Long Before He Earned a Retirement Ceremony . . . 

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  This story from the summer of 1997 was written after
Allen Iverson, having already posted one great season
in the NBA (rookie of the year), played for the Sixers
in the championship game of the Charles Baker Summer
League.

Relax. The people weren't cops, with sirens blaring. They were youngsters, with pens and scraps of paper.

If the scene inside and outside Temple's McGonigle Hall last night can be used as a barometer, if Allen Iverson ever tires of basketball, he can fashion a new career as a Pied Piper.

Three days ago in a courtroom in rural Virginia, Iverson received three years' probation after pleading no contest to a concealed weapons charge, thereby avoiding prosecution on a misdemeanor marijuana possession charge. But last night, he was treated like royalty when he showed up to play for the 76ers in the championship game of the Charles Baker League.

Long after his arrival created a positive buzz throughout the arena, and shortly before he hustled to the parking lot and jumped into the front passenger seat just as a violent thunderstorm began, Iverson stood in a crowded, steamy locker room, surrounded by friends and admirers.

In a 10-minute interview with the Daily News, Iverson talked with passion about assorted subjects. He made no direct comments, though, about the incident.

Some of the highlights:

He has hired bodyguards.

He regrets having a negative image.

He will spend very little time in his native Virginia.

He has no use for all of the advice given him in recent days by media members.

He does, however, have some advice for himself.

``Try to be smart,'' he said. ``Just try to be smart in everything I do. ''

During the other portions of the interview, Iverson spoke mostly in long bursts. But when he uttered those two sentences, he did so slowly and measured each word.

Still speaking slowly, he continued, ``I've made some mistakes in my life,'' he said, ``and I'm pretty sure I'll make more. I just hope they're not with the law. ''

During his time on the court, Iverson contributed 47 points, seven assists and two steals for the Sixers, who fell to Mel Rhone, 156-138. With the outcome decided, he left the court with 1 1/2 minutes remaining and was accompanied to the locker room by several Baker League employees.

When nearby youngsters saw Iverson leave the bench, they hustled to the locker room, called out his name and begged for autographs. There was such a crush of people in a small area, it would have been impossible to accommodate anyone.

When Iverson emerged from the locker room, the crush was even greater. Three friends and league personnel hustled Iverson up the crowded steps and out onto Broad Street, and from there up more steps leading to the parking lot. At least 50 youngsters dashed right along with the group, shouting praise and pawing at Iverson.

Soon, the car was flying across the parking lot toward 15th Street, then around a corner and down a driveway back toward Broad. It was pouring now, but Iverson had his window half-open and when the car had to stop before turning south on Broad, Iverson looked out, turned his palms upward, shrugged his shoulders and laughed, clearly amused by the wackiness of it all.

When the Mercedes finally turned, traffic was heavy. Kids ran into Broad Street, walking and then jogging alongside the car.

There were oblivious to the fact - let alone the downpour - that lightning was crackling almost directly overhead.

Iverson said he showed up for the championship game because of his respect for Sonny Hill, the longtime hoops impresario who now works for the Sixers as executive adviser.

``I knew I'd be around people that love me,'' he said. ``On the court, off the court, I feel loved in Philadelphia. ''

Following are Iverson's comments on the various issues:

Bodyguards

``Whether it's one or five, I'm going to have them with me now,'' he said, putting on assorted rings, bracelets and chains, and then a Terry Allen Washington Redskins jersey. His hair was arranged in zigzagging cornrows. ``That's something I should have done before. I don't feel as though I should have to walk around with bodyguards, but . . . It should prevent things from happening. If they do happen, other people won't be able to just tell their side. I'll have people to back up my side. They won't be able to put my name with stuff I had nothing to do with. ''

Image

``I never wanted to have a bad image,'' he said. ``Ever since I came into the league, it seems like that's the image [the media] gave me because of what happened back in my hometown [a much-publicized brawl at a bowling alley in Hampton, Va., in 1993]. It carried on. I don't think I'm a bad guy. People that know me know I'm not. I wish I didn't have this image. It hurts me. As time goes by, it'll get straightened out. I know I can't please everybody in this world. All I can do is try to be a good citizen. I'll work on it. ''

Virginia

``I'll be spending more time in Philadelphia,'' he said. ``I'll still be going around to different places. It just won't be to Virginia. Mostly, I'll be as far as I can from there. ''

Advice

``I don't listen to critics,'' he said. ``When people write negative things about me, the story gets burned. The columnists don't know me. They judge me on what other people say. I listen to my friends and family. ''

Iverson walked onto the court at 7:27, three minutes before the scheduled starting time. He exchanged a short hug with backcourt running mate Jerry Stackhouse and a much longer hug with Hill, who was whispering in his ear. When the starting lineups were announced, Iverson of course generated a large response from the crowd of 2,000.

Cheers were almost totally dominant, but there were a few boos.

``Boos? I didn't hear any,'' Iverson said, smiling. ``You sure? Maybe you heard them because you were listening for them. ''

But what if someone did boo? What if the someone was a 10-year-old kid turned off by your behavior?

``One kid in a million,'' he said. ``That's how I'd look at it. I know most of them love me and appreciate me. ''

Iverson generated his 47 points by shooting 17-for-26 from the floor, including 8-for-13 on three-pointers, and 5-for-8 from the line. He drew intense oohs and aahs every time he employed his crossover dribble.

With about three minutes left, Iverson dropped down to one knee in the northwest corner of the court while free throws were being attempted at the south end. He was smiling and joking with nearby kids, who were sitting against the bottom of the rolled-up lower stands. He was clearly enjoying self.

(Moments later, a metal-and-wood step, used to help people get from the top stands to the bottom stands, tumbled down and plunked a youth on the head. As he was being helped out of the arena, he dripped blood onto almost the exact spot where Iverson had been kneeling. )

Though most of the participants in the game cleared out quickly, one who lingered was Mel Rhone's Rick Mahorn, the former Sixer now with Detroit.

Mahorn is a native of Hartford, Conn. He went to the same high school as Iverson's mother and played against two of his uncles.

``I know where Allen has come from,'' Mahorn said. ``I knew about his talent long ago. I know what he's been through.

``The media is going to portray a guy the way the media wants to. I know there are people out there who want to see him do bad. Me, I'm the kind of guy who likes to root for the underdog. I'm hoping he'll do good [at improving his image]. I know he will.''