwest Philadelphia. All he was doing was wearing his Allen Iverson jersey. A group of teens demanded that he give it up. He refused. One of the teens shot him. It cost Johnson 3 years of being paralyzed, dependent on a wheelchair, his mother and, eventually, a ventilator. Sunday, after Johnson suffered irreparable brain damage when the ventilator system failed last Thursday, his family agreed to take him off life support and - having seen on his driver's license that he wanted to be an organ donor - agreed to donate his organs. Enter Iverson. The 76ers star guard telephoned the family and offered to pay for the funeral. Iverson, with the Sixers at practice yesterday in the Furtado Center, the practice site of the Seattle SuperSonics, declined to speak about the situation. But the organization was more than aware. "For him, it's a great thing,'' coach Maurice Cheeks said. "It's a great thing for Allen to take care of the family. It is a tragedy, but I think he's trying to make something good come out of it. You have to support something like that.'' One of the teens, Robert Ferguson, shot Johnson in the back of the neck. The other, Robert Chisolm, shot Johnson's cousin, Nafeese Horton, in the face. Both were convicted of attempted murder and are serving 15-to-30 year prison sentences. After Iverson called, Johnson's mother, Janice Jackson-Burke, told the Daily News, "Kevin would be looking down and saying, 'Man, I knew you were that kind of guy.' '' Amazingly, Johnson had forgiven Ferguson and Chisolm. He had been visiting area schools, lecturing kids and adults on the dangers of violence. "It was time for Kevin to go home,'' Jackson-Burke said. "None of the things that were keeping him alive were meant to be there. His tracheotomy... it wasn't natural. "He served his purpose and God called him home.'' Six shots</div> Source
I hate people that think AI is a selfish guy. The guy has a heart and does a lot of good stuff for the city of Philadelphia and its fans. He's really a good guy.
I just read that story, and felt a wave of emotion come over me, so of course I came to JBB. Sad for the guy, he was young. He must have been really brave, but AI is right losing his life for a jersey ~ not the answer. I admire his courage standing up to the bad guys though. Feel bad for the family. AI is a nice guy, Philly don't turn on him.
A very kind thing to do on A.I's part, I also like how he didnt want to discuss it at the training session, shows he doesnt want it to become some sort of publicity stunt. My condolences go out to the family of the kid who was killed, there really are some f'n idiots out there. I hope the 2 guys that shot him get whats coming to them. R.I.P.
Good job AI. He doesn't even know the kid personally, and yet he has heart to pay for the funeral. That is a true man, helping out others. RIP
Great move by Allen Iverson from a moral stand point and also a big boast for his reputation among casual fans. Sometimes however (not necessarily in this situation) you have to wonder how genuine these athletes are when they make donations or offer to pay for stuff. It always seems to end up on the front page of newspapers. Sometimes you have to wonder if they are just doing it for the exposure.
<div class="quote_poster">Carter Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Wow. Allen Iverson has a big heart. I feel bad for the guy. Some jerks shot him.</div> No kidding?
