Allen Iverson's business manager, Gary Moore, claims that the Pistons assured the guard a leadership role when they traded for him last November.

Obviously, that's not how things played out in Detroit. His new teammates were upset that management traded longtime point guard Chauncey Billups.

"Allen couldn't do anything about that," Moore told the Memphis Commercial Appeal. "When you lie to him, that affects him."

Moore added that Iverson sat down face-to-face with the Grizzlies before signing with the team.

"They were up front with him," Moore said. "When he sat down and met with them eye-to-eye, he said, 'I was just lied to, and it almost destroyed my career. What do you guys want from me? If you want me to just come here and sell tickets, you've got the wrong guy. If I come here, I want to win.' "

I still think Joe could have told him that but Rip would have NONE of it. Rip had a LOT to do with AI's lack of success here, imo. AI had a lot to do with it too, but just sayin.

Boo-Hoo.

What a whiny bitch. A cancer, a midget two-guard, a thug.

Glad he's gone.

Can't wait for him to put up 22pts/5ast/2rb/3to/3stls/10 inappropraite defensive gambles on 41% shooting for the Memphis Shit-Hooks.

I still think Joe could have told him that but Rip would have NONE of it. Rip had a LOT to do with AI's lack of success here, imo. AI had a lot to do with it too, but just sayin.
If Rip would have NONE of it, how did Rip end up coming off the bench? How the fuck does Rip have a lot to do with AI's performance on the court when Rip wasn't playing? AI was blowing uncontested layups with Rip off the court.

I think AI's camp is talking bullshit. I don't think anyone had to "assure" him a leadership role. "assure" implies some sort of doubt... where was the doubt? To some extent, leadership has to be earned, not just given, but it's bullshit to think that AI would have anything other than great respect and opportunity. He blew it.

I think this is reminiscent of AI's 2004 season, after we snarfed LB from the Sixers and he had a rookie coach. He caused strife, played like shit, and called it off with dubious injuries.

leadership role doesn't mean he's starting. Dyess was a leader off the bench. Manu is a leader off the bench. Battier is a leader off the bench too.

If he wasn't in a leadership role he has himself to blame. If he wants to bitch about the way the offense was ran, fine. But leaders happen in leading by example. You can't be appointed leader.

The Pistons are liars, it's well documented. Dude still shouldn't have quit.

Okay, now this thread is interesting.

*waiting*

Fuck him. It's football season.

Even if everything he claims is true, AI is still a bunch of punks for bailing on the season.

leadership? From him? He led by example. Missing practice, bitching about minutes, complaining about scoring, complaining about his legacy being tarnished by not getting a chance to score, gambling on the court too much and telling people its hustle & heart, and playing no defense. We followed his quiet leadership to the grave.

Try to read this without laughing.


Tim (Whitley City, Ky.): Do you believe Iverson when he says the Pistons promised him he would be the “team leader” when they obtained him from the Nuggets? Do you believe they “lied to me” as he claims? He claims this almost ruined his career. Do you think all this is true?

Langlois: The fact he waited for more than two months for a solid contract proposal and a role he deemed acceptable speaks more loudly to me than his “business manager” and former amateur football coach saying Iverson was “lied to” based on conversations he wasn’t privy to. Does it sound plausible that anyone told Iverson he was coming to Detroit to be the team leader? Maybe that’s what he heard, but Joe Dumars wasn’t looking for leadership – not from Iverson, at least – when he traded away a guy he knew was a great leader in Chauncey Billups. He wanted Iverson’s explosive scoring ability (almost as much as he wanted Iverson’s expiring contract so he could go out and find a couple of foundation pieces, which he did in Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva). And if Iverson came to Detroit intent on being a leader, why – three weeks into his stay – did he blow off a Thanksgiving morning practice called primarily for his benefit? Is that what leaders do? Anyone giving this a shred of credibility needs to consider the principles and rethink things.

Oh man, Present Day Keith Langlois is totally laying the smackdown on Six Months Ago Keith Langlois.

Anyone giving this a shred of credibility needs to consider the principles and rethink things.

"principals"?

http://www.detroitbadboys.com/archives/2009-09-15/iversons-sour-grapes/

I love how it's pretty much universally accepted that Tay at the 4 and Rip at the 3 is a bust, yet we're apparently headed right down the same road this year.

Anyone see "Piston's Recharged"

I jst saw the last 5 mins. Was it just a puff piece?

"Detroit Recharged" is an anagram for "Redecorated Girth".

"Detroit Recharged" is an anagram for "Redecorated Girth".
Which would be awesome if Eddy Curry were playing for :us:

New stuff on the front page of ESPN.com about this.

Sounds like it's Curry, specifically, that he's talking about.

Former Carlisle and O'Neal player snitch turned terrible but still somehow "more qualified than Laimbeer" 1 year and gone head coach Curry lied?

Shocking.

Of course, much has to filtered through AI-colored glasses:

"You know, I wouldn't even touch the ball. And that was the frustrating part."

I don't know if we'll ever fully know how effed up last year's team was, but there was a :SHITSTORM!: no doubt.

“I have enough bad experience in NBA life,” Milicic said. “I don’t think this can be worse than Detroit, so I just want to enjoy it and hope to have a winning season and do the best I can.”