Who'd You Get?!: Allen Iverson, SkyBox Premium (1997)

We at No Regard used to collect basketball cards. Convincing a parent to shuttle us and our friends to the local collector's shop was a consistently important victory. When we found out KMart was selling entire boxes for $20, we almost wore out our bike tires pedaling back and forth.

Now we've unearthed the cache, and the results are stunning. We've been reminded that players named Dino Radja and Wesley Person briefly and forcefully carved out steady roles for themselves in the league. We've been straight tickled by the goofy casual pics. And we've been touched and inspired by the relentless optimism of the copywriters. We hope you enjoy this odd time capsule, a Utopian angle from which to view the league, where everyone is the next somebody and context is pointless.

 

Back of the card after the jump.

Who'd You Get?!: Allen Iverson, Fleer Ultra (1998)

We at No Regard used to collect basketball cards. Convincing a parent to shuttle us and our friends to the local collector's shop was a consistently important victory. When we found out KMart was selling entire boxes for $20, we almost wore out our bike tires pedaling back and forth.

Now we've unearthed the cache, and the results are stunning. We've been reminded that players named Dino Radja and Wesley Person briefly and forcefully carved out steady roles for themselves in the league. We've been straight tickled by the goofy casual pics. And we've been touched and inspired by the relentless optimism of the copywriters. We hope you enjoy this odd time capsule, a Utopian angle from which to view the league, where everyone is the next somebody and context is pointless. 

Back of the card after the jump.

Talkin' Turkey: Iverson to play for Besiktas

So, we're busy bees over here, preparing a special season preview feature for tomorrow. But sure, we've got time for some breaking news: this is happening! With Paul Pierce's recent talk about playing in Europe after his retirement, could we be seeing the beginning of a huge movement in which aging yet still very talented settle down across the pond? I mean, the benefits are obvious. These guys will get to be stars in different, sometimes more passionate markets. Their families will get the opportunity to travel the world and experience cultural excitement. They will help the increasingly global nature of basketball.

If the answer to my previous question is "yes," all seems to be well and good. But what about this question: Will the future bring a time when European teams can start plucking stars from the NBA while they are still close to their prime? Seems like a silly question right now, but if the MLS is a model, some of these clubs may start being able to offer money and experiences that could be enough to take players away from the League before the League is quite ready to let them go, especially if David Stern's plans for contraction and salary cuts become a reality.

I'm certainly not saying this would be a bad thing. Just saying it could be a thing.

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[Photo Credit: Kristyna Wentz-Graff]

IYSSSS is our semi-regular Internet intelligence report, a liberal arts approach to following the NBA on the Web. E-mail us at jewsforjesusshuttlesworth@gmail.com if you've got any suggestions.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel [via NBA Off-Season]: I promise that two of those feet in that picture above belong to a mascot, and the other two belong to Brandon Jennings. And, I promise that if you click this link, you will see pictures of the two of them engaging in silly string warfare. Pinky swear.

ESPN's "SportsNation": No doubt that Simmons is a polarizing figure, and for good reason. But there's no denying that when he hits—whether in writing, podcasting, whatever—it's normally thunderous. His spoof of "The Decision" is no different. And anything with Michelle Beadle is the best.

Advertising Age: An inside baseball look at how "The Decision" came to be. Interesting for sure, but you've got to admit it's a little creepy just how excited Ari Emanuel is about the whole affair.

NBA Off-Season: A kind suggestion to LeBron that the journey to restoring his image should begin with entering the Dunk Contest. Which I fully co-sign, since his act of backing out of last year's contest was when the evil began creeping in anyway.

TrueHoop: And now, for me at least, away from LeBron and back to Summer League. If you didn't catch the T-Wolves game yesterday, John Krolik (of the classy Cavs: The Blog) breaks down Wesely Johnson's debut. Sounds like the kid's got patience, already knows his role and carries a few wows in his back pocket. Basically his play mirrors his appearance.

Slam Online: I'll take any excuse to post this video, because it's an era-defining moment. Young Iverson making the world tremble, setting history books ablaze.

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Sports Illustrated: The late Manute Bol was not only a steadfast humanitarian and supreme shot-blocker, the man was also photogenic as hell. A remarkable photo gallery.

NBA.com: Chris Bosh: "...I think every kid when they dream about playing basketball, they don't dream about being a role player. They dream about being the man. I have that position in Toronto and to give that up and go somewhere else to be an addition would kinda defeat the purpose of my dreams." Well, Chris, then you have an inflated sense of your talent and a poor understanding of the design of championship teams. Did you have trouble seeing those playoff games you went to this year through your sunglasses?

FreeDarko: Guest journalism about Ricky Rubio's unhappy draft night in 2009, directly from the man who assisted Rubio that entire night.

Slam Online: Drake bringing Kobe onstage. Mamba doesn't overstay his welcome like LeBron did. And he reminds everyone how many rings he has, which LeBron did not do. Unfortunately, Drake didn't let Kobe perform this gem.

Forbes Most Disliked Athletes List [via D.C. Sports Bog]: Gilbert's fall depresses me almost as much as Penny or Grant Hill's injuries did. But the bigger story here: WHY IS IVERSON ON THIS LIST? That's how much his image scared people back when he was actually popular? For the casual sports fan of 2010 to place him on the same list as a man who senselessly killed dogs, a man who cheated on his wife at least hundreds of times and a quarterback who cannot plug his boat's leak while sailing the sea of sleaze means that they really must have had strong feelings about his fucking cornrows. (Look, I know that Iverson's been involved in some unfavorable situations similar to these other guys, but I'm assuming that the people polled don't and I know that's a reasonable assumption.)