Sunday, January 4th, 2009 at 10:30 am  |  140 responses

SLAM 125: On Sale Now!

The Allen Iverson Experience

by Ben Osborne

Happy New Year everyone! Before we go any further, I’d like to ask all SLAMonline readers to make it their resolution to read former online editor Sam Rubenstein’s Christmas Eve column. It’s possible we all have different tastes, but my main guess was that the relatively low number of comments was because of a low number of eyeballs on it due to the date it went up. I thought that joint was so good, and I hope you do too.

While your beloved site continues to be tweaked to perfection (trust: Ryne is obviously doing his thing already, but this is still far from what it will be), the folks on the print side of things keep grinding away. The first SLAM of 2009 will be on newsstands everywhere (at least in the US) this coming week, and we’re feeling pretty good about it. As far as I know, no one on the site (contributor or commenter) truly confirmed that AI was the man for it, despite there being several hints in the comment section on our last cover post, not to mention this solid story in the Detroit Free-Press. We didn’t link to the former because we were trying to maintain some element of surprise for this cover, and I guess no readers linked to it because they don’t care about the FreeP? That’s a whole other story.

Iverson 125 CoverSo, some AI context. As the Free-Press story says, and as any longtime SLAM fan knows, dude has basically been an annual cover for us since he came in the League. And honestly, we never felt the slightest inclination to apologize for it. Besides the joy he has provided us with for 13 years, sales numbers show that he’s been either the most or second-most (MJ) popular cover subject in SLAM history. Simple truth of magazine publishing: when someone sells, you put them on the cover again. And again.

This season, though, AI was no lock. Considering he was hurt for much of training camp and the Denver situation had grown stale, even we would have had trouble figuring out what to say about Iverson this year. But then Joe Dumars dropped this little present in our laps. The day the trade happened, I deemed it a win-win. Pistons shake things up, make themselves better contenders this season, clear minutes for Stuckey and have AI’s cap space next summer if they don’t keep him. The Nuggets get a hometown hero who plays a better pure point to stabilize things. I felt the trade solidified the Pistons as the third-best team in the EC. There were some other names bandied about in our story meeting for this issue, but it took our publisher about 12 seconds to confirm: “AI is the cover.”

That settled that. And I was cool with it. The player most identified with our mag over the years, now on a new team with legitimate title hopes? Let’s do it. Our people at Reebok were excited about the trade and possible cover as well, so they worked with us and the Pistons to set everything up. Bet.

Then, right as we were all working on the issue, we had to watch in horror as AI skipped practice, there were all sorts of stories about the players and Michael Curry not being on the same page, and some flat-out embarrassing performances, including this fiasco I attended with Appleson.

There was never a doubt that we could argue AI deserved this cover on some lifetime achievement ish, but was calling him relevant this season a stretch? Well, with the issue’s national on-sale date just about here and subscribers mailboxes ready to be blessed in a week or two, I can thankfully say, hell no! Ready or not, the Pistons are finding a rhythm, and in my opinion are back to firmly being the team just below the Cavs and Celtics. Obviously a fourth- or fifth-place conference finish is extremely problematic because a trip to the Finals will most likely require a tough first-round matchup followed by having to beat Cleveland and Boston in back-to-back series. Beating one of them will be hard. Both? Hard to see it.

But shoot, injuries happen, and motivation is a funny thing. There aren’t many—if any—teams in the League that fit what any knowledgeable fan can say about this Pistons roster: If they stay healthy, come to play, and play together, they can literally beat any team in the League in a given game or series. And as I say in the cover story, it will be hella fun just to see AI playing in a playoff series or three when he has a chance to win them. You know he hasn’t been past the first round since ’03, and he’s only even played in 14 Playoff games (that’s two 5-game series and last year’s pitiful sweep) since then. Those numbers are not exactly how our man Allen thought his career would go. “I thought I’d have three, four championships by this point,” he told me. “I definitely thought I’d be back there a lot more after 2001.”

What else did Allen have to say in the 40-minute sitdown interview he gave us? How fresh are the pictures we got of him in his new uni? Buy the issue and find out!

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  • Candice

    If that’s how you feel then that’s how you feel. Don’t knock people just because they don’t have the same beliefs as you. So what if his number’s are down? Why can’t he change his game to play within the team? Yes, Stuckey is playing good but you don’t think AI has something to do with it? After the Bull’s disbanded in ’98, I stopped following the NBA some what. I tuned in to the 2001 playoff’s and I’ve been hooked ever since. What good teams have the Cavs played that made ? Their schedule has ben soft. They played Boston and Detroit and lost to them. If it helps the Pistons lost to the Wizards, Philly, Knicks,and Wolves which are sub .500 teams. They lost to Portland, Hawks, and Celtics which are teams over .500. They lost to NJ which I think was just under .500 at that time. I think I will listen to Phil Jackson who said, the Pistons will be fine. Not someone who wants him to fail so bad. The Nuggets and Pistons records aren’t that far off from each other. Plus with all their inconsistiency, the Pistons aren’t that far off from the teams in front of them.

  • Josh B

    i love SLAM….but Iverson/LeBron/Celtics covers are gettin old…ill keep being subscribed to it no matter what….but, at the very LEAST….can a Rockets player get a cover????????????????
    When was the last time a Rockets player had a cover??? when T-mac was traded to Houston????….come on.

  • vegas

    How do you know when you subscription is up

  • http://joeloholic.wordpress.com Joel O’s

    @TAD, Allenp:
    I hope it’s the former (TAD) and not the latter. I hope AI doesn’t ever lose the fire; I don’t think he has but I think the frustration is mounting, especially with all the high expectations after the trade.
    The funny thing is, the post-trade Pistons present just as compelling / frustrating a case as they were before: arguably the most talented and deepest team in the league, with all the pieces to potentially win it all. That didn’t change. They’re wonderful in stretches, and obviously fitting AI into any system is going to be hard, but I honestly think they’ll get it all together sooner than later – long way to go in the season – and when they do, watch out world.

  • juscheckin

    Shot outs to everyone who liked my first comments :) (TAD and Dwayne)

    -
    -

    Candice: You know as well as I do that you are wasting your time with “Jukai” when it comes to Iverson..if you were to look up the word “HYPOCRISY” in the dictionary you would see “Jukai” name there. This is the same person who spent the majority of their time on this site knocking on Iverson for “being a ball hogg” and “never wanting to adapt to a TEAM game”..now he is on here talking about Iversons stat lines being down…well wouldn’t that happen to any player on a team like Detroit who focuses on everyone contributing? Isn’t that just commen sense? AI is seemingly trying to fit in on that team without disrupting it and people are still talking sh*t. This is why I said he needs to continue to do whatever he feels like doing because people will have something to say regardless. If Iverson scores too many points he’s a “ball hogg”…if he doesn’t score enough “he’s slowed down and lost a step”. Regardless of AI’s stat line, the ball still comes to his hands towards the end of the game (which is what Dumars brought him there for, he didn’t bring Iverson there to dominate the ball and avg 30 ppg) for him to do what he do. If Detroit had lost four or five strait games to those sub-par teams…”Jakai” would be up in here talking about them losing. I mean it is getting ridiculous now. Detroit is doing what they are supposed to do now, win against lesser opponents and competing against fellow elite teams. Am I missing something here? I swear, the hypocrisy when it comes to Iverson by some is hilarious. Its like get a life, someone you dont know shouldn’t effect you that much to the point you feel the need to throw salt on their names everytime they appear on the SLAM website.
    -
    -
    And give us all a break about Stuckey (AKA, lil’ 25 cent)…dude has one good week and all of a sudden he can be compared with Iverson? Stucky is out playing EVERYONE on the Pistons right now, and im sure no one minds as long as they win, let the little dude get his shine. He needs to step up considering that Dumars had enough faith in him to trade off Billups..If “Jukai” was even watching the games he would have known that AI was the one responsible for quiet a few of the clutch winning shots at the end of some of the games that even allowed Detroit to be on this winning streak as well. Everyone on that team is doing a decent job of trying to contribute to the teams success…isn’t that how it is supposed to be? Or how Iverson was supposed to play Jukai..playing a TEAM game? :) Exactly…next.

  • http://eastbay.com sauce

    the trade was good.that was a trade 4 da future.jus give it time.a ring is possible 4 A.I.

  • http://shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com/ TADOne

    juscheckin needs to post more often. My man.

  • Weapon X

    The mutha f’n Answer!
    Get your Gollum on!!

  • http://addiemarie05@yahoo.com Ryan.T.

    I’m actually trying to High Quality pictures of Slam 35 & Slam 40, Jason Williams Covers of course… Could anybody help out with that? Please send to my e-mail or put up a link to the pics.

  • http://addiemarie05@yahoo.com Ryan.T.

    I meant trying to FIND…..

  • http://nbacheapseats.blogspot.com Chendaddy

    Seriously, is A.I. going to get a cover every single time he changes teams? Might as well book him for the 2008-09 season opener issue when he’s in yet another jersey. If you wanted to celebrate the Pistons, you should’ve either given the cover to Rodney Stuckey or shot Joe Dumars holding A.I.’s contract with “EXPIRING” stamped on it.

  • Helmut Hohenegger

    Great Cover (go Pistons)!

    Unfortunately I have not received the last two issues of my subscription but as a die-hard Pistons fan I am looking forward to receive this as soon as possible.

  • http://www.slamonline.com mat smith

    erm, AI on the cover, wow, now that is a throwback, does he have a annual contract for a cover with you guys or something? should have been DWade or Shaq, Shaq needs some SLAM love, or JRich “driving the lane” oh wait….

  • stokesey

    hursty i got my dwill/cp3 cover at least 2 weeks ago posibly longer…and i thought perth was always behind ;)

  • stokesey

    Any chance for some Ronny T ink??? Wish dude was still at the lakers :(

  • http://slamonline.com Ben Osborne

    Hursty, the comment about the shipping? I don’t know what to say. I have no access to our international shippers. I certainly hope you’ve called the 800.333.6411 number and given them a hard time. Also, you and I have emailed in the past. If there’s an issue you never got or are sick of waiting for, email me personally and I’ll look into sending you one myself. Thanks.

  • http://n/a 007

    what is with slam and iverson..?
    small player making it big..?

  • Pingback: Allen Iverson on SLAM Magazine Cover « Hardcore Detroit Fan

  • Pingback: Allen Iverson is Cover Boy for SLAM this month - Allen Iverson Live

  • http://www.dunkadelictv.com Dunkadelic TV

    The basketball and hip-hop culture fusion born in 1984 is known now as The “Dunkadelic-Era” In America, 1984-Present. The “Dunkadelic-Era” will be celebrating its 25th Anniversary during the year 2009 (1984-2009). The “Dunkadelic-Era” is the first and only sport-and-music defined time period in American history. Allen Iverson of the Dteroit Pistons is the #1 Most Influential player to The “Dunkadelic-Era”. The 5 following events in 1984 led to the birth of The “Dunkadelic-Era”.

    1. The NBA first introduced the Slam Dunk Contest to All-Star Weekend on January 28, 1984. Larry Nance defeated Dr. J to win the Slam Dunk Championship.

    2. David Stern was announced as the 4th NBA Commisioner on February 1, 1984.

    3. Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons formed Def Jam Records in March 1984. Def Jam remains the #1 hip-hop label in the industry. Kurtis Blow the hip-hop pioneer releases the hit rap song ‘Basketball’ from the Ego Trip album.

    4. The Fresh Fest was the first major hip-hop concert tour featuring Kurtis Blow, RUN-DMC, Whodini, Newcleus, and the Fat Boys. The tour had 27 stops earning more than 3.5 million dollars.

    5. Michael Jordan was selected by the Chicago Bulls with 3rd pick of the 1984 NBA Draft on June 19, 1984. Jordan would sign with Nike and produce the “Air Jordan” sneakers that would later become symbols of fashin within the hip-hop culture.

    Bonus Events:

    John Thompson the Hall-of-Fame coach would become the first African-American Division 1 college basketball coach to win an NCAA Championship. He led the Georgetown Hoyas with star center Patrick Ewing over the Houston Cougars 84-75 on April 2, 1984.

    NBA current stars Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Andre Iguodala, LeBron James, Nate Robinson, and Deron Williams were all born in 1984. Carmelo is the new-face of the Jordan Brand, and LeBron wears the #23 just as Jordan. Andre Iguodala the hi-flyin’ forward of the Philadelphia 76ers was born the same day of the first NBA Slam Dunk Contest January 28, 1984.

  • http://www.hibachi20.blogspot.com Hursty

    Thankyou Ben.

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  • http://- Stubbs

    I really like this new cover, the colours work, nice job Slam, I wonder if AI will help Detroit to the EC Finals, it will be tough though with Boston, the Cavs and even Magic playing great bball atm

  • Pingback: SLAM ONLINE | » Uptowns Baby!

  • http://www.kicksonfire.com Anton

    125 for 125

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  • Grant Bibby

    Mike Bibby is awsome

  • Grant Bibby

    Mike Bibby is awsome

  • http://slamonline.com Dominic

    A.I’s tha truth numbers dnt lie who’s been tha best in tha L in scorin wise and steals 4 tha last 13 years? Lemme tell u Allen IVERSON with tha (exception of this season) over tha past 7 or 8 years his numbers haven’t dipped below 26 ppg 6 apg and 2 spg.. Wat otha player can try and fit in with anotha team nd can still b a threat 2 drop 50 off rip? No ur history ppl btw great cover SLAM

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  • Philip Ebenezer

    Hey Slam,im a Canadian boy writing to you from Edmonton,Alberta and i just gotta say ,loved the I loved the Allen Iverson article.But the reason i am writing is because i want you guys to write an article about my boy Mangesto Arop, He was just recently signed for gonzaga next year and he has some MADD talent i really hope you all will consider following up on him because i beleave his game will be noticed in the years to come.Thanks for all the great work youve been doin.
    Ps: i would be really pumped if this letter got published in slam

  • boogster

    ish 125 is sweet, many articles on players, less ads, loving it

  • TheAirWillLiveOn

    First I’d like to say, thanks for the Big Dipper ink, it makes up for the fact that you guys printed NOTHING about the KU March Madness win over Memphis. (Seriously, what happend there?) The only Jayhawk you wrote about was Paul Pierce. And thanks for your “recent” ink on Pete Rock and the Cool Kids. It lets me know you guys have your music stright. (I would ask for a Daft Punk feature, but I realize that there is a better chance that Tokyo would get an NBA team. Also thanks for inspiring me to draw. In fact it was another AI cover (The Nuggets/Mink coat cover) that was my first real good drawing. You not only supply good reading but good pics as well. Perfect for putting pencil to paper. I was thinking of sending you a link to my AI drawing or maybe KG, or Chris Webber, or Dr. J, but I’m a Heat fan so I decided on Shawn Marion. And lastly I’d like to say, Reat In Peace to my girl, Alejandra Jimeno. She was a good friend of mine. She loved the game of basketball, and was a teammate of mine on our Summer League team. She was automatic from behind the ark. I well, wasn’t that good. I loved playing on that court, because the games were so exiting back then. Nobody thought we would win as much as we did. People would always make fun of our Home-made jerseys and our rough style of play. We never meant our team to go far, we were just a bunch of bored teenagers looking for something to do when my friend J.J. came up with the idea. So, we got a sponsor, (the local airport), a name (the Wichita “Air”), and some jerseys (courtesy of Hobby Lobby) All-together our team played for six years and won 5 tournaments (one in 2003, two in 2005, and two in 2008) Alex loved reading SLAM. Although she never subscired she would always read over my shoulder or take it from me to read herself. She was a great ball-player and an even better person. The reason I’m writing you this is becuase she would have been 18 this February. This also goes out to the rest of the team that might be reading this.
    Alejandra J. Jimeno
    02/17/1991-09/29/2008
    Peace,
    TylerDish
    Dodge City, KS

  • Joe C.

    Hey Slam, would you agree that what the pistons need is a good point gaurd who passes a lot and is a playmaker (Stuckey is more of a scoring point gaurd) bcuz the Pistons have like a billion scorers (Rip, Sheed, Prince, Stuckey and now AI etc.), if they added a good point gaurd, the team would dominate in the L. don’t you think so?

  • Tammy

    Do any of you faithful SLAM OGs remember the Iverson article with the Roots in the earlier issues? Classic. (Along with the 96 Draft cover that B. Long mentioned.) My 13+ year subscription to SLAM ended Dec. ’08 and I didn’t renew because I thought the magazine was not like it used to be when it first came out with Larry “Grandmama” (!!!) Johnson on the cover. But just seeing this cover (one month later!) is enough to bring all those Iverson memories back. (I still have my Iverson Georgetown trading cards!) Thanks you guys at the SLAM Dome for re-sparking my love for the game.

  • http://slamonline.com Ben Osborne

    Tammy, I definitely remember the AI/Roots story and I hope you decided to re-up the subscription after all. We need the long-time readers like you!

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  • Tammy

    I’m definitely renewing it, Ben. Right after I posted my comment, I got a subscription renewal notice from SLAM – totally unrelated to the post. I’m taking it as a sign! Haha.

  • Joe Gonzalez

    for real iverson needs to take a leaf out of randy moss’ book and just chill. i mean im not hating on his game or anything cuz the dude’s game is sick and he is my favorite player. but if he really wants a ring he needs to first find a team that has a pretty good point guard cuz yea he can run the point like anyone else, but he aint a point guard he is a score period. so once he gets with a team that has that he just needs to do what he does best and score. i know he isnt the type of player to conform to peoples rules and all but if he can take care of business doing that he will have that ring in no time. A.I. aka the Answer

  • Chase Lochamire

    he needs to get on a contending team that needs a good 2 guard. the only problem is that there isn’t many teams out there who really need AI. that Knicks could use him. but i guess he could go all the way back to the sixers and play with elton brand and maybe he could turn them into a good team…itll be hard for him to win a chip though…

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