Allen Iverson’s name continues to hold weight in the headlines, but the only headline I want flashing across my Sportcenter ticker is “Iverson retires”. Listen, I’m not saying I hate the guy. The impact Iverson has had on the culture of the game has been unbelievable. But he’s becoming a malignant cancer, and a cry-baby superstar who stands to crumble entire franchises given the size and demands of his ego.

The biggest pre-season trade of last summer was Chauncey Billups being moved to Denver in exchange for “The Answer”, who lasted just 54 games with 17.4 points and 4.9 assists. The Pistons, meanwhile, went from playoff contenders to cannon fodder in the suddenly competitive Eastern Conference. Iverson ended the season on the bench, and made headlines towards the end of the season for all the wrong reasons.

Though he’ll deny it to the moon, Iverson’s intentions were clear last season. He wanted to start, and would refuse to come off the bench behind either Will Bynum or Rodney Stuckey who the Pistons envision as the point-guard duo of their immediate future. Stuckey averaged 13.4 points and 4.9 assists and showed flashes of brilliance, but still has a long way to go. As far as Detroit goes, he is headed in the right direction to be leading a team at the point.

So now Iverson is stuck in limbo with teams like Memphis and Miami knocking at his door. The mid-level exception is likely all Iverson will receive from either team, even though the Heat have been saying all they’ll offer him is a one-year, $2 million contract. If Iverson is to go to a championship caliber team, then money should not be an issue. The four-time scoring champion has already made over $70 million in his professional career, a deal he lucratively signed with the Sixers back in his hay day.

Now Iverson is searching for a new team, and a championship to cap off an undeniably incredible career. But even the Heat are balking slightly, especially given the cancerous behavior Iverson showed last season. The insertion of Iverson to the Heat could invariably destroy the team chemistry they are building with Wade as their leader. It could also seriously affect the psyche of Mario Chalmers, their emerging point-guard who averaged 10.0 points and 4.9 assists last season as a rookie.

The last time the Heat acquired an aging veteran, they shipped in Shaquille O’Neal and won an NBA Championship. It’s silly and sobering to say that Iverson would have the same affect on the Heat. Iverson is way over the hill. His scoring touch remains, but it’s not nearly what it used to be. And on top of that, his health is becoming as bad as his sulky behavior.

I’m not discounting the impressive resume of Iverson. All I’m saying is that it’s time for him to retire. This will be his third team in three years, and none of his teams have been playoff success stories. The other teams in the running are the Charlotte Bobcats and Memphis Grizzlies, but there’s no reason for Iverson to sign there unless he’s just looking for a pay check.

As a great songwriter once wrote, you’ve got to learn when to walk away. Of all the questions Iverson is pondering right now, he’s got to know that the answer to all his plights is to retire with grace instead of taking away from his astounding legacy by whoring himself out for a few million bucks.


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