Howard Eskin: Iverson 'Had A Lot Of Corona' Day Of 'Practice' Rant
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- "What are we talkin' about? Practice?"
13 years later and we're still talking about Allen Iverson's practice rant because on Thursday, it was learned that Iverson was drunk during the 2002 press conference.
According to Kent Babb, the author of a new book titled, Not a Game: The Incredible Rise and Unthinkable Fall of Allen Iverson, then Sixers head coach Larry Brown and others have told Babb that Iverson was intoxicated when he showed up to address the media that day, and everyone knew it.
SportsRadio 94WIP's Howard Eskin, who covered Iverson throughout his illustrious career in Philadelphia, confirmed Babb's account calling it "old news."
"He was drinking Corona's all morning and he was at a friend's house---it was a home off the [Roosevelt] Boulevard," Eskin, filling in for Tony Bruno, said on Friday during the 94WIP Josh Innes And Tony Bruno. "I forget the name of the street and they had video of it, but they were threatened not to use it. So, I knew when he came in---and you could tell, because he came to practices sometimes hungover. And late at night---I've seen him at games. He's nice to me now.
Listen: Howard Eskin and Josh Innes discuss Allen Iverson's practice rant on 94WIP
"That day he came in, he had a lot of Corona. I don't know if he had anything else, but I know he had Corona that morning. A lot! He and his buddies were drinking all morning."
ESPN's Stephen A. Smith, who worked for the Philadelphia Inquirer and also covered Iverson while he was in Philly, denied the claim Friday on First Take.
"This is a flat-out lie," Smith said. "Allen Iverson was not drunk the day he had that press conference about practice."
According to ESPN.com, Smith said he spoke with Iverson for 45 minutes on Friday, who rebutted the claim in Babb's book.
"That's disgusting to even listen to [Smith] because he is the all-time fraud of all-time frauds," Eskin replied, after hearing Smith's comments. "I wasn't going to call [Iverson] over this. I know what happened and drunk is a harsh word, and I didn't say drunk, but he was drinking a lot of Corona's that morning. So he wasn't completely alcohol free. There's no question."
