Iverson Biographer Explains Writing The Tale Of 'Good Iverson vs. Bad Iverson'
By Ray Boyd
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The author of the new biography on the life of Sixers legend Allen Iverson, Kent Babb, joined Angelo Cataldi and The Morning Team on Monday to discuss his book. "Not A Game: The Incredible Rise And Unthinkable Fall Of Allen Iverson," is a window into the enigma that Iverson truly is.
Babb described Iverson's life as a battle of "Good Iverson vs. Bad Iverson." It was a struggle to see which would prevail: the kindhearted jokester and warrior on the court, or the man who struggled with transgressions in his personal life and who allowed those things to impact a career that could have perhaps attained even higher highs.
To write the book, Babb explained that he spent the better part of two years, and the entirety of another year, talking to some of the people closest to Iverson throughout his life and career. What did Babb learn about Iverson?
"He's absolutely as fascinating as he is frustrating."
LISTEN: Allen Iverson Biographer Kent Babb on with Angelo Cataldi and the Morning Team
Babb experienced a bit of that frustration as he sought to tell Iverson's complicated story. He received cooperation from a number of the most prominent figures in Iverson's life, but the man himself eluded him.
The book does not include Iverson's side of the story and that is something that Babb is not entirely happy about. He explained that it was not his intention.
"I tried as hard as I possibly could," Babb said of getting Iverson's involvement in the book. He explained that he went everywhere that Iverson went to try to track him down and eventually did so face to face.
He explained that he handed Iverson his phone number and never heard from him again.
"I wish I would have gotten him," Babb said. He wanted Iverson to have the opportunity to tell his side of all of the stories in that book that might change the perception that people have of him.
Babb also touched on the most complicated relationship that the fans were privy to and that was the connection between Iverson and Larry Brown. Babb described it as a marriage of sorts saying that it wasn't perfect, but both knew they had to make it work to make the best of the situation and to do something special.
Babb still converses with Brown and said that despite their differences, Brown cared for Iverson.
"He still absolutely loves Allen Iverson," Babb said of Brown.
Brown wanted Iverson to conform, but at the same time admired Iverson's individuality Babb explained. It was Brown's embracing of that individual nature that allowed the Sixers to assemble a team that would allow Iverson to shine while the others would happily do the little things necessary to win games.
The greatest narrative sparked by the relationship between Brown and Iverson was the issue of practicing. This book touches on the infamous "Practice Rant," but it digs much deeper than that and makes profound statements regarding Iverson's struggles in life and how they impacted his career.
Everyone who watched and covered Iverson in that time asked themselves, what if. What if Iverson had fully devoted himself to the game?
"There is a chance he would have been one of the greatest of all-time," Babb said.
