Philly mag does a feature on Iverson in Turkey

[saritasbora]

I'm operating on extreme hope. I am in Instanbul All I know is that Allen Iverson 
is here — in this city of 13 million, with one foot in Asia and one in Europe — to play basketball. His manager keeps saying no, that Allen won’t talk to me. So I ask the concierge in my hotel: If you’re Allen Iverson — the greatest thing to ever hit Turkish basketball — where do you go to meet women?

“Reina,” he tells me. “Yes, Club Reina — on the Bosphorus.”

http://www.phillymag.com/articles/featu ... star/page1

funny story
10 pages long
have fun.

[doozyj]

10 pages. I'll pass and wait for someone to recap it.

[Blackmun]

10 pages. I'll pass and wait for someone to recap it.

You need to post less.

Edit: After reading the article, I take note of one thing. He takes absolutely no critique. Absolutely no part of the blame for his career having gone that way.

Gambling issues? "Pfft, Im rich, bitch!"
Drinking issies? "Everyone I know drinks!"

I guess it´s still the same old Iverson story: everything bad that happens to him is someone else´s fault.

[JoeHova]

10 pages. I'll pass and wait for someone to recap it.

Each page is only like 400 words. Shouldn't take more than a few minutes to read.

[doozyj]

10 pages. I'll pass and wait for someone to recap it.

Each page is only like 400 words. Shouldn't take more than a few minutes to read.

You're right. Read it.

I wonder how much of gambling still influences his life, they mentioned that gambling is illegal in Turkey, possibly he went to play there to earn money without blowing most of it like he probably would have if he played in another country.

[Blackmun]

Let´s be fair, gambling being illegal doesn`t mean you can`t gamble there. It just means they won`t have a huge, neon sign over the door saying CASINO.

[doozyj]

Let´s be fair, gambling being illegal doesn`t mean you can`t gamble there. It just means they won`t have a huge, neon sign over the door saying CASINO.

For some reason I strike Iverson in the type of gambler thats likes to be seen gambling in casinos, ie Barley, Jordan etc. It's a status symbol thing to be able to wager huge sums of money in front of other wealthy players, the house, the public etc. I think it would be less of a rush of him playing go fish with his homie at his pad. Plus most of Iverson's gambling "troubles" were from public casinos. Plus gamblers like Iverson don't gamble to win money. They have enough money, he is an adddict, his pleasure comes from the rush of winning.

[Blackmun]

Let´s be fair, gambling being illegal doesn`t mean you can`t gamble there. It just means they won`t have a huge, neon sign over the door saying CASINO.

For some reason I strike Iverson in the type of gambler thats likes to be seen gambling in casinos, ie Barley, Jordan etc. It's a status symbol thing to be able to wager huge sums of money in front of others, the house or other wealthy players. I think it would be less of a rush of him playing go fish with his homie at his pad. Plus most of Iverson's gambling "troubles" were from public casinos.

The people you meet in unauthorized casions are by and large the same as the people you meet in the legal ones. Except the random tourists, which aren`t allowed into the high roller rooms at the legal casinos anyway.

Anyway, you`re right about the status things, at least for a certain demographic. Not pulling race into this, but you know, you could.

[doozyj]

Well most of Iversons troubles were from public casinos. The illegal gambling halls would probably best to be avoided especially while playing pro-ball whether he's in the NBA or playing overseas. I know Iverson isn't the smartest of the bunch but he clearly wouldn't be that stupid to partake in that type of illegal activity. Or would he? LOL

[Blackmun]

Most of Iverson`s troubles were due to him being an idiot. Which, based on this interview, he still is.

And why wouldn`t he? People do illegal **** all the time, there`s nothing new in that.

[Giacomo]

“One should judge a man mainly from his depravities. Virtues can be faked. Depravities are real.”

Without the bad, you don't have the great, either. Were he raised in some middle income, suburban family, chances are AI would have never become a basketball player, much less a legendary one.

And he is right, he is no different than a vast majority of people. Except for not being a fake.

As for compulsive gambling, as an illustration, Fyodor Dostoevski, one of the greatest authors and psychologists of all times was a compulsive gambler, and often on a brink of bankruptcy. Was also sent to jail and almost executed over some bs, and received clemency just as they were to lodge a bullet in his skull. Considered his experience in the gulag invaluable.

Grow some balls and go do it your self, you spotless, faultless workaholics.