Filed under: Celebrity Finances, Dr. Boyce Money
I am not sure if this foreclosure is part of a broader financial trend in Iverson's life, but I certainly wouldn't be surprised. For some odd reason, the last five years have produced one of the fastest slides of any player in recent memory. Just a few years ago, Iverson was an NBA beast; slashing, leaping and sprinting his way to magical performances. As the years went by, we saw more and more reports that Iverson's personal life was starting to unravel. Stories about alcoholism and gambling problems were accompanied by an embarrassing drop in his on-court statistics, leading America to conclude that Iverson was becoming an aging also-ran.
What many black athletes can learn from Iverson's problems both on and off the court is that even if you are a successful athlete, you must always ensure that you have an education. I don't blame Iverson for leaving college early, but I do blame him for not getting an education later on in life. Far too many prominent black male athletes have the platforms of kings, but the mentality of court jesters. They've become convinced that the pursuit of women and bling should override the necessity to use their vast amount of power for the larger public good (for example, these brothers could take a tremendous stand for their friends who are victims of the mass incarceration of black males that has taken place over the last 25 years). Additionally, we all grow tired of seeing one uneducated black athlete after another being left broke by his agent and attorney, both of whom have law degrees from Ivy League schools. The bottom line: A wealthy fool and his money always part ways. So, any athlete, black or otherwise, who insists upon allowing himself to drown in ignorance is begging to be exploited by others.
I can't describe exactly what's happening with Allen Iverson, but something inside me says that Iverson's story is going to end tragically. This makes me sad, because Iverson's talent, courage, brilliance and relentlessness on the court were virtually unprecedented. I am going to miss this man's play.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and the Athlete Liberation and Academic Reform Movement (ALARM). To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here. To follow Dr. Boyce on Facebook, please click here.