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Ann Iverson was born in 1960. 15 years later Allen Ezail Iverson was born in Hampton Virginia, June 7, 1975. He was raised by his mom Ann Iverson and Allen didn't hear from his real father, Allen Broughton until last year (1997) when he was sentenced to 9 years in jail for stabbing his girlfriend. Michael Freeman |
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is the only father type man he has known. Freeman
worked in Newport harbor until '88 when he had an accident. Then, instead of a
new job he found only troubles, he was convicted in dealing drugs and was
sentenced to 22 month in prison, and another 23 month for violating his paroles.
Allen said that one time when he went to visit Freeman in Newport News
Correctional Facilities, the same prison he was incarcerated at, And Freeman
Shoes were so damaged that Allen took the shoes off his feet and gave them to
Michael and Allen went home barefooted that day.
After
freeman's accident Ann Iverson began working at the harbor too, but that wasn't
enough.
In '91 Ieisha was born, she had serious health problems which forced Ann to work
overtime in selling her body to pay the bills for the doctors.
Growing
up for Allen wasn't easy, his family was very poor.
Many days during his childhood he grew up without water, heat or lights and his
apartment stunks from sewage water because a pipe exploded under their
apartment.
Often Allen stayed with friends or coaches during his teenage life. A couple of
times he even stayed at a shelter.
Allen didn't like basketball at first. He thought that basketball was a soft
game.
That's why He enjoyed football better and still, to this day calls it his #1
sport.
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One
day he came home from school when he was 9, his mother signed him up for
little league basketball practice. He didn't want to go, until he got
there and seen friends from his football team there. So, since 9 years old, Allen's been playing basketball. At Bethel High School in Hampton, he received awards for football and basketball. He was named |
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Virginia AAA football player of the year his junior year. He led Bethel High to
a state title in football and basketball.
In
His Senior year of high school he was incarcerated and missed out of the rest of
his missed out of the rest of his senior year and senior prom. It was February
14 on Valentines day,
Allen walked into a bowling alley, a racial dispute started a brawl in one of
the corners of the alley.
There were 50 people in the alley, half of them were white, four people were
arrested, four black people, Allen was one of them,
Allen claimed that he ran away when the fights began but he was sent to trial.
In the trial 2 white people testified that he broke a chair on a white girl's
head, Allen couldn't stand to see people go up to the stand and tell lies about
him.
Further more a camera that recorded the incident didn't record Iverson.
he was sentenced to 5 years in jail, but, he only did 4 month
The Governer of Virginia at the time agreed to let him out only if he will not
play basketball until he'll get a high school diploma, Allen agreed.
While
Allen was in jail friends and coaches made signs and t-shirts saying free Allen
or, free BubbaChuck.
BubbaChuck is what some people called him growing up.
It is a combination of 2 uncles names. Also, friends said he always Knew how to
solve a problem on the court so they started calling him the Answer.
While
in jail, Allen missed a Scholarship to Kentucky University.
He got up every morning at 5:30 to shoot hoops and try to make his dream come
true.
He also studied in jail to get his diploma.
After
he got out of jail Allen went to a learning center in Hampton Virginia where
young people go to get a high school diploma, a lady named Sue Lambiot helped
Allen to get his diploma, he went to her house 5 days a week, 6 hours a day,
worse then jail.
Allen finally got his diploma.
Meanwhile
Allen's Mom went to visit Coach Thompson of Georgetown University and ask if he
can take Allen under his wings and not only be a coach but a father like figure
to him.
Allen needed a father like person to look after him. That's what coach Thompson
was to him.
A couple of weeks after Allen been out of jail, Coach Thompson came to visit
Allen at the center.
He loved Allen's talent and granted him a full scholarship to Georgetown
University.
People wondered why Thompson gave this trouble maker a full scholar. But
Thompson didn't see that in him.
Thompson saw a young man who made mistakes in his life but have an unbelievable
talent.
Allen wasn't to sure about leaving his family behind because of there living situation, so that day he left for Georgetown he cried as he waved goodbye to his family.
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Allen
loved Georgetown, He majored in Art because Allen is a truly gifted artist.
Growing up in one of his apartments he drew a big moral of Michael Jordan
on his door. When they moved he wanted to take the
door but the land lord wouldn't let him. At Georgetown he had an African room mate. He received great honors there as well. He was named defensive player of the year and All american Status, he was Georgetown all time |
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scorer, He averaged 26.6 points a game. As
he kept going back home his family living situation has gotten worse. So Allen
knew he had to go pro.
Allen also had a daughter Tiaura, he needed to feed Himself his daughter and his
girlfriend Tawanna Turner.
Allen
became the first Athelete to leave coach Thompson early, So Thompson introduced
him to David Falk,
a very well known agent. During these couple of months Allen signed to be with
falk, moved him and his family in a luxury apartment near his agent, got great
loans from the bank, and hired a specialist for his little sister Ieisha who
suffered from seizures. Allen was moving up.
He
only visited one NBA city which was Philadelphia, and he loved Philly.
June 1996 was the NBA draft. Allen Iverson was selected first by the
Philadelphia 76ers as there #1 pick.
A couple of days after that Allen signed a deal that was worth 3.9 million
dollars. He also signed a multi-million
dollar
deal with Reebok, A 10 year 50 million dollar deal.
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Over
that summer Allen played over in Japan with other college standouts and
received a silver medal. Also that summer he played in games that featured some NBA stars like Alonzo Mourning. His first season as a sixer was great as you all know. Allen became everyone's favorite rookie as well as player. well as player. Most of that came about when he broke Micheal Most of that came about when he broke Micheal Jordan down so bad that all jordan could do |
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was stare in shock.
Allen recieved the award for Sheick Rookie of the Year. He thanked his mom for
the award and said he would'nt be anywhere without her.
During all of this his sneakers, the Questions became Reebok most successful
shoe.
That
summer he got arrested. He let a friend drive his Mercedes while he was in the
drivers seat and a friend in the back seat.
His bently was going 90 miles per hour in a 65 zone. Allen was charged with
possession of a gun and Marijauna. He went to jail that night in Richmond,
Virginia and had to call for his sister Brandy, who still lived in Hampton to
come bail him out.
Allen received 3 years probation and had to do 100 hours of community service.
Going into his second year he was suspended from the first game of the season.
As
we all know His second NBA season was also great. Even though he was having a
great year his team did not do so well which enable him not to be picked for the
All-star game.
During all of this Allen had a second child by his long time girlfriend Tawanna
Turner.
They had a baby boy and named him Allen Iverson Jr, Allen calls him Deuce.
Reebok also came out with Allen second sneaker called The Answer 2.
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