“Kiss Mo On the Mouth”
AI in Philly (photo. G. Land)That’s what Allen Iverson said he wanted to do when Mo Cheeks was promoted from being a Philly assistant to the head coach of the Sixers in May 2005.
But in the following year and a half that AI spent playing under Cheeks, their relationship basically followed the same pattern as their seasons. In fact, they haven’t spoken since the Answer was sent to Denver on December 19, 2006.
“That is something that disturbs me,” Cheeks said. “He’s someone that I respected for so long and still respect. For the relationship to be the way that it is, it disturbs me a lot.”
Publicly their relationship went sour when they got into a shouting match in late November ’06. During the weeks that followed, Iverson missed practices with a sore back before ultimately being banished from the team by Cheeks 11 days before being traded.
When AI returns to Philly for the first time since the deal tonight, his love for Mo will be another interesting subplot in a must-win game for the Nuggets.
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March 19th, 2008 at 8:16 am
yallallreadyknow says:
sixers are doing better without allen iverson
if philly makes the playoffs, can billy king ask for his job back?
and oh yeah…the fans will cheer for iverson tonight
March 19th, 2008 at 8:26 am
E$ says:
How can you be mad @ Mo cheecks?? Philly playing some great ball without A.I. (I’m very surprised)
March 19th, 2008 at 8:43 am
YOUNGFED says:
Better W/O AI. GTFOH….and yes thats “Get The Fuk Outta Here”. lol
March 19th, 2008 at 9:09 am
myrie says:
“Kiss Mo on the Mouth”??
..shouldn’t it be “Kiss Mo on the Cheek(s)”?
March 19th, 2008 at 10:04 am
J says:
Philly better cheer AI tonight. He carried that team for 10 years. Philly played AI hard, they never really brought in anyone of quality to help him.
The East is pathetic after the top 4 teams, Denver is over 40 wins in the tough West and is a 9 seed, the Sixers making the playoffs is laughable and if Denver was in the East they would be a 3 seed behind Celtics and Detroit off a way easier schedule.
Anyone who says the Sixers are better now? Will they even win a game if they make the playoffs? They aren’t even over .500 in the East!!!
March 19th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
hahns says:
most civil and least crass comment from Yall ever. (a good thing)
March 19th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
What is this!? says:
I’m not sure if the Sixers are “better without Iverson”…people are like crabs in a barrel and will jump on any bandwagon they can. SMH Like mentioned the Sixers are a sub .500 team and will more then likely make the playoffs either under or just a few games over .500…that team has a long way to go befor they are even remotely relivent again.
That team was built off of Iverson scoring a ton of points eachnight…Iverson was a monstar that THEY created…if they didn’t like the way things were done, then they shouldn’t have asked him to do it in the first place. And the crazy thing is Iverson asked if they could change things, because obviously they weren’t winning that way, and they disagreed…next thing you know, Iverson is traded. Just a prime example of how Iverson wasn’t surrounded by the proper players is that on his way out Iggy was playing the PG position…IGGY!! Iggy isn’t no PG! So maybe people should pay closer attention to that situation in Philly rather just going by what the media outlets choose to feed you. Iverson certainly wasn’t no angel during his time in Philly, but I feel like he had to put up with far more BS from that organization, then they did from him. Iverson felt betrayed by them…and I don’t blame him.
March 19th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
yallallreadyknow says:
practice…we talking about practice? not a game, not a game, practice. practice yall. practice. not a game, not a game, but practice.
..classic…
March 19th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
doc says:
In the last 2 years we are playing better without AI check the records. I will be there tonight up close and Aeasy gonna get the loudest cheer in the building for what he brought to us. But for dudes who was born and raised in Philly the facts is the facts.He was still jackin like we had Lynch Hill and them and it was a different team where we needed team ball.The nigga wouldnt listen to Cheeks was leaving practices because he didnt like Cheeks style he just was trippin point blank. I love him more than all yall he was on my team but as soon as he left Cheeks started getting his style across and dudes we thought stunk was developing.AI need a veteran team because his game is so crazy.Vets understand the game and will fall back on O and play D for a chip.Young guns tryin to get paid and you cant with a gunnin ass oldhead on your team with more G status than damn near the whole league.We love him though but we dont want him back.
March 19th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Kudabeen says:
All Sixers really needed was Dalembert to be consistent (check), A true point guard to make the game easier and defend bigger guards (Andre Miller check), and some hustle do it vets and rooks (Reggie Evans, Thornton, Almond, Lou, a healthy Willie, Carney looking UN-like a bust)…But Iverson is not there to make them dangerous.
I feel like with Iverson on the team they could take a team like Boston 7 games…They couldn’t be Detroit, but match up wise Sixers (As they have been playing the last 20 games) would match up better.
I would also disagree with the assertion that the Sixer’s are not playing well. They are beating top teams. People are looking at records as real measures of performance. I look at who they beat and how. the two Dres are playing with a lot of swagger and confidence in their team, Willie has been steady, Lou is proving to be a pretty good change of pace guard off the bench, Reggie Evans is making the little plays, Thornton has been showing a lot of improvement and promise, Carney is getting time and is showing that he deserves it, and collectively they are getting so many easy baskets off of good defense. Remind me of the older Sixer teams with Iverson, when they were coming up.
I agree Billy King should be able to ask for his job back, but whatever. We will not win a Chip until we get a total overhaul in the front office…Ownership on down…
Excuse me if I’m a little bitter about not being able to watch Sixer’s games in Philly due to some asinine beef between Comcast and Direct Tv.
Done…
March 19th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
What is this!? says:
Doc, please stop speaking for everyone. I have seen sooo many Sixer fans that have said they wish Iverson would have stayed, so not everyone “doesn’t want him back”. Please. I’ve checked the records, last year the Sixer team was garbage and this year they are barely going to be a .500 team. Those are the facts. Again, they have a long way to go and aren’t “better off” without Iverson untill they atleast make the NBA Finals (which is where AI led them) and take it a step forward to win the chip. Untill then, they will just stay afloat untill they get a official go to guy or real franchise player. You mentioned the last two years, but not the previous where Iverson kept that team in playoff contention. You have to love the “what have you done for me lately attitude” of some Philly fans.
And if the Sixers do worse then what they are doing this year next season…folks will be back calling for Mo Cheeks to be fired or throwing Andre Miller under the bus. Its easier to talk now because the Sixers are in seventh place being under .500 in a much weaker conference. People make a bigger deal then what it really is. As much as I like Iggy and want to see the Sixers become relevent again, if they were in the West that teams record would be looking like the Timberwolves. Yes, they have players that have developed and hopefully it will pay dividens in the future. But like I already said, AI was a monstar that that organization created, if they didn’t like Iversons style of play then they shouldn’t have built that team on his back and on him having to score so much everynight. Iverson has freedom, but not that much freedom to where could just do whatever at all times. Somebody has to coach and somebody has to bring in the proper players.
The thing about Iverson is that there will always be people that will see the negative, therefor will always believe the negative first…then there are people that see some of the negative but also see the positive and more then just one side of the story. I looked at both sides. Yes, Iverson was no angel… but even Eric Snow said things were never as bad as they were made out to be in the media. Sometimes you have to look pastthat and see what BS some of those players have had to put up with as well.
March 19th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
doc says:
You must dont watch the games Kudabeen.Thorton is a Clipper and Almond is in the D league far as I know.
March 19th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
doc says:
what is this wtf you talking about.We had AI last year and stunk it up until he left.That finals was in 01 we dont live in the past in Philly.Where you from what Philly fan you talk to.Dre Miller is our MVP and we love AI but we’ll take the team ball.Aaron Mckie grew up next door to me and his nephew is my damn best friend so I grew up in the damn Sixers family room with AI mom making me brownies and bustin it up with Pat Croce.And evn Aaron say it was his time to go so shut the fuck up.Yeah Us Philly dudes get real defensive when pricks who dont know shit about our team speak on it.