The "final straw" in 76ers G ALLEN IVERSON's decision
to drop agent DAVID FALK was an airline-ticket conflict, in
which the travel agent used by Iverson's mother wouldn't
issue her a plane ticket, citing "unpaid bills," according
to Stephen Smith of the PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. A few weeks
before the airline-ticket incident, Iverson had become
"disenchanted" with Falk because of the agent's "total
control over his finances" and was "embarrassed" over the
$30,000 in back payments owed to the Mercedes-Benz Credit
Corp. In documents obtained by the INQUIRER, Iverson "took
steps" to switch his finance management to MARK CHRISTIE --
who "entered the picture" following the game which Iverson's
mother missed -- in a move that sources said caused Falk to
go "ballistic." Smith adds that while MAGIC JOHNSON is "the
front-runner" to handle Iverson's marketing, the NBPA would
"likely deem" Johnson's representation of a player to be a
conflict of interest with his ownership stake in the Lakers
(PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 3/25). Johnson, asked whether he
will represent players: "As we speak now, ownership (is more
important). More and more guys need help. I think I can
provide help for people. The Lakers are sound. They can go
on without me if I should go on to help somebody else" (J.A.
Adande, L.A. TIMES, 3/25).
