Quick, extremely conflicted thoughts on the first day of the Iverson Era:
Up:
- The Good A.I.: The rare chance to see a true star up close.
1. A Rare Opportunity: Whatever else the addition of Allen Iverson means for the Grizzlies, one thing is clear: This provides an opportunity for Memphis-area sports fans to watch one of the most compelling and charismatic athletes of his generation, up close, for as many as 45 games. In my seven years of covering the Grizzlies, my two favorite NBA players to watch in person have been Iverson and Kevin Garnett: Both play the game with palpable passion and both are unique athletes — Garnett a 7’1″ basketball ballet dancer who covers the entire floor and doesn’t need to score to dominate; Iverson a scoring machine who attacks with a geometrical feel few possess, as if he’s on ice skates while everyone else is in sneakers.
Even a diminished, 34-year-old Iverson will be fascinating to watch. In a small market with one major-league franchise, the opportunity to watch an all-time great is rare. Whatever my reservations about the signing, I’m genuinely excited to take advantage of that opportunity.
2. Starpower: If the main reason for signing Iverson is to get fans excited and sell tickets, well, those are pretty worthwhile goals. Nevermind the impact on the team’s bottom line — the paltry attendance at Grizzlies games in recent seasons has severely hurt the quality of the experience for fans that are there and has seemed to impact the energy level of the players. Iverson will sell tickets. He won’t fill the building, but will clearly bring many more people in than would otherwise have been there.
