December 20, 2006 12:00 AM
Poison Iverson
Sometimes in editorial cartooning I have to choose the road less traveled. I know this cartoon does not convey a popular viewpoint. I'm sure, in fact, it's probably going to make a few people more than a little miffed. That's not why I did it. I did it because I think of Allen Iverson much the way I do Terrell Owens. He's tremendously talanted, and brings a lot to the game, but at what cost in the long run? Iverson may not be quite the trouble that T.O. is but clearly there is a down side to this trade.
That said, I'm not sure the Nuggets had much choice. With attendance dwindling, Melo out for 15 games and J.R. Smith gone for 10, the Nuggets had to do something to kickstart a stalling engine. And certainly the idea of eventually teaming Iverson and Melo on the court at the same time is appealing. The whole thing could end up bringing the Nuggets an NBA title. But think just for a minute if things go south the way they have before in Iverson's career and the Nuggets end up with a mess that may be next to impossible to untangle , at least until 2008-09 when Iverson's contract finally comes to an end. It could be a mistake of epic proportions instead of a trade that right now seems very intriguing.
Drew
December 20, 2006
1:24 AM
Jacob writes:
Drew, you don't seem to like any of the teams in this town, you might want to take some time off since your legs must be tired from jumping on and off bandwagons. What's next? You move to Oakland and become a Raider fan? or how about going to Michigan to root for the Red Wings? get out of this town drew. We're all sick of your cartoons.
December 20, 2006
6:15 AM
Bronco Fan in Texas writes:
Jacob, I suggest if you are sick of the cartoons, to quit reading them! Easy solution...duh.
December 20, 2006
7:24 AM
Vicki writes:
Drew, I am SO glad to see that at least one person in the local media has some sense when it comes to the Iverson trade! I'm not denying that AI is a great player - but I'm not sure his skills are worth all the baggage and bad attitude he'll be bringing to Denver. I'm sure you'll get a lot of negative feedback on today's cartoon, but don't let it stop you from being honest.
And to Jacob - you can be a fan of a team and still criticize them when they're wrong. That's a journalist's job, not being a "homer" all the time. As "Bronco Fan in Texas" said - if you don't like the cartoons, don't read them! For me, the day Drew stops doing cartoons is the day I stop reading the sports section.
December 20, 2006
8:56 AM
Tomatoworms writes:
To say that A.I. is the same cancer as T.O. is absolutely wrong. Not a shred of truth in that, in fact it is mission accomplished for America's hype machine!
Iverson plays every minute of every night. Always has, always will. He's not starved for attention, he isn't a the 7-year-old needing to be noticed.
He Didn't demand a trade, he is respected by his peers, and will quickly be a crowd favorite.
Exactly what has he done to be compared to Owens? Examples, please.
December 20, 2006
12:39 PM
Summertime Joe The Show writes:
Drew, your recent cartoon about A.I. SUCKS!! We don't need that kind of negative energy in D-town. So if anyone should drink poison, it's you.
December 20, 2006
4:36 PM
Dwayne writes:
Keep doing what you're doing Drew. Pay no attention to the people who have no clue as to how to look at things from differnent views.
However I feel that if he comes in here, connects with Melo and JR in the right way, gets along with Karl he'll be a happy guy here. If it all works an the Nuggets win, Iverson won't be a problem.
December 20, 2006
9:15 PM
Jacob writes:
Drew, I grew up viewing your cartoons daily, and it's becoming increasingly obvious that it takes a child's brain to be amused by your cartoons, this is becoming pathetic. Get out of town
December 20, 2006
9:22 PM
Tom writes:
Drew.....
OUTSTANDING!!!!!!
You are spot on!
December 21, 2006
6:57 AM
Ivory Greathouse writes:
Drew,your cartoons are nothing more than a release for your tired bigoted brain. You spend so much time not thinking,that when your mind has that rare moment of clarity
the only thing clear is that it's time to draw another racist cartoon. Do you know Carmello or Allen Iverson personally? Probably not,the trouble with you and your supporters is that if it was written,it must be true when it comes to Black men in general,let alone in sports. And of course if you consider the source,WELL, I'll leave where it is.
December 21, 2006
7:38 AM
Mark writes:
hey Ivory (what an ironic name):
It appears the only one making a race issue of it is you. I think that says it all.
December 21, 2006
1:06 PM
Tom writes:
What the hell was that interview on ESPN I saw las night? Ivesron was as gangster as I've ever seen. When asked what the team of Iverson/Anthony would be....he answered..."Killer" or "Killa".
What the....??? Huh?
How about something like..."I'm very excited about making the Denver Nuggets a champion." Or....something like that. He looked like he was REAL excited to be coming here. He's a cancer. Anthony is a cancer. They're a perfect match to drive the Nuggets franchise into the dust.
Kronke deserves this. And Anthony/Iverson deserves this. Wait for the Nuggets to be stomped by the Western conference!!
December 21, 2006
2:22 PM
Zman writes:
Dead On Drew...Dead On...
Wait...I guess that makes me a racist now...
December 21, 2006
4:32 PM
robert writes:
You are the most negative and critical person I have ever read. I truly do not understand why you have to be this way. There are so many comics, comedians and humorists out there that are truly funny that are not so caustic. Perhaps you have some unresolved anger/hate issues that need to be addressed? Feel free to respond as I am quite curious. Robert
December 21, 2006
6:56 PM
Phil in Reno writes:
With all of the talk with this topic, the A.I. situation can be similar to T.O. earlier this year.
The talk around town was that it would be interesting to see T.O. in a Bronco uniform, despite the baggage. When the news came that T.O was headed to Dallas, the tone quickly shifted to "Ahh...the Cowboys are going to get burned..."
Now that the Nuggets won the A.I. sweepstakes, now the tone from the populous is that Nuggets are going to be burned, a lot of them from Nugget fans.
My point is maybe things will be different in Denver, so I'm giving A.I the benefit of the doubt and a chance to make the Nuggets relevant outside of basket-brawls.
December 21, 2006
8:21 PM
Drew writes:
Just as I thought, I got quite a lot of feedback about my Iverson cartoon. I have to admit it always bothers me and at the same time baffles me when people call me a racist for doing a sports cartoon about an athlete who happens to be African-American. Just because I happen to take a viewpoint that is different than the mainstream does not make me a racist. In this case I simply stated that perhaps Iverson won't be the perfect fit here in Denver because of his documented past of being difficult to deal with, both from coaches who have coached him and players who have played with him. He has the reputation of being a selfish player who is not always a great teammate. That is the point I was making. Nothing more and nothing less. I believe the body of work I have done during my 24 years as a sports editorial cartoonist here at the Rocky speaks for itself in regard to racial issues. I have done numerous cartoons on athletes such as the late Buck O'Neil and Arthur Ashe that support my stance on racial injustice. I'm a huge fan of the late Martin Luther King and Howard Thurman, both advocates of the civil rights movement.
I am an editorial cartoonist. An editorial cartoon is one that states an opinion, sometimes one that is not always popular. I'm not trying to be funny day in and day out. Sometimes the cartoons are poignant, other times stinging. It is the nature of the beast. I'm thankful to live and work in a country where various opinions can be heard, or in my case, drawn in total freedom. Freedom is an idea, I believe, that Martin Luther King lived his very life for.
Drew
December 21, 2006
8:28 PM
Jeremy writes:
professional - "participating for gain or livelihood in an activity or field of endeavor often engaged in by amateurs."
If a white-collar stiff does something on Sunday night that negatively impacts work on Monday morning, they are in dereliction of their professional duties. An office worker is not graded solely by the amount of paper pushed, but by teamwork, participation in company functions, etc. In the same way, a professional athlete is bound not only to a few minutes on a field or a court or a rink, but to practice, and further, to live in such a manner as to, at a minimum, not detract from the professional implementation of their particular occupation. Anyone who can read the lines can quote 28 points per game during a career, 31 per game this year. Anyone who reads between the lines can attest to missed practices, missed team functions and missed professionalism. If A.I. avoids throwing up bricks in the locker room and the community the way he avoids throwing up bricks on the court, this trade will go down as a steal. If not, Drew may have to put on a new hat as Prognosticator du jour.
December 23, 2006
6:23 AM
Zman writes:
Jeremy, that could have been the best comment I have ever read. Bravo.
Drew, Kudos...
December 23, 2006
12:43 PM
Bronco in C Springs writes:
Ivory Greathouse-
You are a complete moron. You are a perfect example of someone who thinks the world is against them. Stop acting like a 5 year old, grow up, and stop blaming innocent others for your discrepencies in life.
On another note, Happy Holidays to all and Drew.....keep up the great work!!!! I hope AI works out for the Nuggets; an NBA Title would make this city go crazy!!! Only time will tell.....
January 1, 2007
7:46 PM
Ivory Greathouse writes:
To Bronco in C-Springs you don't know a damn thing about me. If you think you'd like to meet me so we can discuss my discrepencies, man to man that would be fine
Drew Litton is a racist just as you are. I've dealt with your kind for a longtime. The first thing you asses do is offer some generic quote like I respect Martin Luther King.
January 1, 2007
8:06 PM
Ivory Greathouse writes:
Drew I've just finished reading your response and to be honest it's B.S. Yes freedom of speech is a right and I'm far from mainstream. Your cartoons never seem to offer
any balance when it comes criticizing athletes. Why is it that Barry Bonds is continually
a target but not Mark Mcgwire
or any of the other M.L.B players of which the majority are caucasian that have used
steriods or performance enhancing drugs. You convicted Marion Jones before any Olympic body even
spoke on the issue. The fist thing that a man does when
he's exposed, is to offer bland
and routine explanation for his actions. Prove what you say,offer balance in your cartoons .
January 17, 2007
6:59 PM
Bronco in C Springs writes:
Ivory Greathouse-
Thank You for proving to me that you are in fact a moron.
And you are right that I do not know a thing about you.....except the attitude you have towards others on this message board.
And let me tell you that you do not know a thing about me.....especially by calling me a racist. But if that is your response to every person that has an objective viewpoint opposite of yours, then you truly must live a lonely life.
I can take criticism, opinions opposite of mine, and a good argument from time to time. This is America and opinions are a freedom we enjoy. If your opinion is that everyone is a racist that is not of your skin color and takes an opposite opinion, then you have a lot to learn.
Just some constructive criticism of your viewpoint Ivory Greathouse. I apologize if based off my comments you feel I am biased towards a certain race.......because that is far from the case.
January 17, 2007
7:14 PM
Bronco in C Springs writes:
And Ivory Greathouse-
I do agree with you that it is wrong for ANY athlete to use steroids to their advantage regardless of race.
My personal feeling is that Bonds is taking more heat in the media because of the long standing record he will surely break. Does it make it any more right for Bonds to take more heat than McGuire.....NO. Unfortunately, that is just the way it is. Bonds is closing on 1 of the sports greatest milestones and may not justifyingly deserve it.
I hope that Hank Aaron can somehow keep the HR record.
And I would say that if McGuire was the 1 close to breaking the HR record, then he would be taking most of the heat. As it is, he is retired and trying to hide from his allegations which is what a coward does.
September 27, 2010
10:09 AM
Sean Briguglio writes:
WE are unable to comprehend it to figure, any strategies?