<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Q: Have you talked to Allen Iverson lately? A: I saw him once [this season]. A Bentley came by, stopped, he got out and we gave each other a big hug. Q: You were an authority figure he respected. But the controversies continue. Why? A: He knows I care about him, like when I punished him. I think that sometimes he craves discipline. My wife and I used to talk about this: When everything's going smooth, he creates chaos, because he was brought up in chaos and he feels comfortable in it. So you've got to deal with it. Q: What did you think of Iverson's refusal to come off the bench at Detroit (defying interim coach Chris Ford). A: (Croce's eyes widen and his voice booms). You dress and act like a leader! (He knocks his fist hard on a table). I would've thrown him out on the court in his underwear! There's no way I would've tolerated that! That's the worst thing Allen has done as a pro. A leader doesn't act that way. You gotta walk the talk. You can't say you're gonna take your red wagon home! Q: You were the guy who threatened him with, 'Allen, we're trading you to the Clippers.' It worked for a while. A: He promised me he'd be on time, that he'd be a better leader. And that fifth year of mine, he did. I think Jim O'Brien will work well with Allen Iverson. He communicates well, sticks by his guns. Allen will learn from him. I still have hope. He has to realize that what he's doing is not working. If his job is to get a trophy for Philadelphia, he has to work out in the offseason and abide by the coach's game plan. And I think in his heart of hearts, he really wants that. I think somehow, though, his hard-drive gets re-wired, and you've got to put software in every day. I used to tell Larry that.</div> Full Article Dan Dunkin Philly Burbs
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">A: (Croce's eyes widen and his voice booms). You dress and act like a leader! (He knocks his fist hard on a table). I would've thrown him out on the court in his underwear! There's no way I would've tolerated that! That's the worst thing Allen has done as a pro. A leader doesn't act that way. You gotta walk the talk. You can't say you're gonna take your red wagon home!</div> Reading that segment alone makes me wish that he was still apart of the Sixers organization. Ever since he stepped out, the Sixers fell off. I don't know, but maybe he should keep in touch some more with Allen Iverson. He had Allen Iverson on cheack and that tough love of his actually worked.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Sasha:</div><div class="quote_post">If you don't have anything to say in a thread, then don't. Simple.</div> lol i'm so sorry. ok mr. god, from now on i will ask u for permission to comment on all threads in all messageboard on the www.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Sasha:</div><div class="quote_post"> You were the guy who threatened him with, 'Allen, we're trading you to the Clippers.' It worked for a while.</div> I found that pretty ammusing. Really shows that Iverson doesn't want to be on a bad team. (No offense LAC fans). I hope it also indicates that Allen wants to stay in Philly. I don't think anyone should want him out after just one bad year.
He's the star player, so of course everyone is going to place all the blame on him. Even wanting him out is not that extreme. I find this really funny, but most writers from the source I got this article from are just bandwagon fans. When Philly was doing good, they were on their knees, now that Philly is doing bad, they just bash them.
I liked Croce because he communicated with AI more and that made him grow as a player,I think Coach Brown had a similar effect.Chris Ford didnt even communicate with AI,if a coach doesnt communicate with his players off the court then I dont think the team will play as good.
Then we're not going to play good next season as well. O'Brien isn't known for his stance with disciplining his players, and if Allen has troubles like he did this past season, then we're in for another ride.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Sasha:</div><div class="quote_post">He's the star player, so of course everyone is going to place all the blame on him. Even wanting him out is not that extreme. I find this really funny, but most writers from the source I got this article from are just bandwagon fans. When Philly was doing good, they were on their knees, now that Philly is doing bad, they just bash them.</div> <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Sasha:</div><div class="quote_post">Then we're not going to play good next season as well. O'Brien isn't known for his stance with disciplining his players, and if Allen has troubles like he did this past season, then we're in for another ride.</div> I don't think Jim O'Brien is going to play a MAJOR factor next season. Next season it's going to be all about Allen Iverson. He has matured a lot throughout his career, and I think he knows that he has to step up and be that leader that he needs to be. I think he is aware of that fact that a lot of people are looking at him differently. During the horrendous season, sports analysts has been bashing him and questioned how great he really is. This season he somewhat lost the image, of being that "Superstar" he's been throughout his career. So next season I know for a fact that he is going to turn things around completely. In a recent conversation between Jim O'Brien and Allen Iverson, Jim O'Brien said that Allen Iverson is going to be ready next season and will do everything in his power to turn things around. I don't know about you guys but that's good enough for me. I have fate in this guy, if anyone could do it, Allen Iverson could. GO SIXERS!!!
This is why I like Croce, he tells it like it is without being brutally honest to the point of being offensive. I think Croce hit the nail on the head with this one. Good find!
I wish Croce was still here. I'll never forget the banner he put up during the Finals over the bridge.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting The Answer:</div><div class="quote_post">I found that pretty ammusing. Really shows that Iverson doesn't want to be on a bad team. (No offense LAC fans). I hope it also indicates that Allen wants to stay in Philly. I don't think anyone should want him out after just one bad year.</div> I'm very offended, no but really I think it's more that he didn't want to get traded from Philly, the Clippers aren't that bad, and back then they even had more talent. Anyways I think Croce tells it like it is, and that's good, AI really needs someone beside him to just nudge him and push him along.
AI should never be blamed for anything, he has the most effort out of anybody and plus his supporting cast is far from mediocre. Croce is very honest, that's very admirable especially since he's someone AI likes, respects, looks up to as well as being controlled under. Still having him would've been a blessing, he'd be like Hubie Brown is, to Jason Williams.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting og15:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm very offended, no but really I think it's more that he didn't want to get traded from Philly, the Clippers aren't that bad, and back then they even had more talent. Anyways I think Croce tells it like it is, and that's good, AI really needs someone beside him to just nudge him and push him along.</div> Well sorry if I offended you, but this was back in 2000 and 2001. You think Iverson, who was on a great Philadelphia team wanted to be traded to the Clips? Clippers were bad back then, but you can't blame them when they were in the tough west. This year them (and the Warriors) have greatly improved and I think Clippers had a better or close record to the Sixers which doesn't say much for the 76ers. Btw og15- When you said "back then they ever had more talent" were you indicating that Clippers had more talent back in 2001? Saying the Clippers now, had more talent then the Eastern Conference Champs back then? If you were really meaning that, I suggest think again.
