Pat Croce Says Watching Iverson Documentary Was An 'Emotional' Experience
By Ray Boyd
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Former Sixers President Pat Croce joined Angelo Cataldi and The Morning Team on Friday morning to talk about his involvement in the recently released Showtime documentary IVERSON, which chronicled the life and the career of Sixers legend, Allen Iverson.
The early parts of the film focus primarily on the struggles that Iverson endured in the years before his time in the NBA while growing up in Virginia. The turning point for Iverson is hearing his name called as the first pick in the draft by the Sixers.
Croce then became a key fixture in the documentary as the movie explained Iverson's amazing and sometimes complicated time with the Sixers.
"I thought it was fabulous," Croce said of the documentary. "It brought back such memories. It was emotional for me and I'm not a tearjerker, but man the energy, enthusiasm, excitement that permeate this entire city...[Iverson] was family. He was Philly family."
LISTEN: Former Sixers President Pat Croce joined Angelo Cataldi and The Morning Team
One of the more powerful scenes of the Sixers part of the documentary comes when Croce describes a phone call between him and Iverson prior to the 2000-2001 season. Croce was calling Iverson to inform him that he was going to be traded and Iverson made it clear that he did not want that to happen.
"I remember vividly," Croce said of that conversation. "It makes me sweat just thinking about it.
"I said Bubba Chuck, I got some bad news. I just talked to Larry Brown and you're on the trading block." Croce recalled Iverson's passionate response to that news.
"No, Pat no," Croce said Iverson told him over the phone. "He said Pat, please please. I want to be co-captain with Eric Snow. I will do everything. I won't be late. I promise you, I'll be the MVP. I'll do everything."
The passionate plea from Iverson helped to change the course of history for the Sixers. He made good on his MVP promise and lead the Sixers to an Eastern Conference Title and a memorable Game 1 win over the Lakers in the NBA Finals.
Croce admitted that a Matt Geiger trade kicker was ultimately what held up a deal, but he explained that Iverson did everything he promised to do that season and it ultimately lead to the greatest level of success the team achieved during Iverson's tenure.
When asked how much he missed those days, Croce said "the only thing I miss is the the parade." Croce ultimately fell short in his goal to deliver a championship parade to Philadelphia.
"The only regret I have is the parade. I would have loved to have Allen Iverson standing next to me on a float coming down North Broad all the way through downtown Center City all the way to South Philadelphia."
Croce explained that he had a dozen flat-bed trucks already planned to lead the team from Temple University all the way to the sports complex. "I wanted all of Philadelphia."
