Two days ago Philadelphia Inquirer sports columnist Stephen A. Smith described Allen Iverson as an athlete in a world of trouble. He claimed Iveson has been banned from Atantic City & Detroit casinos and that the former league MVP has a serious drinking problem.

Smith cited numberous NBA sources are worried that Iverson will either drink his way to his death or gamble his life away.

Iverson began his second stint with the Sixers this year when he wore out his welcome in Memphis and appeared to be back on track. He left the team on December 20th to be with his sick daughter, only to be served divorce papers from his wife Tawanna on March 4th.

The Sixers severed ties with him the same day.

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The last time Kobe Bryant visited Memphis he had a chance to overtake Jerry West as the Los Angeles Lakers all time leading scorer. Being the prolific scorer he is, he did and while he rightfully won his place in history, his team lost the game.

Last night, after sitting out for 18 games with a sore ankle and broken index finger (Chris Webber says it’s broken in two places), he needed 34 points to move ahead of Reggie Miller on the NBAs all time scoring list and into 13th place.

Instead, he settled for 32 and another game winning field goal.

“Every time it just feels like the first time,” Bryant said after the game. “It truly does. It’s a great feeling. It’s always brand new.”

It was the fifth time this year Kobe trumped an opposing squad in the final minutes of a game. Bryant scored the last nine points, none more important than the final bucket with put them ahead for good 99-98 with 4.3 seconds to go.

CLIP INSIDE

So I was sitting on the couch the other day talking hoop and all with the homies and the subject of the Cleveland Cavaliers came up. “King James” they call him… but I can’t see myself doing it. The idea that the League (and society at large) would push someone to the point of Biblical proportions is insane and even taboo… imho.

So I deferred to this dynamic that helps me put the whole Lebron James brand in perspective and it’s called COMMERCIAL RADIO.

Most of us are consumed by it daily. It wakes us up in the morning, pounding every corner of our listening membrane with extreme monotony and redundancy.

Still, we listen.

PDs shove it down our collective throats 24/7 and because most of us are sheep, we swallow like the girls in Trey Songz video. Case in point, we allow our ears to be bombarded by songs we wouldn’t ordinarily listen to because??? Well, let the powers that be – the GMs, the jocks, the djs, etc. – tell it, there’s nothing else to listen to.

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Common breaks down the arithmetic for those who can’t subtract or have no inclination to do so where the NFL Playoffs are concerned.

It makes sense he’s the one to do it.

There was the truck commercial, the whole foray into television and film… then Serena.

Wonder if she had anything to do with him landing a Gatorade Super Bowl ad? She is like the Gatorade G2 Everyday Athlete and all…

No slight against him tho… He wears it well and it’s good to see rappers getting their opportunities to show themselves in a different light… especially when they’ve worked so hard to evolve.

Can you say Chi City?!

AD INSIDE

He may not get Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao in the ring in the next few months, but Floyd “Money” Mayweather will still take part in the biggest fight of 2010 when he and Sugar Shane Mosely lock horns on May 1 in Las Vegas.

The hating is sure to begin. The opinions have already swarmed the Internet and all the fodder will make for an explosive night.

“This one is definitely for the fans as I wasn’t going to waste anyone’s time with a meaningless tune-up bout and asked to fight Shane immediately,” said Mayweather. “I have said ever since I came back to the sport that I only wanted to fight the best. I think Shane is one of the best, but come May 1, he still won’t be great enough to beat me.”

You kinda have to feel Mayweather. In 40 fights, he’s figured out every opponent he’s gone up against and should he make good on his guarantee(s), it’s entirely likely that others will make excuses for Mosely. Money waited too long to fight the dude… Mosely was over the hill… it’s all bullshit.

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