After meeting with 76ers G Allen Iverson for "more than
an hour" yesterday in N.Y., NBA Commissioner David Stern
issued a statement "condemning" Iverson for "'repugnant'
artistic expression," according to Ashley McGeachy of the
PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, who cites Stern as saying that he
"would neither fine nor suspend" Iverson for his
controversial rap single "40 Bars" and CD titled "Non-
Fiction," which features offensive language and disparaging
comments toward women and the gay and lesbian community.
Stern said during the meeting Iverson agreed to "take steps
to eliminate from the final version of his CD those lyrics
that many have found to be so offensive." Though Iverson
said the meeting "was tough" but "good," he added, "The CD
is done" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 10/13). However, an NBPA
official who "accompanied" Iverson to the meeting said that
Iverson "had already changed some of the lyrics" prior to
the meeting. Stern: "If he doesn't follow through on that
commitment, then he, along with the 76ers and the NBA, will
merit whatever criticism may be leveled at us" (AP, 10/12).
Also in Philadelphia, Phil Jasner writes that the "crux of
the meeting is that Stern could have done so much more,"
such as fining or suspending Iverson. Jasner: "As much as
Stern criticized Iverson for the song, the commissioner went
no further." 76ers C & NBPA VP Theo Ratliff: "Once the
commissioner told us he had no intention of disciplining
Allen, everything was fine" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS,
10/13). Iverson, on the meeting: "I'm glad he [Stern]
called me in. It's important for me to be a professional
about the whole thing" (USA TODAY, 10/13).
A STERN STANCE: Stern said, "There are entertainment
companies that make huge amounts of monies over this kind of
rap and there are millions of kids all over the world who
are buying this offensive, coarse, vulgar stuff. It's
bigger than us, and what we've got to do is ... drown it out
with better speech. I invite the public to denounce it, and
frankly, denounce us if Allen Iverson continues to do this
and they don't want to associate with us. I like to think
he will do what has to be done, he's made his apologies and
he told me he will be changing the lyrics" (CNN/SI, 10/12).
In Newark, Dave D'Alessandro writes, "A member of the NBA
management said the commissioner considered fining and
suspending Iverson, and had to be talked out of it" (STAR-
LEDGER, 10/13). In Hartford, Jeff Jacobs: "If Stern has,
indeed, convinced Iverson to change his lyrics without
resorting to fining or suspending him, he has enjoyed few
finer moments" (HARTFORD COURANT, 10/13).
DAVID TOO EASY ON IVERSON? In N.Y., Mitch Lawrence
writes that Iverson "got off easy" after his meeting with
Stern. Lawrence: "Iverson ... is lucky he plays for a
commissioner who loves to have rap groups entertain at his
All-Star weekends, even if this rapper just so happened to
offend at least half the season-ticket holders who attend
WNBA games" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 10/13). In Denver, Bernie
Lincicome: "This is not the face of the NBA future, unless
the future is into bad taste and rampant peacockism, not
that the NBA is against such a thing it sells. Iverson is
rather like the nutty uncle at the picnic. You try to keep
him away from the folks you have to do business with during
the week" (ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, 10/13).
IS THERE AN ANSWER? In N.Y., Harvey Araton writes that
if Iverson "were truly remorseful," he "would have ordered
the recording label, Universal, to pull or restructure the
song in question." More Araton: "More than music, more than
morality, this is about another overindulged, self-absorbed
jock who listens to no one and always thinks he got a bad
rap" (N.Y. TIMES, 10/13). But rapper Chuck D said of
Iverson: "I don't think his job in the NBA has anything to
do with his artistic right to speak out" ("SportsCenter,"
ESPN, 10/12). In UT, Doug Robinson: "Iverson calls his rap
an 'art form.' I don't know about you, but my colon
tightens right up every time I hear some pop singer or
rapper refer to himself as an 'artist'" (DESERET NEWS,
10/12). In Chicago, Sam Smith: "I have never encountered an
athlete with a bigger chip on his shoulder than Iverson.
Yet here is a man with millions of admirers for his
basketball abilities. America truly wants to embrace its
athletes. It always has" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 10/13).
