Book Description
HE HAS TAKEN HIS GAME -- AND THE GAME -- TO A NEW LEVEL He grew up in Virginia with nothing but his talent and his heart. But he had The Plan: his never-say-die dream to become an NBA superstar. So he began his journey down a road full of obstacles. But the world underestimated Allen Iverson.... Fear No One From his first days playing college hoops...to his turbulent early years in the pros...to his leading the Philadelphia 76ers to the 2001 NBA Finals and being named league MVP, here is the real story of controversial superstar Allen Iverson. Acclaimed sports journalist John Smallwood -- who has covered Iverson extensively -- shows readers the Iverson they never knew: the boy, the man, the rapper, the player, the role model, and the icon. Get to know ALLEN IVERSON...the man behind the legend.
Allen Iverson: Fear No One FROM OUR EDITORS
Even if you're not a fan of his controversial rap CD, you'll find plenty of stats and facts in this bio of 76ers star Allen Iverson. Smallwood describes Iverson's Virginia childhood and his climb to the top in Allen Iverson: Fear No One. In addition to analyzing his game, Smallwood shows Iverson's many sides -- including his ability to be a good role model for the legions of kids who adore him.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
He has taken his game -- and the game -- to a new level.
He grew up in Virginia with nothing but his talent and his heart. But he had The Plan: his never-say-die dream to become an NBA superstar. So he began his journey down a road full of obstacles. But the world underestimated Allen Iverson.
From his first days playing college hoops to his turbulent early years in the pros to his leading the Philadelphia 76ers to the 2001 NBA finals and being named league MVP, here is the real story of controversial superstar Allen Iverson. Acclaimed sports journalist John Smallwood -- who has covered Iverson extensively -- shows readers the Iverson they never knew: the boy, the man, the rapper, the player, the role model, and the icon.
FROM THE CRITICS
KLIATT
Everyone knows about the "3 r's" (reading, ''riting, and 'rithemetic); Allen Iverson made the "3 p's"—poverty, persistence, and positive attitude—his maxim to become a successful student of life and one of the most successful pro basketball players of the past quarter-century. Descriptions of life in the poorest sections of Hartford, Connecticut are vivid and thought provoking. Iverson vowed to never live: ...underneath a sewage pipe seeping raw sewage into an apartment that often had no heat or electricity as a result of unpaid bills ... Living in a house where...the floor was wet from sewage... making my sisters sick. Luckily, Iverson's natural athletic talent (he began his high school athletic career as a star quarterback and led his alma mater, Bethel High School to the state football championship his junior year) and sheer determination allowed him to excel in basketball and be recruited for a basketball scholarship by Georgetown University. His decision to forego his junior and senior years at Georgetown—motivated by his sister's seizures, becoming a father, and questions of eligibility and questionable gift giving—was a difficult one that propelled Iverson into the wild, professional world of the NBA. This would be a great book for reluctant readers to read in small group situations—reading portions of the book together and discussing issues, for example. Students could identify with Iverson's personal and professional struggles. Also, life skills classes could benefit from the motivational messages and real-life scenarios presented by sports journalist Smallwood. Note, the language is realistically raw in places. Category: Biography & PersonalNarrative. KLIATT Codes: SA—Recommended for senior high school students, advanced students, and adults. 2001, Pocket Books, 178p., $6.99. Ages 16 to adult. Reviewer: Tom Adamich; Tech. Serv., Stetson Univ., College of Law, S. Pas SOURCE: KLIATT, March 2002 (Vol. 36, No. 2)
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