The Billiken's Bluff

A charismatic fearless leader at five foot nothing.






The Sports Guy wrote about Iverson and I liked it. It reminds me of a couple of things. My experiences at Lincoln/Douglas high school debates.

AND

Bill the Butcher's foray in politics.



Charismatic leaders the world over. Larger than life - existing outside systems, laws, time. Men powerful enough, like forces of nature, that their likenesses are dynamited into mountains or are chanted in streets and inked onto arms - long after their deaths.







And Iverson as voiced by Jay-Z:

Face it y'all playin basic ball
I'm on the block like I'm eight feet tall
Homey, I'm in the drop with the AC on
That's why the streets embrace me dawg, I'm so cool!

Simmons:

There's another aspect to Iverson's brilliance, something the ESPN guys tried to describe last night: Quite simply, he's the most menacing player in the league. There's just something different about him, a darker edge that the other stars don't have. Once I was sitting midcourt at the Fleet Center when Iverson was whistled for a technical, yelped in disbelief, then followed the referee toward the scorer's table and screamed, "[Bleep] you!" at the top of his lungs. The official whirled around and pulled his whistle toward his mouth for a second technical.

And I swear on my daughter's life, the following moment happened: As the official started to blow the whistle, Iverson's eyes widened and he moved angrily toward the official, almost like someone getting written up for a parking ticket who decides it would just be easier to punch out the meter maid. For a split-second, there was real violence in the air. Of course, the rattled official lowered his whistle and never called the second T. By sheer force of personality, Iverson kept himself in the game.

Like Russell Crowe looking like Michelangelo's David in terms of musculature, chiseled physique, composure staring down lions and tigers and bears, oh my.






When in reality he is of average size, not particularly intimidating physically, but when he roars at hotel concierges



or he screams at NBA referees




tall buildings shake



But way back when it wasn't all technical fouls and whistles and TNT/ESPN cameras and analysis. There were brawls and riots and real 15 year prison sentences, later pardoned.

I'm not sure where this was meant to go. I was never AI's biggest fan but I like Simmon's description of Iverson at the Fleet Center and I hope that the anecdote relayed is true.

It's in line with my type of magic.