Wednesday, November 17th, 2010 at 5:27 pm  |  28 responses

Double Standards

Superstar treatment is even more pronounced in Europe.

by Kevin Owens / @Waiting4Godunk

While grooming the sweet mustache I am growing for my Movember to Remember contest, I overheard an ESPN analyst say that Allen Iverson postponed his debut for Besiktas because he felt he wasn’t yet in shape. This coming a few days after his delayed arrival because of a missed flight. That is when I truly realized the double standard that exists between superstars like Iverson and every other player in Europe.

Now obviously there are some small discrepancies amongst the talent pool overseas. Some players are on the cusp of the NBA and some, like Iverson, already have NBA experience. A select group of players are just looking to postpone the real world for a few more years. Still you would be surprised how close in talent the majority of European imports truly are. I have friends who make $150,000 a month and some who make $1,500, yet they are not that different talent-wAllen Iversonise. Iverson will make nearly $300,000 a month…like I said, discrepancies.

Now don’t get me wrong, Iverson is incredible. Being a Sixers fan my entire life, I’ve developed an appreciation for AI and all he has done for this city. That being said, at 35, he is not the same Iverson. It’s not a knock; it’s just a fact of life. Duncan is not the same Duncan, Nowitzki is not the same Nowitzki… I am not the same Kevin Owens (I’m better). Ask a handful of American point guards currently playing overseas, if they think they can compete with an aging Iverson. I guarantee they all respond with a “yes.”

The problem is amongst this handful of players, none would have made it to Turkey. Once they missed their flight, the team would have told them, “Thanks but no thanks.” And if by some stretch of the imagination they were given a second chance, yet showed up out of shape, they would then be given their pink slips. And I get it, Iverson sells tickets. Every game Besiktas plays this year will be sold out. Every Turkish Cup game, every regular-season game and every Euro Cup game will be at max capacity. But understand, they are paying him $2 million a year… and are playing in an arena that only holds 3,200 fans.

Iverson will also get a share of the advertising revenues, not to mention performance bonuses. In addition, he will receive a luxury car, live in a luxurious apartment all while not paying luxury taxes. I spoke briefly to my agent about such a deal for myself; however, the phone cut out midway through in what he describes as “reception issues.” Overall, in terms of the European Market, this is a cherry deal.

But don’t be surprised if by Christmas, Iverson is back stateside. Even the most experienced European veterans can encounter culture shock when traveling abroad, let alone Iverson…especially to Eastern Europe. I am aware Iverson turned down an offer in China for similar reasons. I am predicting these two factors play a role in his decision to leave Europe within the year.

Let’s start with the extremely passionate fans. They are on their feet the entire game chanting and waving flags. Occasionally the passion spills on to the court. My brother, who played for Galatasaray — a team in the same league as Besiktas — told me a story about a game against an arch rival in which police lined the rows separating one set of fans from the other. While walking off the court a large faucet, ripped from one of the bathrooms, was hurled in his direction by the opposing fans. Thankfully it missed its intended target, crashing to the hardwood just feet away. Now I assure you, if AI gets pelted with a large piece of piping, he will be on the first flight home.

Another issue is the playing style. I have seen first hand the toughness of Iverson and the abuse his body has endured. He has been the recipient of many hard fouls during his NBA tenure. Now he is going to Turkey, a country whose national team is known as the “12 Giant Men.” It is a place where hard fouls go unpunished by local referees. Too many “no call” fouls and Iverson might grow tired of Turkey.

Iverson aside, European teams continue to bend the rules for the so called “superstars” of basketball. The rest of us are held to a sometimes unreasonable set of demands, all while making significantly less than some of our counterparts. Throughout my career, I have always walked on eggshells.

If I was hurt, I played through the pain. Some countries will release you based on injury, then blame another factor such as “performance.” I’ve practiced sick, I’ve practiced hurt and I have never been late. I stay out of trouble and always participate in any community service the team was involved in. All of this while maintaining a strong performance on the court. I have done whatever I could to set a good example for my teammates. But the jackasses who run many European teams don’t care about any of that. They want a name. You’d be surprised at how many “big time” players have jobs based strictly on hype.

So while the Joe Nobodies of European basketball, continue to endure all the B.S. and toe the company line, the superstars are held to a different set of rules. We tolerate the small apartments and unreliable vehicles. We patiently dodge elbows and large pipes while trying at all costs to keep our jobs. I wish that my body developed earlier and I was a highly recruited, overly hyped player. I would then be set for life in Europe.

Kevin Owens is a veteran of overseas professional basketball who also writes for Waiting For Godunk and Hugging Harold Reynolds. You can also catch him on Twitter @Waiting4Godunk.

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  • ab40 Posted: Nov.17 at 6:05 pm
    true true. but this isn’t news. but it’s not just management it’s coaching as well we had a team here who’s coach threatened to leave the team if they released a former nba player who wound up getting caught with marihuana not once, nog twice but three times and the last time was in the finals and after a lot of paper work they held on to the cup. If only it were about beasting everybody in practice and being a good guy basketball would be a lot easier for us grownups who try to make a living of of it.

  • Overtime Posted: Nov.17 at 6:19 pm
    Great article, really fun read

  • tealish Posted: Nov.17 at 6:41 pm
    Bro, I hear you. But I think Iverson is still better than you.
    Jokes. Good article.

  • So 4 Real Posted: Nov.17 at 10:04 pm
    Your a douche bag. Iverson missed his flight because he did not have a valid passport so TSA would not let him board. Also Iverson did not sit out because he was out of shape, he was only there for two practices and one of them he was only suppose to watch. You seem to be working extra hard to put a negative slant on this article. I can only imagine what your motivation is behind that??? I can smell you from here!!!

  • Groves Posted: Nov.17 at 10:46 pm
    Great Read. Thanks kevin. good luck this season. come visit us in Australia again?

  • That Dude Posted: Nov.18 at 12:25 am
    Sounds like any other industry.

  • Flight Posted: Nov.18 at 12:48 am
    Interesting angle of writing, but I agree it does put too much of a negative spin on Iverson. I believe talent-wise Allen Iverson is one of the most talented point guards to come into the NBA and I believe at 35 he is still on a different level of the players in Turkey. Oh well, to each their own. Well written though.

  • pablasso Posted: Nov.18 at 2:29 am
    Let me explain it to you. YOU ARE NOT ALLEN IVERSON.

  • MrSuper Posted: Nov.18 at 2:43 am
    Is Besinktas playing in the Eurolegue this year. If it is, AI will be put to the test with some quality players guarding him.
    It is true than the situation with European clubs is tough when concerning the arenas and the reaction from fans. Especially here in Greece in the past; during the 80s and 90s it was a battlezone. And still today, the court is an emotional outlet for many disgruntled fans. Players will get comments about their mothers, threats, and objects (especially coins) will be thrown to them when they are performing well on the road.
    And yes there is specia treatment. Check out the cases of Walter Berry and Roy Tarpley.
    But also there have been superstars that got treated unfairly by the teams. Dominique Wilkins was IMO treated badly, mainly because his playing style didn’t conform with the coache’s idea of basketbal – anyone heard of B. Malikovic? Too much was expected of him; he delivered but douches from Olympiakos will always talk their crap.
    All in all it’s a wait and see situation for AI.

  • A l a n Posted: Nov.18 at 5:33 am
    ^^ of course Besiktas is playing Euroleague.
    And big names always have advantage, in the NBA (and in life) it’s the same. Why do teams still sign contracts to Darko, Kwame or T-Mac??
    Oh, and Greece and Turkey have always been a war zone when it comes to fan reactions. I still remember the ’96 Euroleague Final in Paris when the Panathinaikos beat Barcelona with an ilegal block in the last second (it was blocked after the ball had touched the backboard…), as well as many problems with the clock in the last minute of the final… but with the building packed with crazy (not in a positive way) greek fans this is what usually happens here. And if the game is played either in Greece, Turkey, Croatia or Serbia it’s more of the same B.S. But we are use to it.
    BTW I bet Iverson is out of Turkey by March, and that being optimistic.

  • MrSuper Posted: Nov.18 at 5:59 am
    Vrankovic blocked that shot, I remember. And Giannakis (the later coach of the 2006 Greek team) was the one who turned over the ball and Stojko had to run the whole floor to catch up with that rather controversial block. -Imagine a 7’2″ Croatian running like hell- check it:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_BuvD7ETZY If anyone wants to see some great quality ball I suggest checking out the 2008 final between PAO Athens and CSSK Moscow. Great game.

  • MrSuper Posted: Nov.18 at 6:03 am
    Oh and Nique tipped the ball out of the ballhandler’s grasp in the final moments of that game. Man, Nique was a great all around baller!
    In my mind there’s NO WAY that Scottie Pippen is a better player than Nique!!!

  • underdog Posted: Nov.18 at 7:22 am
    Well, this was a weird one. Of course there are double standards, and there are always will until one player is better than the other. AI did his thing to be considered a HOF player, so naturally more people want to see him play than yet another undrafeted PG from the States… I wish too though, that your body developed earlier, like AI’s body did(?). C’mon man, you know it takes more to be a superstar than early body development.

  • Paul Posted: Nov.18 at 7:25 am
    I thought that Besisktas were in Eurocup, not Euroleague?

  • Paul Posted: Nov.18 at 7:26 am
    Some of his first game in Eurocup played this week http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTWeWvCuerY

  • micki Posted: Nov.18 at 8:36 am
    I hate to braek it to you guys, but Besiktas is not playing in the Euroleague. It’s playing in the Europacup league, so he won’t be playing against Europe’s best players or teams. (http://www.eurocupbasketball.com/)

  • Bassbesteck Posted: Nov.18 at 9:02 am
    maybe he plays soccer for his money too, as besiktas has a soccer club too… you know 1 million for hoops, the other for soccer… i can`t imagine him getting paid that much for any other reason…

  • Waiting For Godunk Posted: Nov.18 at 9:54 am
    Wow, seems a few of you missed the point of this article. This in no way was an attack on AI…Like I said; he was one of my idols growing up. This was an attack on European basketball. And So 4 Real, wait to come strong with the D-Bag comment. Unfortunately you are clueless. As you can see every European basketball player that commented understands exactly what I am referring to. Iverson was in talks to go overseas for about a month and a half. I had my passport updated in a week. You have to understand that other TALENTED athletes encountered the same problem. Ask them what happened as a result. These same athletes all flew in, practiced once, then played. If they did not perform up to the teams standard they were shipped back home. That is a fact of European basketball! I understand why Iverson gets a pass…but that does not make it right. Like I said, I know a few talented young point guards that are as good as Iverson now. I love Iverson, but that is a FACT! If they were put in the same situation, these teams would be far less lenient. And as for me, somehow comparing myself to AI…Umm, he is a Hall of Famer…I am writing for a living now. I never have nor would compare MYSELF to Iverson. And I was not referring to AI with the overly hyped player. I am referring to players that were so built up by the college basketball hype machine, yet failed to produce at the pro level. I am as good as a few of them…Come to Philly and I will show you. Thanks everyone for the comments, good or bad…All are appreciated. And Besiktas will play in Euro Cup this year.

  • Dagger Posted: Nov.18 at 9:56 am
    Yeah, if only your body had developed earlier you’d be Allen f**king Iverson. Only losers use the “if only” excuse. Don’t you realize how pathetic that makes you sound?

  • Darksaber Posted: Nov.18 at 10:11 am
    Besiktas is playing in the 2nd tier club championship in Europe, the Eurocup (former ULEB Cup), and even though the very best teams play Euroleague, a lot of Eurocup teams are nearly on an EL level. The Eurocup winner moves on to play EL the following season.
    AI didn’t play much in that game vs Hemofarm, and he had trouble getting in the lane at times. Also got bumped off the ball a lot (mo calls) while dribbling. Main threat was Oglivy, their big man who has great hands btw.
    But Allen shot the 3 well and even had a 4pt play late in the game.
    Soon as he gets his legs back and maybe 30 mins a game, he’ll do well.

  • Darksaber Posted: Nov.18 at 10:15 am
    Nice post btw, good insight into the Euroball shenanigans.

  • JL Posted: Nov.18 at 1:53 pm
    He’s basically playing for a second tier club, barely top 4 in its domestic league, that could be somewhere between the 50th and 75th best clubs in Europe at best. He wouldn’t be able to pull that, or any of the things he will surely pull off in one of the elite clubs in Spain, Greece, Russia or even Italy. Look at what happened to Von Wafer in Olympiakos last year, he didn’t preform as expected, he started not getting minutes, he was waived, even though he had huge contract.
    The way I see it this a publicity stunt in which both sides have something to gain other that strictly winning basketball games.
    In my opinion he won’t be there by the end of the season, it’s just a matter of when and how he leaves.

  • spit hot fiyah Posted: Nov.18 at 1:59 pm
    don’t think they r in the euroleague, i think they are in the eurocup

  • Clyde Posted: Nov.18 at 6:30 pm
    Cool article, I have a feeling he won’t be there for very long either.

  • tavoris Posted: Nov.18 at 8:11 pm
    isn’t the same double standard existent in the NBA, NFL, MLB, MLS, and NCAA, in addition to actors and musicians? The popular people always have an easier time with those who seek to be in their company.

  • Michael NZ Posted: Nov.18 at 8:38 pm
    Enjoyed the article, interesting take. I mean, I can see him playing out the season, but I can also see him pulling the plug after 5 games. I just hope he goes well over there. You know, 20ppg, more wins than losses, no trouble over minutes and stuff.
    —
    And yeah this article went COMPLETELY over the heads of some of these commenters. Yeesh.

  • Chris_Griff_3 Posted: Nov.19 at 10:38 am
    He’s Allen Iverson and you’re not.

  • tallnick Posted: Nov.20 at 9:05 pm
    KO, everything you said about the double standard is 100% correct. It’s shocking how many terrible basketball players are getting paid off hype. You can tell right away who hasn’t ever played professionally by their asinine comments. I’m talking to you Chris_Griff_3.

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