Philadelphia--The City of Brotherly Thugs
Send us your tired, your poor...your washed-up athletes with anger management issues and broken moral compasses yearning to get big paychecks and wreak havoc on a sports team.
Oh wait. It's New York that has a claim on that line, at least the beginning of it. And a noble line it is, but we here in Philly have happily bastardized the second part and appear to be firmly embracing the concept.
First it was the Eagles hiring Michael Vick, the once promising NFL quarterback who served time for his participation in a deplorable dog fighting ring in Virginia. The howls that resonated after it was learned that Vick would be getting his "second chance" at big money and big fame redemption here in Philadelphia reverberated throughout the city--and they weren't just from frightened dogs. Fans registered disgust, but hey, Vick was a draw, so who cares that he sent innocent animals to their deaths for sport?
And now, the genius powers that be in the sports world here in Philly have done it again.
Let's have yet another round of applause for Allen Iverson, the 34-year-old spoiled brat of basketball who now, thanks to a decision that has lots of folks choking back a gag reflex, is once more a member of the Philadelphia 76ers.
According the the Philadelphia Daily New's Phil Jasner, the franchise is "desperate" for several things. In the wake of injuries, the team needs a guard who can "control the ball, draw a double-team, get to the rim, score, draw fouls and, heaven help us, find open teammates." If you're looking strictly at talent, I suppose Iverson is up to the challenge.
But I'm more inclined to believe that the Sixers are tossing in their lot with the little guard with a big mouth for another reason: They need the press. The Sixers are in trouble; their games generate about as much excitement as a Canasta game at a nursing home. So why not sign a resident bad boy to shake things up? It'll be great for ticket sales and maybe the guy can even score some points and rescue the season from oblivion.
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