Allen Iverson Changing His Image

Posted by Mark Barnes Nov 20, 2006

Throughout my career as a columnist, I’ve been pretty hard on Allen Iverson. The Philadelphia 76ers star guard has, of course, been a pretty easy target. In the past, he was charged with aggravated and simple assault, reckless endangering of other people, conspiracy, weapons violations, burglary, among other things.

When not in trouble with the law, Iverson is making ridiculous statemtents to the media about why he’s late for practice or why he doesn’t work hard on his game or some other inane non sequitor. A millionaire jerk, who says too much and does too little. This has been my tireless refrain.

Now, it seems, Iverson is turning over a new leaf, and I may lose one of my most reliable punching bags.

In a surprising gesture, Iverson has offered to pay for the funeral of Philadelphian, Kevin Johnson, a young man who was shot three years ago, because he refused to hand over his Iverson replica jersey to a group of teens. Johnson was paralized and recently died, due to complications from the shooting.

In a brilliant article for ESPN.com, author Mark Kreidler philosophises about Iverson’s motives.

He wonders, as do I, if a millionaire jerk (my words, not Kreidler’s) can finally become a responsible, mature part of society.

This one act has not completely changed my opinion of Allen Iverson.

It has, though, given me a moment of pause.