What’s the Deal With A.I.?

He’s not playing tonight against his former team due to a back problem, but could there be more to it?: “Here’s my problem with this: It seems clear that Iverson is seeking a medical opinion he can agree with. The MRI he took in Orlando was clean. A specialist in Detroit took another look on Saturday. So why does he need another? I am not a doctor and I am not AI. I don’t know how much pain or discomfort he’s feeling. But I know how tough he is. I know his pain threshold is as high as anybody who”s ever played. And I also know he wants no part of coming off the Pistons” bench, which will be his role for the rest of the season. He made that clear before, when Michael Curry was trying to decide whether to bench Rip Hamilton or AI. If Iverson’s back is truly injured, I apologize. But if all that’s hurt is his pride, he should just say so. Say he can’t accept it. Say he doesn”t want to be a distraction. Say he doesn’t want to answer questions about why he’s not playing and taking the focus away from the team. Say whatever, and then let the team do whatever it has to do — either send him home or buy him out, whatever.”