Twitter All A Crazy About LeBron

So I have a twitter account. I don't tweet. I use it to follow celebrities, athletes, sports writers, and politicans. For major events it's a great thing to follow to see what all these people think. So before, during, and after last night's game many of these figures had their thoughts about LeBron, and last night's Game 6 of Cleveland/Boston. So I thought I would show a timeline of what all these major figures said. I don't have the times down, but they go in order from beg. to end of game, so you can figure it out.

Clay Matthews LB Packers-Excited about this Celtics, Cavs game. I don't think it's going past tonight...what do u guys think??

Bill Simmons ESPN.com Writer and Celtics Fan-Suggested chant No.1 (1st Qtr, any time LBJ is at the FT line): "New York Knicks!" "New York Knicks!" "New York Knicks!" "New York Knicks!"

Keith Bulluck LB Titans- The media is going so overboard with this Lebron legacy thing.

Bill Simmons-We're at No. 28 on Mike Brown's "How To Lose This Series" Checklist: "Put Shaq on KG, put Jamison on Perkins."

Jalen Rose ESPN Analyst-Cavs should have started Verajo he is only on the ALL-DEFENSIVE team-need to slow down KG early-Celts lead 18-11 6 left in 1st.

Bill Simmons- Looks like the Celtics chants failed. Oh, well-we gave it a shot. Always knew it was far-fetched.

Kevin Bulluck- Hate 2 say it but my boy Sheed's game is start'n 2 look like his hair...terrible!

Jalen Rose-Don't take Lebron out the game again unless winning by 25pts!

Jalen Rose- More mins for Glenn Davis..sit Rasheed 2day!

Chris Bosh F Raptors- It looks like its loud in Boston.

Warren Sapp Former NFL Star-Big Baby Be flopping!!!

Kevin Durant F Thunder- And if bron bron loe watch yall dummies on twitter say he doesnt deserve a max contract smh

Bill Simmons-Dramatic game? Yes. Well-played? Not even a little. Only KG, Rondo, Mo, and Verejao played well tonight so far. Lots of gakking out there.

Bill Simmons- Thinks I thought I'd never tweet again "Kevin Garnett has taken over!"

Rudy Gay F Grizzlies-This is my kind of game!

John Legend Musician-How many think we're gonna be seeing LeBron in New York playing for the home team next year?

Bill Simmons- This needs to be said by Jeff Van Gundy or Mark Jackson...Rajon Rondo has been the dominant player in this series.

Bill Simmons-It's on like Donkey Kong. Here we go.

JackO (friend of Bill Simmons)-First postgame question to LBJ should be: "Are you going to live in Westchester or Manhattan?"

Johnny Flynn G Timberwolves-And that's the game folks...

Michelle Beadle ESPN SportsNation-I'd love to tweet something witty and fun..I got nothin! I was wrong about the Celtics. And the Cavs are laughable! Beadle out!

Warren Sapp-Will LeBron Just Walk Off again?

Chad Ford ESPN.com NBA Insider- Will Republicans blame Obama for all the people in Cleveland who will lose their jobs tonight?

JackO- We are all witnesses...to Lebron dribbling off his foot.

Michael Strahan Former NFL Star- Why isn't Lebron the guy shooting every shot?? Put the ball in the stars hand every time down the court.

Rich Eisen NFL Network- As LeBron was hugging all the Celtics, I could read their lips: dude, we have cap room.

Bill Simmons-Unbelievable. The Cavs players/coaches rolled over and quit in the final minute. Never seen anything like it. They wanted out of there.

Chad Ford-Great shot of LeBron ripping off that Cavs jersey in the tunnel. Will he ever wear it again?

JackO-I don't watch a lot of NBA, but Doris Burke's vibrant magnetic personality could really draw me in!

Chris Bosh-That was a suprising series.

Rudy Gay-The Cavs are done! That's crazy!

Rey Maualuga LB Bengals-Kobe= 4 rings, LeBron= 0.

Rudy Gay-LeBron had a ok game! Tripple double (9 turnover tho) take it easy on him he's still a star!

Bill Simmons-Last 3 games=top-5 most shocked I've ever been by sports. Need a week to figure out what just happened. Happy though! Bring on Orlando!

Paul Pierce F Celtics- Halfway home that's all here come them CELTICS.

Bill Simmons-Mission accomplished-the last chant was deafening.

Ric Bucher ESPN.com NBA Insider-LeBron tired to take the game over at the end, rescue outcome, avoid blame...and wasn't sure exactly what to do. Stunning.

Chad Ford-Most of you think Knicks or Bulls(for LeBron). I just heard from 3 GMs. All said Bulls.

Jalen Rose- Now thru July 8 (when free agents can sign) all the talk will be about who wins it all & whether LeBron is staying w/the Cavs or leaving!

Kevin Durant-It's gonna be an interesting summer!

Question to Durant "would u want LeBron in okc?"
Answer by Durant-Honestly, nah I like who we have...I'm the leader of the team.

Chad Ford- Should we just cancel the NBA Finals to go to 24/7 LeBron James coverage? ESPN23-"The Elbow"

Chad Ford-Note to all of you bemoaning no Kobe vs. 'Bron Finals: If LBJ joins the Bulls this summer, you won't be waiting long.

Chris Bosh- I almost made it the whole day without anyone asking what I'm gonna do about next year.

Adam Schefter ESPN NFL Insider-Hard not to think back to last fall when, at work, upon being asked, Magic Johnson predicted LeBron James would be a NY Knick next fall.

Kofod

The Rise and Fall of Allen Iverson

This man represented everything that was good and bad about the NBA for many years. Now his life is in a complete free fall. Truly a Greek tragedy.

Allen Iverson had a meteoric rise. At Bethel High School in Hampton, Virginia he was a star in both football and basketball. He could have played major college football or major college basketball. Then on February 14, 1993 Iverson's world was turned upside down. On that night Iverson, and several other African Americans, were involved in a fight with a group of young white men at the local bowling alley. Iverson, and two other blacks were arrested. None of the white men were arrested or charged. Iverson was charged with as an adult of the felony charge of maiming by mob at the age of 17. He spent 4 months in a correctional facility in Virgina. His high school senior year of playing was gone. In 1995 the Virginia Court of Appeals overturned the suspension, because of lack of evidence. The whole story of this trial will be shown on a documentary tommorow. As part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series tommorow "No Crossover: The Trial of Allen Iverson" will air at 8p.m. ET on ESPN and at 11p.m. ET on ESPN2  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9hezhStmrM . That incident and trial forever changed Iverson's life.

Iverson was able to get passed that incident and play college basketball. Iverson played two seasons at Georgetown. He was a star there. While Georgetown never won anything there he's famous for his performance vs. UCONN's Ray Allen in the 1996 Big East Championship Game http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awAwn5wMd7Y . It was epic and raised his profile.

Iverson was the first pick in the 1996 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. In his first few seasons his crossover schooled many players including Michael Jordan http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3X274lz3wY . In fact Iverson's rise to the top occured once MJ retired (the second Bulls one).

For many people who are in their 20's today (myself included) Allen Iverson was THE NBA STAR in the bridge between Michael Jordan and Lebron James/#24 Kobe Bryant. More than Shaq, more than a young #8 Kobe Bryant, more than Vince Carter, more than anyone, Allen Iverson was the star. His 2001 season was amazing. He won the NBA MVP, and carried a meidocre Philadelphia 76ers team to the NBA Finals before losing in 5 games to Shaq, Kobe, and the Lakers. In fact Iverson was the player David Stern and the NBA marketed following MJ's final retirement from the Bulls. Over time, though, Stern did not like the "bling bling" look the NBA had going around, lead by Iverson, and adopted the dress code of suit and tie to games and press conferences that rull the NBA today.

Around this time, people like me, looked at Iverson as the "underdog" and the "everyman" of the league. Getting passed the tattoos, the big jeans and backwards hats, all the bling, the cornrows and the rap songs from him Iverson represented some of the same core values "Middle America" has. At 6 ft. 180 lbs. (though I have never ever believed he's 6 foot) Iverson represented the underdog role. Too small to be in the NBA, he flourished in the league. His never give up attitude on the court, diving on the floor, and fighting for every second represented the "lunch pale" work ethic "Middle America" is all about. Iverson's "me against the world" mentality is what made him great, and what made him loved. It's alos what brought his downfall.

Since that bowling lane incident on that fateful February 13, 1993 night Iverson has always looked out for himself, first and foremost. As great as Iverson was, if he could have been a more unselfish player he would have been a better player. This mindset caused his "practice" rant when he could not understand why his practice would make his team better http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGDBR2L5kzI&feature=related . It's that same selfishness that drove Larry Brown insane when he coached Iverson at Philly. His selfish play lead by him and Stephon Marbury was the face of the 2004 U.S. Olympic team's dissapointing bronze finish. This mindset caught up with him when his playing skills diminshed. At this point had Iverson been more unselfish he could have been a tremendous role player going for a title (like Ray Allen with Boston). Instead he fought to be the star in Denver, Detroit, and Memphis when he no longer had the skills worthy of star status.When Iverson realized this it was too late. Iverson teared up when he was given one last chance with Philadelphia earlier this past season  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8qQ9D97cIA . Iverson played a few games then left, because of turmoil in his off-court life. Part of his downfall.

Iverson's "me against the world" attitude has doomed him off the court as well. In 2002 Iverson had a domestic dispute charge on him from his wife. It was later dropped, but showed the complex life he lived. Now in 2010 Iverson is getting divorced from his wife, his 4 year old daughter is in bad health, and Iverson is reportedly broke because of alcohol and gambling problems. Was anyone suprised when they heard this? I surely wasn't. It represents who he is. "Me against the world" people turn to alcohol for comfort. And Iverson was the ultimate gambler on the court. So why would he not be one off the court? Unfortanetly professional athletes going broke is a trend on the rise http://sports.yahoo.com/top/news?slug=ys-investopediamoneyloss031010&prov=yhoo&type=lgns . Iverson is just one of the casualties of players losing all/most of their money when their careers come to an end.

Iverson's story is truly that of a Greek tragedy. The same characteristics that brought the rise, lead to his downfall which is the essence of any Greek tragedy. His selfish nature lead to the rise and fall of his NBA career. But that is not the tragic part. The fact that his off the court life is spirling downward is the real tragedy. Truly a play, a book, a story could be made of The Rise and Fall of Allen Iverson. A 21st Century Greek Tragedy.

Kofod