Iverson Out Again
Allen Iverson has again left the 76ers to deal with a family issue
Iverson Out Again
UPDATE:
Allen Iverson has left the 76ers again to deal with the ongoing illness of his daughter, Messiah, 4.
The Sixers are saying he is out ''indefinitely,'' beginning with Tuesday night's game against Golden State in Oakland. The Sixers learned of the situation Sunday.
A source familiar with the situations of Iverson and the Sixers said that, in this case, ''indefinitely,'' could possibly mean the remainder of the season.
The source also said, "The team is concerned about the distraction this could bring, but everyone understands it's most important for Allen to take care of his family.''
"He notified me before we got on the bus to fly here [to San Francisco, which the team did on Sunday]," coach Eddie Jordan said after the team practiced. "Before we left the hotel, he informed me in the morning that he needed to go back home and tend to family matters."
In a statement, Ed Stefanski, the Sixers' president/general manager, said: "At this time, we feel that it is in the best interest of the Sixers, Allen and his family that he be allowed to deal with a very serious issue that is far greater than the game of basketball."
Iverson has played in the Sixers’ last three games after returning from a five-game absence and missing the All-Star Game while his daughter was battling the illness.
Iverson has said that doctors in Atlanta, where the family lives, have been unable to determine exactly what is wrong with Messiah, the family's youngest child. Iverson told reporters that he was planning to bring his daughter to Children's Hospital in Philadelphia.
In Iverson's absence, it is likely that coach Eddie Jordan will use a starting backcourt of Jrue Holiday and Willie Green. This could also conceivably mean some minutes for Jodie Meeks, the guard acquired from Milwaukee at the trade deadline.
"The things he's done for this organization as far as basketball players is tremendous," Green said. "He took this team to the Finals in 2001. To me just a great overall person, character and teammate. It's sad to see that he won't be able to finish the trip with us ... To me he's a person that shows tremendous heart and determination, especially for his size. Someone that was willing to go through trials and tribulations on and off the floor. At the same time, the reason why people love him was because how honest he was."
I hope AI's daughter recovers from her illness.It must be life threatening.So unkind remarks about it is simply childish.Without AI the 76ers have a better chance of losing.Which i am all for.
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Bob Cooney has been at the Daily News for more than 20 years, working in the sports department for the past 15. This is his third season on the Sixers beat. He has covered just about everything, but mostly college basketball, where he was the La Salle beat writer for six seasons. E-mail Bob at cooneyb@phillynews.com and follow him on Twitter.
