The Breakfast Club - Best of Full Interview: Allen Iverson On 'Misunderstood,' NBA Career & Relationships Challenges, Not Winning a Ring +More

Episode Date: December 23, 2025

Best of 2025- Best Sellers of 2025 - Allen Iverson On 'Misunderstood,' NBA Career & Relationships Challenges, Not Winning a Ring. Recorded 2025. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BreakfastClubPower1051FMSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. I'm investigative journalist Melissa Jeltsin. My new podcast, What Happened in Nashville, tells the story of an IVF clinic's catastrophic collapse and the patients who banded together in the chaos that followed. It doesn't matter how much I fight. It doesn't matter how much I cry over all of this.

It doesn't matter how much justice we get. None of it's going to get me pregnant. Listen to what happened in Nashville on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Stefan Curry, and this is Gentleman's Cut. I think what makes Gentleman's Cut different is me being a part of developing the profile of this beautiful finished product. With every sip, you get a little something different.

Visit Gentleman's Cut Bourbon.com or your nearest Total Wines or Bevmo. This message is intended for audiences 21 and older. Gentleman's Cut Bourbon, Boone County, Kentucky. For more on Gentleman's Cut Bourbon, please visit Gentleman'scuturban.com. Please enjoy responsibly. And she said, Johnny,

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of this organization, Dr. Lyotra Tate. Listen to the unwanted sorority, new episodes every Thursday on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. You know the shade is always shady is right here. Season 6 of the podcast Reasonably Shady with Jazele Bryan and Robin Dixon is here, dropping every Monday. As two of the founding members of the Real Housewives Potomac were giving you all the laughs, drama, and reality news you can handle.

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Just hilarious. Shalermaine the God. We are the Breakfast Club. Long La Roses here as well. and we got a special guest in the building. Come on, man, another cultural icon. We're having a week of cultural icon. Yes.

AI, Alan Arvison, bumper chuck, whatever you want to call him. Mr. 757. He's in the building. New book, Misunderstood, is out right now. That's right. Alan Arvison, ladies and gentlemen. How you feeling, man? Good, life, life be life, same fight, different round.

You know what I mean? I want to, um, what we start? How much time do we got? What do you mean? Because I don't know where it's going to go. But look, man. man, friends, all right, so I know, you know, what type of, I mean, I'm just mean, just, but, you know, you know how you get to know somebody from afar and you can basically kind of tell what type of

person they are, you know what I mean? Obviously, I've known you since I was in high school and big fan of you, bro. Move close, okay, my bad. friendships man it's hard you know what I mean because when you think about your friend obviously you know you can't choose your family mom you know what I mean you're born into that but your friends you feel like you know y'all got so much in common with each other and yeah so much love for them because you know they kind of like a basically a flexion of you or you get the same type of things in common or whatever and you just grow to love them like family They become, you know, the guys become brothers

and your home girls become your sisters. But it's rough, man, navigating through that. You know what I mean? I know how much I love my family, my friends. I got so much flat when I first got into the league. You know what I mean? It was the entourage. Absolutely.

Bringing home boys from where you're from. You trust them so much. You love them. You want them to go on the ride with you. You want them to take this journey, you know, through it, it's new to me. I've been poor all my whole life and then snap of a finger.

I'm rich and famous and it's a lot. You know what I mean? So you want to have so many people around you that you love and you trust. You know what I mean? And the money, man, just, you know what I mean? It's just, you know what I'm?

And it's so different from me and it's so hard for me because with my athletic ability that I was blessed with, I've been like this since I was eight years old. Like, I always felt that I was rich, but I was poor. I always been famous. You know what I mean? When I was eight years old, I go into barbershop and guys, 17, 18, 20, 25 years old,

guys like, oh shit, there you go. You know, that's the one right there. That's him. So it's always been that for me. I always had that attention. You know what I mean? I always been like that. And, you know, once I got some money, it was no different for me.

Obviously, I could do things with my family and my friends that I couldn't do before. You know, that goes what I was saying. And I've never had a person, you know, my nickname, obviously, you know, my name Chuck. You know, I've never heard a person say, you know, once Chuck got some money, he changed. Once Chuck got to the NBA, he changed. You know what I mean? I've never heard that, you know, before because, you know, the person. people that know me and love me and the people that I love know I'm me. You know what I mean?

That's one of my biggest fears or had been one of my biggest fears of looking in the mirror and not being able to recognize, you know, well, my mom and the people that I love not be able to recognize who I see. You know what I mean? It meant something to me. But, man, just the painful lessons of friends not being who you think they are when you had to rule all evil in the thing. Something just recently happened? It happens. And the reason, definitely, it happens

all the time. But I feel a pendulum swinging in another direction as far as how I feel about it. Like how it used to hurt me. You know what I mean? You tell someone, you want to find out if somebody's your friend, you tell them no one. That's right. That's right. That's right. And

their reaction would say it all. You know what I mean? Chuck, hey, man, I got a business, you know, opportunity. I want to start this. I want to start debt, man, give me $100,000. And you don't even have to tell them, no. You can say not right now, you know, later on.

But these are the same people who pay their rent. Pay that over the years, child support. You know what I mean? You know, pay your mom rent, you know, this. Lawyer fees. Lawyer fees. Every time you go to a jewelry store, you're taking them, you know, because the most awkward feeling is, you know, for me,

this is just me growing up being young and not knowing early in the preliminary stages of getting some money. You know what I mean? Like, I don't want to be shining and looking good and my home boy is not. So when I go see Mani, you know what I mean? They go on.

You know what I mean? When I get cars, they get caused. You know what I mean? Like, and, you know, it's just like when you tell them no, the way they, you know, they act and you know somebody ain't seen this yeah yo man what's up with your man they are you know what's up with a man fuck that nigga dang you know what I mean like after reading

your book nobody should question your loyalty or ever say fucking right not the way you took care of you I'm telling you what you seen but do you regret that because I mean I don't Virginia that's everywhere you went that's where I say the pendulum is swinging that's where that's why I say or feel that my maturation is on a higher level now because back then um when something traumatic would happen to me like that and I see how they act for me telling them no. Like, you know what I mean? It's like I feel myself not giving the damn anymore.

Like, you know what I mean? Like I'm talking about the same people that come to me, you know, be at my practice eight o'clock in the morning, you know, Christmas Eve, saying what their kids don't have. You know what I mean? And one thing about the people that you love and people that love you or supposed to love you is they know you better than anybody. They know my heart. You throw your kids in there. You know what I mean?

Everybody know Christmas on the 25th of December every year, you know what I mean? But, man, my kids ain't going to have nothing. You know what I'm supposed to do. And something you said in the book that hit me too is you was like, man, you was that kid. So you understood what it felt did not have. So when they came to you, you was like, I got to do it. And I had the mother and the father. that hustle to get us what they could,

but they couldn't get us things. You know, I wanted a moped for Christmas. I wanted certain things, and then you wake up that morning, and it's not there. You know, you may have a, you know, a pair of sneakers or a t-shirt and that be the only thing you get, you know what I mean? So, you know, I ain't never want my homeboys kids to, you know,

look at them crazy. And now, you know, like, I've, years ago, you know, I ran into the craziest shit. But years ago, you know, money got funny. You know what I mean? And, you know, I had realized at a point, like, I ain't have the word knowing my vocabulary when it come to people. You know what I mean? Like, I was so used to, I never held anybody accountable for why I had to be the one taking care of everybody.

You know what I mean? I was the one going to work every single day. I was breaking bones, stitches, hundred stitches in my face. You know what I mean? and it just taught me a lot, man, and now, you know, I know life be lifing, but to be still dealing with those type of people and caring about how they feel

when you know what you've done for them. You know, you wake up, and some people wake up in their life just not what they wanted to be, and the first thing you could think of is blame it on Chuck, you know, and figure out some way that I can blame it on somebody else to why my life is not what it is. Did you ever have imposter syndrome? And the reason I asked is you talk about all that, right?

And I remember the Bowling Alley incident in Virginia. And it feels like regardless of what happened in VA, you always came back and you always wanted to show the love. No matter what happened, you talk about the people you put on, the city was against you. And Virginia could have been racist back then. It was really racist back then. We all seen it. But you still came back to that 757 to show love. I am VA.

I am VA. It's me. It's in me. You know what I mean? And the crazy thing about, I was just talking to my man about this before we got in here. So I had to do all the stuff, you know, all my media runs and all that yesterday. I had to sign a thousand books and, you know, take a thousand pictures. You know what I mean? With the people that bought the books. Beautiful. But I was, you know, I was tired. And right after that is my daughter's birthday. And I had to, you know, she wanted to be with me. So I had to, you know, take care of her after all. all of that. And I got done, maybe I started six, got done like maybe 10 o'clock. She wanted to go bowling and wanted to go to an escape room. But I had no idea that the escape room was like you're in a jail cell. You know what I mean? So I'm like, yo, this is your life, for real, like, out of all the places that she want

to go on her birthday, it's a bowling alley and an escape room, God damn, in a jail. you know what I mean but she's smart because she got to figure out how she probably figured out how to get you out of there but you know I'm thinking like the last place I want to be from my memory is you get to jail

and then a bowling app right you know what I mean so I want to go back to your friends thing real quick right because even in the book there's nobody that felt like that was around you that didn't help you in some way shape or form so you was repaying them like you talk about how when you was

in jail they was taking care of your mom and they were the ones that would tell you, you know, you're not going to be hustling, you're going to be playing ball. So it wasn't like you just had a bunch of leeches around. It was people that looked out for you, so you looked back out for them. You know what? I would have done it anyway. Like, I ain't never expected it. Like, if I, you know, if I look out for one of my home boys, my home girls, I don't expect you to give it back. You know what I mean? I ain't never asked for nothing back. You know what I mean? I just feel like me being the head of the snake. Um, you know, it's like, it's like me, I'm the perfect example.

It's like me being on our 2001 team and went to the finals. I'm the killer. Everybody know that. This is the guy going to put the ball in the basket. This is what he do. Now, what we do is compliment him. We do everything else. All his deficiencies, things that he can't do on the defensive end of the, you know,

of the court, you know, he's lead to league and steals year after year. But you got to gamble. And when he gamble, the Kimbe is there To make sure I'm good The O's there, the block shots Make sure I'm good They could do all of the things That I couldn't do it

And that's what made Voltron You know what I mean You put all those things together And it was me and a bunch of dogs You know what I mean And it's the same thing with my friendship Yeah, he's the guy You know what I mean

He's like us but he's not like us You know he is AI So we got to act accordingly To that yeah he chucked to us you know what I mean but people look at him another way so I have a role you know I have to do this

this is my part this is what I have to do you know what I mean this is what I have to do you know and I don't know I don't know if I said that but looking out for my mom financially it's totally different

than going around there and checking on you know what I mean it was never no you know like like I did when it came to their family you know what I mean um

Another thing, too, and maybe this could be part of what you're feeling right now, it seemed like the whole team had a dream. It wasn't you supposed to get on in basketball. You were supposed to get on in basketball, and everybody was supposed to make it in a rap. So everybody was supposed to be doing their own thing. I didn't have the, I didn't have the, um, LeBron James, Matt, Randy and Rich blueprint.

I didn't have that blueprint. You know what I mean? I'm like, look, we're going to get in where we fit in. You know what I mean? Like I had one of my homeboys tell me, like, I'm going to work every day, working every day. Man, supposed to be a superstar by that. now you know what I'm going to work I'm like like I've had incidents like you know I'm

getting ready to go on the road and it was a casino you know what I mean and I go to the bank I get 50,000 they got 30,000 in large and 20,000 and you know 20 and and I'm getting on the plane my man come I give him the 20,000 he looked at it like it was something wrong with it because it was all 20 you know what I'm like yo did this, you know, really just, did that really just happen? You know what I mean? Like, and it's, it's like, you know, you can, you can, you can, you thinking you're doing was right, but you only, you're not holding people accountable.

Right. You've been in a crutch for them. It's like putting a band-aid on something. You know what I mean? You're not stitching it up. You know what I mean? You're not stapling it up. You know what I mean?

And they always feel like that, you know what I mean? But, like, the hurtful part is. the response of actually saying no probably because they never heard it. Like when I implemented that in my vocabulary like, no, what?

You know what I mean? And like for somebody, I'm built so different. Like, somebody, just like envy getting me a barber. Like, that's going to be something that resonate with me forever. I know we already got a relationship. You know what I mean? But

still, like I needed a barber in New York. my man looked out for me. Like, that goes a long way with me. But you can do a million things for somebody. You know what I mean? The first time, you know what I mean? And I was warned about it. You know what I mean?

But Aaron McKee told me, he said, Chuck, just, you know what I mean? When you cutting your grass, you know what I mean? And you getting them snakes out of there, you ask somebody, you know, let them ask you for something and tell them no. you know what I mean and I think I'm doing a great job of cutting it but you still got the little small

you know snakes might be gone but some worms in there some small you know what I'm saying you know right now it's Charles Barkley and a whole bunch of people saying

we was trying to tell him this 30 years yeah yeah but when you when you like it's just like the basketball aspect of everything

I ain't never think that I would retire that early you know what I mean man I ain't I ain't never had no back up playing like growing up once my mom told me I could be anything I wanted to be I wanted to be NBA basketball player and that was it it was no it was no B C D it was

it was just that that one dream you know what I mean I didn't have no no blueprint I didn't even have nobody in my family went to college you know what I mean nobody had ever been married you know I mean everything was was was was new to me I was I was doing everything on the fly you know what I mean so you know my mistakes was coming at a rapid pace, you know what I mean? And, you know, you think, you know, Coach Thompson used to always tell me, you're always listening to everybody else. You're always listening to somebody that's never been to, you know, from A to Z,

telling you how to get there. You know what I mean? And that's what I was. I had everybody that wasn't me and never had the experience telling me how to do it. Now, you talk about your BC plan, right? You see what Michael Vick is doing with North Carolina. State. Absolutely.

Have you ever thought about coaching? No. Why not? Because they would listen to you, right? Especially if you go to HBCU. They were definitely listening to you. I've been one of the players. You know what I mean?

Yeah, coach made millions of dollars. But you got these guys making, that's why I take my hat off to anybody that coached NBA. You know what I mean? Like you have a unique talent. You know what I mean? To have a bunch of guys with a bunch of guys with a bunch of egos.

Everybody come from being the man. And then you put them on a team and everybody got the same goal. And I just don't feel like, you know, I can coach a bunch of guys to make more money than me. Listen to me for what. That's why it's a God-given talent.

Any NBA coach that make it that far blessed. Not even NBA coaches. You talk about it in the book, how you filed out and you had to be on the sideline and you just was watching it from your coach's perspective. I think that was in high school maybe. And you was like, damn, this is what he see? I want to ask you about the title of the book, man.

Do you think you were misunderstood? That's the title of the book. Or did people outside of your circle just not take the time to understand you? You're smart dude. Sometimes. A lot. This is one of my favorite shows, so I, you know, I see the good days and a bad day. You've been ducking this for a little time.

I'm going to come. I watch Dame come up here. It's for real. It gets real. I think this, I think they can answer it better. My perspective is, you know, they were learning on the fly to. It's like, you know, with my documentary that's coming out, it was like a three hours long.

I think I cried like two and a half hours of it. I had to keep walking out of the theater because you think you know when it comes to people that love you. You think you know how they feel about, you know, turbulent times. You know what I mean? And you think you know how they feel.

You think your girl know, you think you know how your girl feel. You think you know how your mom feel, your uncles, your aunts, your homeboys, your home girls. But then when they actually tell you from their point of view how they felt, you know, and how they looked at things and how I didn't see

how I was fucking up you know what I mean how they had to try to address me with certain things like you know you driving the car we we riding shotgun you know what I mean like and it's hard to tell

somebody you know that's trying to live their life you know what they should do and what they shouldn't do you know what I mean like I'm 21 years old you know what I mean

when I got into the league and at that age like you know what I mean you couldn't you couldn't tell me nothing yeah you know what saying like I'm here you know what I mean like the dress code I'm like I dress like the dudes the drug dealers from my neighborhood like you know I'm dressing like this because you know this what I's the old here is from from my neighbor this how they dress you know what I just couldn't afford it you know what I mean my corn rolls I got cornrows because um I was talented the barber's messing my hair. I'm like, damn, if I just grow my hair,

you know, I ain't got to deal with that. You know, tattoos just got addictive. I got one. I couldn't afford them. I would have been got a lot of them. And, you know, I was playing everything by ear. Like I said, I didn't have my daddy was a hustler. You know what I mean?

He was in the streets. My mom, in the streets. Like, I didn't have no, you know. Anybody will sit you down and give you structure, yo. This is how you do. It wasn't no Coach Thompson then. You know what I mean? Those people, they weren't in my life yet.

So all of that was where he was. He was, but it was, he was there, you know, when I got to the NBA, me and his phone calls, you know, you're all right. We never talked about basketball. You all right? I'm investigative journalist Melissa Jeltson. My new podcast, What Happened in Nashville, tells the story of an IVF clinic's catastrophic collapse. and the patients who banded together in the chaos that followed.

We have some breaking news to tell you about. Tennessee's attorney general is suing a Nashville doctor. In April 2024, a fertility clinic in Nashville shut down overnight and trapped behind locked doors were more than a thousand frozen embryos. I was terrified. Out of all of our journey, that was the worst moment ever. At that point, it didn't occur to me what fight was going to come to follow. But this story isn't just about a.

few families' futures. It's about whether the promise of modern fertility care can be trusted at all. It doesn't matter how much I fight. Doesn't matter how much I cry over all of this. It doesn't matter how much justice we get. None of it's going to get me pregnant. Listen to what happened in Nashville on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Stefan Curry, and this is Gentleman's Cut. I think what makes Gentleman's Cut different is me being a part of developing the profile of this beautiful finished product with every sip you get a little

something different. Visit gentlemen's cut bourbon.com or your nearest total wines or bevmo. This message is intended for audiences 21 and older. Gentleman's Cut Bourbon, Boone County, Kentucky. For more on Gentleman's Cut Bourbon, please visit gentlemen's cut bourbon.com.

Please enjoy responsibly. Hey, y'all, it's me, your man, M.G. Marcus Grant. And I'm Michael F. Lourio. And I'm Laquan Jones. If you're looking to win your fantasy football league, you need to tune in to the NFL fantasy football podcast. It's right there in the name. Every week, Florio, LQ, and I bring you the latest news from around the league. We break down every matchup, give you our analysis and advice so you know who to start, sit, drop, and trade to bring that championship trophy home.

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So join me and your favorite podcasters in the Pods Fight Poverty campaign. Head to give directly.org slash happiness lab to learn more and make a contribution. And if you're a first-time donor, giving multiplier will even match your gift. That's give directly.org slash happiness lab to donate. Yeah, I'm just checking on you. I just want to. Good. How to kids?

You know what I mean? And that was it. He was allowing me and thinking he was preparing me at Georgetown for what was the inevitable. Me going to the league. You can't prepare for that, bro. How was that pressure, though, because the nicest player, right? but you change culture but when you change the culture

the NBA pushed back against it but you never broke you never folded even though they could have said they could have banned AI and said now we don't want you in our leave but you never folded never backed down and you kept it that way which hurt you at times

why was that? They profited off of two you know what I mean like I would be on one of the things that hurt me is I was on a magazine they wanted me on a magazine because of my talent and who I was but they airbrushed my tattoos off So you want me, but you, you know, you want some of me.

I took the asswood before it, but the dress code thing, like, I actually was just, you know what I mean? I was 21. Where am I going after the game? I'm going to the club. You know what I mean? Like, before that, they were used to dudes wearing suits, and, you know what I mean? I was like, man, like, I've never worn a suit growing up, going to church or to a funeral. The only time I put on the suit.

In the courtroom. In the courtroom. Definitely. In the courtroom. So I never wore a soup to the gym to play, to the park. Sweat suit, you know what I mean, or whatever. You know what I'm saying? So I didn't think nothing of it.

You know what I mean? And then, you know, I got some money. So the jewelry and I always had a fetish, me and my mom, since I was a little kid, you know what I mean? It's always been like that. So, you know, I remember being in college, and my teammates like, yo, when you get to the lead, man, you're going to get the jewelry like pop. You know what I mean?

You don't have the jewelry like puff. You know what I mean? Yeah, you know. And the first thing, like when the first thing I did was come up here and went to Tito. You know what I'm saying? Like, I didn't think nothing. I was living, you know what I mean? And David Stern and the rest of the NBA was like,

Nah, because it was all right when I was doing it. But then everybody else said, okay, like, he can do that? We can do this? So then everybody, you know, you see Kobe coming in with the diamond chains on and the baggy clothes and, you know, everybody started doing it. Then the lead was like, hold on, you got to do something about that. So it wasn't anything malicious. Like, and that whole situation showed me a lot and improved a lot to me at a young age

about stereotyping people because, you know, when you seen John Gotti, John Gotti kept on a $2,000 suit. But what was he? That's right. He'd get busy. You know what I mean? So it ain't about what you got on. You watch Reservoir Dogs?

Yeah. What they have on when they rob? Suit, absolutely. You know what I'm saying? So it ain't about, you know, what you got on, on the outside's who you are. And they said that bothered you the most when they labeled you a thug. Yeah. You know what I mean?

I'll be cool with, you know, I'll be cool with, you know, a street dude, cool with that. Because that's what I am. I mean, that's where I come from. That's all I've ever been around in my life. That's what I grew up around. You know what I mean? But a thug, like, no, that's a stretch.

I was wondering, would you change things? And the reason I asked that, because even in the book, you understood you had to wear a suit to court, but you didn't want to do it for press conferences in the NBA. I was bad advice. Like, I was, you know, I was told to take a, go to trial and go off whatever the judge say,

opposed to having a jury. That was bad advice, you know what I mean? I was getting advice from people that never had been through it. You know what I mean? I was told that if I wore a suit, then they'd be lenient. I was extremely wrong.

So you wish you to just wore the hood club? I remember that same suit. I was in a cell. It was 100 degrees with no fans. In a holding sale, I was in a four-man sale with 15 people. You know what I mean? And that suit, when they came and got me, I was in the corner with my boxes on, you know what I mean,

soaking wet, and the suit was balled up in the corner when they came and got me out of there. I had on my box. You know what I mean? I don't know. Do you regret anything? No, because I wouldn't be who I am now. You know what I mean?

Anybody, if I died and came back, I would, man, I'd rather be me all over again. But if I change everything, if I knew it was coming, anybody going to be going down to one-way street, you're going to get on the right side of the road. You see the track trailer coming. You know what I mean? That prepared me to be the man that I am today. take this ass whooping with the dress code. So now look at everybody.

Everybody give me my flowers for that. You know what I mean? You got all these personalities. Why would everybody dress the same? You got different basketball games. Why everybody look the same? You got different games. And people feel good about themselves.

I love it. I'm thinking about, you know, when it's time to go somewhere, it's time to go to a club or whatever, I ain't battling with the dudes at the club. You know what I mean? I can't wait to meet everybody downstairs. See what everybody got on. You know what I mean?

Like, I want to be, you know, I want to be smoother than my man. You know what I mean? Like, that make you feel good. You look good, you play good. Even on the court, I wanted to look like a superhero like Michael Jordan used to look. You know what I mean? Like, I wouldn't, I wouldn't change anything, man, in my life. All of these experiences, even with the book, man.

Like, I love, like, my girl always talk to me about, why do you let, like what I started talking about in the beginning. Why do you let that type of shit bother you? Come on to practice, press conference. No, just with my friends. How people, you know what I mean? And it's like, why? And I don't know.

You know what I mean? Like, I love the people that I love and it hurt when they show you who they really are. Of course. Because I'm thinking you're somebody else. You know what I mean? And she's like, you know, why do you stress? out over stuff like that and what I said you different you have a talent and you you're blessed to be able to brush that stuff off it's hard for me now my talent obviously is you know legendary

with who but I think another blessed blessing that I have is to be an open book to be someone I'm embarrassed about practice rent I'm embarrassed about uh not really embarrassed but it wasn't smart for me to, you know, because I remember, you know, people telling me, AI, you cannot take care everybody. And I used to let it go on one ear and write out the other, like, yo, you know what I mean? I'm going to be the exception to the rule. I'm going to take care of the people that I love. Like, that's just me, you know what I mean?

And I think that's why I hurt you so bad because your heart is in it. You love these people, you know? Yeah, yeah. Yeah, you're Superman, but you still have a heart, you know what I mean? And you like, but this is, but this is my, this is my gift. Like, this is my gift to, this book, this, this documentary, my experiences, the turbulent, the ups and downs, like, if one kid or one adult, whatever, read this book and they can take something for me. I have people come to me all the time, be like, yo, man, you inspired my life, man, I would have died if it was for you. I would have went to jail for the rest of my life.

You know what I mean? Like, you changed my life. You know, you inspire me, you know, your story. and this, that, and the third, like, and that motivate me, you know what I mean? Like, to give more, like, to, even when you're embarrassed, you're uncomfortable, you know, talk about it. Somebody might not have to go through it. Somebody might, you might, you might save somebody life. I agree.

You know what I mean? Like, talk about it. You know what I mean? You might not be, you know, man, you was on top of the world. You had all the money. You know what I mean? All you had to do. It's easy for a motherfucker to tell Chuck what to do with his.

Easy for somebody to say what. I would have did. Man, if I was him, I would have did. You ain't me, motherfucker. You know what I mean? You don't know. I'm sorry. You don't know.

Do your thing. You're not me. You know what I make mistakes. I'm human just like you. But that's why we love you. And I love how the whole book misunderstood is literally an explanation is the why the whole infamous practice press conference even happened. Yeah.

Because you was dealing with so much at the time. So it wasn't even about, you know, those people in the room. It's everything else that was going on. on our side. Man, best friend just got killed. You know what I mean? I'm like, I'm coming in there, but Charlotte, man, I'm coming in there like, I'm on cloud nine.

I'm like, yo, I get, you know, my kids dealing with this, like, they going to school every day and their classmates, tell your daddy don't leave, tell your daddy don't leave. You know, my wife going, you know, she out in the city. People tell your husband, please don't leave. We love them. So they're going through it. You know what I mean? My kids don't really understand.

understand daddy don't get traded don't leave like I don't have no control over it so when they called me in there it was like yo you ain't going nowhere so I'm like shit can we call a press conference you know what I mean yeah got all everybody in there I get to tell the world I ain't going nowhere this dude just keep on asking me about practice practice practice you know what I mean I'm like practice yeah you know what I'm saying I'm like this is not what we're here for this I mean let's rejoice let's be happy yeah you know what I mean But if you know what I know, you got beat writers that write every day. And then, you know, I was telling Stephen A on this show yesterday, like, they want exclusive.

You turn them down for exclusive the first chance they get. Kicking your back in. You're going to kick you back on. You know what I mean? And it was him. I'm sitting there looking at him. You know what I mean? Like, and if I was prepared, which I wasn't, if I was prepared, I'm like, yo, man, I was the MVP last season.

The best player in the whole world. you know what I mean coming from where I come from and if I didn't practice how would I be able to accomplish something like that I must be really good you know what I mean like but I wasn't prepared for it like that because I was so emotional and angry that

you know this is about being happy man that's what the misunderstood is about right one thing I would I would say about AI is if you ever see him out he's going to talk to you he's going to hug you like he's and it's funny when people say you from the

street or when he labeled you a thug, I'm like, when you see him out, he's the total opposite. He's going to hug you. He's going to ask you how your family is. Yeah. Right? When he used to have a look at it. He's going to kiss you on your forehead. Like, brother, I love you. Like, no, for real. I love you. And he goes, and he means it. And he means well for all this people. And that's the side, I don't think people see. I was saying something the other day. I was like, I was walking down the street in Virginia. And Shalima was like, you was walking out. I was like, I was walking down the street. And hey, I pulled up. Envy, what about the call? How's your family? Gave me a hug. What you're doing

the night. You got something to city? All right, I'm gonna come. Then text me later on. Yo, I'm sleeping. I ain't gonna bring it. I'm like Yeah. But that's him. Right. With everybody. And I'm like, that's the side that people are. The people, the people's I look at it like, I look at it like

I watch. I watch people and how they get down. I'm like, damn, I would never. You know what I mean? But T's on. You know, me being me is you know, the best thing in the world of me. Yes, I wanted to be like Mike growing up. I wanted to be like Mike. Yes, but I didn't want to be him.

You know what I mean? Like I love being me. Everybody else is taking up anyway. You know what I mean? Like I love I love who I am. I never disrespect my God by wanting to be something else. I never disrespect him. You know what I mean by wanting to be somebody else. I love I didn't win a championship but I'm the people's champ. I love you know people coming to me. Hey I what you're doing here? I'm in Walmart or I'm a target on the grocery store you know what you're doing here man I'm shopping like you you know what I mean where's your answer right where's your security man that part of my life is I just man I'm not I'm not a thug I'm not a gangster you know who hurt me for

what I mean what am I scared to just you know what I mean like what am I I always say you're the only player who didn't win a ring who feel like a champion To us, like, yeah, I got 10 rings. It's crazy that you say that because I'm blessed. Look at all of the other things that he's done for me. When I wake up every morning, when I say my prayer, because I don't do it at night, I do it in the morning. I fall asleep and forget watching Sanfying the son, you know what I mean, all night and I'm gone. But when I pray, I pray for my family.

I pray for my friends, you know what I mean, keep us healthy, keep us safe if, you know, we're sick, cure us. You know, I ain't never asking for no money. I never ask them for no opportunity. I never, just, I'll handle the rest. Just keep us safe, keep us healthy. And I'll go out, I'll come out, I'll go out there and open the door and say, what's up, world, what you got to, got the off, what's going on today? And then navigate through it and tackle it. You know what I mean?

Like, I'm blessed. You know what I mean? So a championship, you know what I mean? I'm top 75 all the time. You know how many players played this game, man? Millions and millions and millions. I was said that I was told that I wasn't even, I was too small.

I couldn't make it. You can't make it in this type of game. And, you know, and I'm a Hall of Fame. You know what I mean? All-Star scoring champion. You know what I mean? Like, I'm just not a champion. You know what I'm not?

I'm not, we came up short to a jugger night, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neill in their prime. You understand? Like, I'm cool with that. You know what I mean? Now I get an opportunity. I'm still here. I get the root for.

That's why I want certain people that haven't won a championship to win one. I want them to feel, you know, how I never got the opportunity to feel. So when people talk about who you want to win this year, I want to see the guys win that haven't done it before, you know what I mean? You would do things that nobody ever did. If you did the day, you would go so viral these days. You had your mother bringing your head at the games. That was at my mom.

That was her sister. Okay, so you're on. Everybody think it was mommy. Okay, all right, so that was your aunt. Why? It wasn't no time before. Y'all was rushing. No, no, listen.

Okay. First of all, you already know Jess, and I know you might have, you might not have joked about it, but you probably joked about it to your home girls, your home boys or whatever. Because I ain't never had, my head always been long up here. I ain't never had no hang time. I ain't never. Never. I mean, it's the truth.

Never, you know what I mean? And, you know, if you don't put rubber bands in my joint, then they would come out. So we were actually rushing. I used to get to the game so late, you know, because I used to leave so late with the traffic going to the game. I used to always get caught into it. And I used to always had to ride on the, what's the street? The side, yeah. So, I'm.

playing it was like first quarter and I felt you know it was coming out and my aunt was um in the stands I was like yo she came and just oh fix it up I mean it was simple as that back in the game okay it was simple as that that photo is like so loved and cherished now but when it happened at the time did you feel like people like loved and cherished the moment and how did you handle how people would come for your family because you are such a family person Damn, that's a good question. I don't want to say I didn't, I didn't care, but it was like, what you're going to do? Like, there's nothing you can, you can't, I'm not going to change, I couldn't change, I couldn't change what people think about me.

This book not going to change what people think. This documentary, motherfucker don't like you, they don't like you. They hate you, they hate you. They don't find something. reason, you know, they don't find some reason to not like you. That's what you deal with, and it's like, I had to learn that early, like, you know what mean? Like, for real, like, everybody's not going to love you, you know what I mean?

You just concentrate on the ones that do. You just appreciate the ones that love you, you know what I mean? I mean, they're going to say crazy shit, you know what I mean? I heard somebody say, Michael Jackson can't sing. you know what I mean I've heard it so when you ranking people and you know what I mean ranking where I stand and this

and and you know what I mean like you paying attention to with the comments and what people say and man listen you're gonna be hurt for a while like the comments even on Instagram like I pose a picture of my daughter up there and dude looking at the comments for whatever reason

you know what I mean like I need my ego stroke anymore, you know what I mean? Look, man, fuck that little ugly bitch. Lord, that man, I'm like, damn. I'm like, okay, I don't do the comments no more. You know what I mean? Get off of it, turn back on, same for the sun. Yeah, you know what I'm saying?

It's like people going, you know, that's what they do. Because a lot of times people, when we talked about that earlier, they wake up and they're mad at their own life. Yeah. And, you know, that's just, that's the world we live in. That's the reason I can't be a commentator. Commentator? Yeah.

Like, I'm not getting up there talking bad about nobody, man. You talk about that in the book. I just, I just, that's not something that, because if, just think about it, if you're an NBA basketball player and you never get in the game and everybody think you're a bum, put them in a game. How do you get there, first of all? Right. And then put them on the court.

You know what I mean, with anybody else. Put them in the YMCA. Put them on the court, on the college court. You know what I mean? High school or whatever. It looked like Michael Jordan out there. You know what I mean? And I just respect everybody that made it

because I know what I actually went through. You know what I mean? I went through a lot to get there. Like I end up being the first pick in the draft. And a couple years ago, I was getting released from jail. You know what I'm saying? So I don't know.

I just, I just, I just respect people that, that, that want to do something. They don't let nobody stop them. Yeah. I'm trying to do it. I seen also that, I seen an interview you gave up drinking six months ago. Yeah. What got you to that point where you said this is enough? It was, it was, I'll be lying if I would say just, just stopped the, brook.

You know what I mean? It was, it was situations, you know what I, you know, I, you know, where's my shit at? You know what I mean? Like, I know I put it here. You know what I mean? It's the same thing. We're having certain guys around you. Everybody, when they're your people,

your people know when you're drunk. You know, just chill, man. Just get him up. Two more glasses of dawn, man. Hey, yo, man, I fucked up right now, man. God damn, I need you. You know what I'm saying? Man, my this going on, that going on, man.

I need you. You waited until I get this in me. And Emmy just talked about it. When I get nice, man, will give you the shirt. Yeah, man. Man, man. Then I got my pocket, man.

Yo, I went to sleep last night, $25,000 on me. You know what I got $1,200? You couldn't wait to run through the liquor's called for you. Yo, what my sneakers? Man, you gave such and such, uh, your, uh, your, uh, your, uh, your, uh, your, uh, your, your, uh, your, uh, your, uh, your, uh, your, your, uh, your, your, uh, you, uh, you're, da-da-da-da, you know what I mean? Like, and they, and they, I mean, that's just, that's just, that. That's just small shit compared to the real, you know what I mean, not feeling well. You know what I mean?

I did all this, and I was having fun last night to wake up feeling like this. You know what I mean? Then my responsibilities, you know what I mean, you're missing flights and, you know what I mean? Just a plethora of things, man, you just drinking, you know what I'm saying? I started to evaluate it like, what good does it do for me? Yeah, yeah, yeah. You understand? Like, you, I mean, you can have fun with your own boys, your home girls.

You know what I mean? Without that? And I found out that that's something I, you know, got to get used to as well. You know what I mean? Because I don't like being around a bunch of drunk people, and I ain't. Like, we can't have a conversation. Like, I'm talking, I'm trying to get you to understand something, but I'm talking to somebody drunk.

You know what I mean? You ain't trying to hear nothing I'm talking about. we ain't we our conversation is not going to matter until some other time you know what I mean so if Brian called you right now and he said hey man Hennessy got this bag God damn by no bag

I don't I've been there and I don't had it and I don't experience having millions and losing like and I'm not talking about I'm I've always been a millionaire you know what I mean I'm going to make millions regardless but for me once I don't hit the pinnacle

you know 10 million a year is not enough for me. Yeah. You know what I mean? Like, it's, it's, it's not enough. Like, but at the same time, if I won the lottery, if I hit one of them joints that went up to a billion or something like that, the last thing I would want is for anybody to know. You know what I'm saying?

Like, man, that's the last thing. Like, man, you know what I mean? But, like, I wouldn't, I wouldn't sell my, and I talk to God about it. I asked them to help me be strong. I ain't go to no AA or nothing like that. Like I was like, okay, I'm not doing it. And that's what it was. And the crazy thing about it is I've been with her for 15, I remember, for 35 years.

And since I was 15. And this crazy part about it is she said, when I told her I was stopping, that after that she prayed on it. And she said that was the only time that she said, that was the only time. she ever prayed on it. Like, I've said it plenty of times in the past, and she said that was the only time that she prayed on it, and I was authentic with it. Was there ever a time in your life

where you truly felt like a kid? Because when I read your book, it feels like you never got the opportunity to be a child. Hell yeah. Hell yeah. I remember, like, you know, people talk all the time about how, man, how was it? How tough was it, you know, growing up poor?

You know what I mean? I'm like, it was the best. Right. You know what I mean? Like, you know what I mean? Because everybody around me was. It won't like everybody, you know, it was only until I got to high school. And I'm wearing, like, I had two, what, three pair pants.

And one of them was my sisters. You know what I mean? You know, it was bad. And I'm looking at it's called Farmerton, you know, where I'm from. You know what I mean? And you see the kids on Farmerton. They come in there dressed like they got the polo and the gas on. And, you know what I mean?

I'm like, damn, Jopold. And dudes, that was competition for real. You know what I mean? They come up with the act legends and, you know what I mean? Like, it was, it was tough. But, you know, before then, it was like, man, you know what I'm saying? Like, all I wanted, all I wanted growing up was a pair of Jordan. That's it.

I ain't give a damn, I go to school, I have a goddamn pamph on, long as I got to Jordan. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. It was, it was, it was nothing to me. I was a kid, man. I mean, I was a kid. I didn't, I had a childhood, man. I don't have no excuses on anything that's happened in my life.

I don't have no one to blame. I don't have, I don't, man, I don't, when things don't go right, you know what I mean? When, when you ask somebody to do something for you, you know what I mean? And they don't do it. How mad can you get with them? but I'm not doing it. Do it yourself. You know what I mean?

Or don't put that on them. You know what I'm saying? Like, I just, I just, I concentrate so much. Like, we, just, you just heard me go on about the salmon and something. Like, and my, my girls say, like, how do you watch this every day? You know what I'm saying? How do you watch good times every day? Like, I love, now I love my gangster shit.

Like, I love, you know, all of that. You know what I mean? But I just like this. And back in the day shows. Yeah. I like the last. It's like a kid again. Yeah.

Like a kid again. And I, oh, it ain't that bad. You ain't, you know, obviously dead. That's one thing. But you ain't in jail, man. Yeah. You ain't blind. You ain't deaf.

You know what I mean? You got all your limbs. Like, what you're complaining about? You know, that's the one thing I try to control in my life just complaining about shit all the time. You know what I mean? Like, I mean, and it don't, and it don't do no good. I mean, for you to do it. There's not one.

excuse in that book. Making none. All it is is accountability throughout the whole book. I ain't making none, man. And then, because that's the easy way for somebody to look up to Alan Arverson to have a cop-out.

You know what I mean? Easy way. You know what I mean? Complaining about something. Man, do it. And I hate when people think that, like, that it's arrogant and that's, I've always been

confident. I mean, I've never been arrogant. I've never been cocky. I'm just confident. You know what I mean? And the one thing about, like, just people just, it bothered me that you don't think that this is your world. This is your world. You're not being arrogant.

You're not being selfish thinking, you know what I mean, like you're the only one that matter in the world. You know what I mean? But it's yours. This is your life. Everything happens, you know, you the one. You ain't going nowhere. You might see everybody go before you. You know what I mean?

It's going to hurt when people go or whatever, but this is the one shot that you got, you know what I mean, to be happy. I'm investigative journalist Melissa Jeltson. My new podcast, What Happened in Nashville, tells the story of an IVF clinic's catastrophic collapse and the patients who banded together in the chaos that followed. We have some breaking news to tell you about. Tennessee's Attorney General is suing a Nashville doctor.

In April 2024, a fertility clinic in Nashville shut down. overnight and trapped behind locked doors were more than a thousand frozen embryos. I was terrified. Out of all of our journey, that was the worst moment ever. At that point, it didn't occur to me what fight was going to come to follow. But this story isn't just about a few families' futures. It's about whether the promise of modern fertility care can be trusted at all. It doesn't matter how much I fight. Doesn't matter how much I cry over all of this. It doesn't matter how much justice we get. None of it's going to get me pregnant. Listen to what happened in Nashville

on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Stefan Curry, and this is Gentleman's Cut. I think what makes Gentleman's Cut different is me being a part of developing the profile of this beautiful finished product. With every sip, you get a little something different. Visit Gentleman's Cut Bourbon.com or your nearest Total Wines or Bevmo. This message is intended for audiences 21 and older. Gentleman's Cut Bourbon, Boone County, Kentucky. For more on Gentleman's Cut Bourbon, please visit gentlemen's cuthuburn.com.

Please enjoy responsibly. Hey, y'all, it's me, your man, M.G. Marcus Grant. And I'm Michael F. Liorio. And I'm Laquan Jones. If you're looking to win your fantasy football league, you need to tune in to the NFL fantasy football podcast. It's right there in the name. Every week, Florio, LQ, and I bring you the latest news from around the league.

We break down every matchup. give you our analysis and advice, so you know who to start, sit, drop, and trade to bring that championship trophy home. I just want to remind everyone how good Rishie Rice was last season and these three healthy games. He was the wide receiver 2 in fantasy.

I think Rishie Rice just goes off this week. The Chiefs come on a flip pass to Rice. This side, touchdown! Remandre Stevens is my sleeper this week. This is a matchup where I think I can slide in Stevenson into my flex position and he could deliver double-digit points this week. Drake takes the snap, hands it off,

Monterey running it right and running into the end zone. Touchdown. It's never too late to turn your fantasy season around. Subscribe to the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The moments that shape us often begin with a simple question. What do I want my life to look like now? I'm Dr. Joy Harden Bradford. And on therapy for Black Girls, we create space for honest conversations about identity, relationships, mental health, the choices that help us grow. As cybersecurity expert, Camille Stewart Gloucester reminds us, we are in a divisive time where our comments are weaponized against us.

And so what we find is a lot of black women are standing up and speaking out because they feel the brunt of the pain. Each week, we explore the tools and insights that help you move with purpose. Whether you're navigating something new or returning to yourself. If you're ready for thoughtful guidance and grounded support, this is the place for you. Listen to Therapy for Black Girls on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

Hi, Dr. Lori Santos from the Happiness Lab here. It's the season of giving, which is why my podcast is partnering with Give Directly, a nonprofit that provides people in extreme poverty with the cash they need. This year, we're taking part in the Pods Fight Poverty campaign. And it's not just the Happiness Lab. Some of my favorite podcasters are also taking part.

Think Jay Shetty from On Purpose, Dan Harris from 10% Happier, and Dave Desteno from How God Works and more. Our goal this year is to raise $1 million, which will help over 700 families in Rwanda living in extreme poverty. Here's how it works. You donate to give directly, and they put that cash directly into the hands of families in need, because those families know best what they need, whether it's buying livestock to fertilize their farm, paying school fees, or starting a small business. With that support, families can invest in their future and build lasting change. So join me and your favorite podcasters in the Pods Fight Poverty campaign. Head to give directly.org slash happiness lab to learn

more and make a contribution. And if you're a first-time donor, giving multiplier will even match your gift. That's give directly.org slash happiness lab to donate. To make these decisions and live with them, you know what I mean? You concentrate on making mistakes and hopefully you don't make the same mistake twice and live your life man it's you got one shot at this man ain't nothing wrong with being you man that's right ain't nothing wrong with it man you can't be everybody else you can't you know what I mean you can't worry about worry about what you can control man you know what I mean like I want some money I want to be the richest man in the world I want all the money yeah you know what I mean yes you know how you missed that on some

money? Not registering. Not registering AI as a domain. How much time we got? If you don't register AI as a domain as a domain? I got the real AI, but register the sleeve. You know what I mean? Like, like, if I get that copy written, like the sleeve, man, everybody with, man, people playing golf wearing the sleeve. Man, I seen R. Kelly had a sleeve on. I said, what did Al Kelly fell off the stage and something. You know what I mean? The man got a sleeve on in the video. Yo.

So, yo, man, like, dude, like, the sleeve is, man, it's part of people, like, it's a swag. Yeah. I'm wearing it, like, the whole reason, I'm wearing it because I'm hurt.

You know what I mean? Like, it's a, it was a lot of opportunities that were there that I passed up on. But, like, I don't look at it like that. I think now,

what? Like, now, where you're going at? Now, what you're going to do? That's right. You know what I mean? Like, every time God, open my eyes, I'm just, you know, I'm just trying to think positive, but life be liven. Like, you know, you get a phone call, you know, hey, man, like, like, yo, I need you to do this. Bro, you asking me for this. You know what I mean? Thousands of dollars. Christmas is a couple days away. Like, why you ain't asking me this? You know what I'm asking you? I, you know, can you do that? All right, I'm going to do it for you. You know what? I mean, you didn't say homie name at this point.

I ain't saying it. I've been there. He know who he is. And all the people that I'm talking about, they ain't, certain people are not going to get upset because they know I'm not talking about it. You know what I mean? But, you know, like, dude, you know, I say,

yo, I'm going to do it. I take care of that. You know what I mean? You're my man. I take care of that. You know what I mean? I said, but I'm going to do it with my card. Put it on my car.

So send me the information. Niggas don't like that. I'm going to do it on my card. Oh, no, no. No, no, you got, I need cash, man. I need cash. What difference do it, Megan's going to be taken care of? Biggs can't be choosing.

You know what? It's going to take care. Difference is a lot. And then I got called a clown and, you know what? Yeah, crazy. Like, I'm talking about I've been, and I've been, this dude was my homeboy since I was like 30. I mean, like, it's been 30, 38 years, man, I've been homeboy. You went above and beyond, my brother.

That's right. Has anybody ever tried to, like, come to you and say, Look, Chuck, look, my bad, I was tripping. Like, back then, I kept axing and accident and accident, and you were doing it, and I just took advantage for you. Has anybody ever come to you to take accountability, one person? You are incredible. Because it just happened.

It just happened. And my man was telling me that the same thing you just said, he told my man that, and my man told me. And it was like, went on deaf ears. I was like, man, yes, I heard him say that before, and he kept doing it. You know what I mean? Like you keep doing it. You know what I mean?

Like the hardest part, like the hardest part, like the hardest part is when is a homeboy, a home girl, and you want to cut them off because of how they treat you. Not because of how you treat them. You know, they think you're treating them bad because you implemented that word no in your vocabulary. But the hardest thing is when it's somebody that you love, the hard. The hardest thing is questioning yourself. Like, damn, am I wrong for this? Am I going too far? You know what I mean?

Like, you always try to look at yourself and feel like if you could have did something wrong. I mean, I'm sorry, if you could have did something right. You know what I mean? Nothing wrong boundaries, my brother. Yeah. Nothing wrong boundaries. I got a question for you.

You talked about all your wife, Tijuana, praying over you decided not to drink anymore. As a husband, what have you discovered? right now. I'm a boyfriend. Y'all married for life, man, y'all married from life. I mean, I'm a boyfriend.

I didn't understand that in the book of you. I mean, we got divorced. You said you married divorced and y'all got right back together, like six months later or something you did it? I mean, I don't, I want to, I want this point to be made because you think I'm who I am and I was out of control. I was out of control.

and this threat was there for years for years and years and years and years and years and years and it's like the boy cried wolf like whatever I've heard that before you know what I mean and then it was like she got to the point and was like yo I got to show this motherfucker I got to do something to show him I'm serious

and that's what happened you're in that courtroom and you're looking over there and you see number one right there and you're looking down at that paper and them tears hitting that paper and they don't say, you know, I've been Georgetown versus Georgetown

and it's been a scrimmage or Sixers versus Sixers and you're looking at the stat sheet, whatever. I'm looking at Iverson versus Iverson. You know what I mean? And like, yo, shit is real. You know what I mean? Like, and um...

Did you wear a suit? Oh, my love. Oh, my God. And look, I really was defining. then you know what I mean like you got me in here you know what I mean like and I had a judge the judge was was vicious like I couldn't do nothing right even in that moment you were defiant yeah I'm sorry I'm so sorry no you it's your interview I was just going to say even in that moment you were defiant and I guess upset even though you knew because you said you knew you were out of

control but so like in that moment where why are you defining upset if she's just doing what she thinks is going to help I guess to get you to a better spot for her I was selfishly thinking about my demise because I know

in my heart and in my mind that I can't live with art you know what I'm saying like I know it like I know it I took

I took her love for me for granted you know what I mean like as far as she loving me so much that I felt like you know that she would never go nowhere. Like, this is all I've known.

This is the only love that I've ever known as far as, like I've never loved someone like this in my life. You know what I mean? And then a lot of times, you know, all women would say, or even guys, you know, anybody that's, you know, logical about anything. How you love her so much and you do the things.

Yeah. And I don't have an answer. We never do, though. As men, we never do. We don't know why we do the dumb shit we do. So how has not drinking, and, you know, it seems like your, you know, your focus is different in this time of your life? How has that made you guys rediscover each other in a relationship? Oh, yeah.

I'm, um, I'm, um, I'm, uh, I'm Claire, Huxstab. I'm in Cliff. She's Claire. I'm Cliff Huxable now. Like, I'm, I'm, I'm, I kind of get a feeling like I'm the guy, like I always felt like, you know, I was the guy she always wanted, you know what I mean, wanted to be, you know, wanted to be, you know, wanted me to be, but I really feel like that guy now, like I feel like it's not the Huxbulls around there, obviously. But like she loved, you know, this me, you know,

because you're always getting this me. It's hard to take advantage of somebody that can see shit clear as hell, you know what I mean, opposed to being nonchalant about everything. You know what I mean? Like, you know, my homeboy says, different Chuck now. You know what I mean? I see.

I see what's going on. You know what I mean? All the stuff that I used to, you know, not pay attention to. I'm paying attention to it now. You know what I mean? And I just think, you know, by me making this decision is so much better for not just myself, everybody around me. I can help better.

My advice is better. You know what I mean? Like, I'm a better friend now. I'm a better family member. You know, this shit is clear, you know what I'm saying? Like, I promise you I'm the smartest man in the world because I know I'm not. You know what I mean? I know I know I'm not.

Like, but I know how if it's a certain field of, you know, how we need some help and, you know what I mean? Opposed to just just doing it all way and thinking we know, no, man, we got to go to this person. We got to go to that person. We got to do it this way. We got to do it that way. You know what I mean? Put your ego aside, man. We're trying to get it done.

We need to get it done. We're going to get it done right. And it's just an evolution of me. It took long. You know what I mean? But I just think about it like, yo, you're embarrassed. You know, first it was embarrassing to, you know, talk about this. That's seen the shit went viral yesterday.

And you're embarrassed, you know, with the whole thing. But it's like, damn, bro, that's another thing that, you know, by you being you and being comfortable in your own skin, it's going to help. somebody else somebody might make that decision you're right somebody trying to be sober right now you know what I'm saying yeah was that was ever a time because I didn't get it from the book where anybody recommended therapy to you because it was clear you was yeah my girl okay okay like you need some help you know what I mean you don't remember what we was I come in a hey get up that shit you said last month you know what I mean

like damn just starting shit you know what I mean like and then she used to be like you ran you run around with all these dudes all day long and y'all drinking and have a ball and you come in here fucking with me I'm talking about where your piece is at

man you know what I mean because you go out but women know you leave that house man we're tackling the world yeah like you hey it's going down it's hard for me

like I said to go to the grocery store yeah to go to Target Walmart I got to be out of and Ivers and every day I walk at the house and one thing about it everybody

everybody out there if you think about it Somebody going to see you and feel like this is the last opportunity that I'm ever going to get to see him. And this is my moment. That's right. You know what I mean? When they see, oh, shit. It's like, and then you're somewhere and you're paying for something.

And then you finish and you turn around and you see so many people. You see cameras and you see, and they do the shit, shoddle of me. Like, like, getting ready to jump rope. You see everybody like, I'm saying. Everybody, everybody's time. You know what I mean? And it's like, it's like, bro, you want to be, you want to, like, you want to, it's so much you go out. When you come in a crib, man, it's supposed to be, you know what I'm saying?

Like, fall on, you know, on the couch and, and you'd have made it through the storm. You know what I mean? Because, like, my fans, like, they got real love, man, you know what I mean? But some of them, when you can distinguish a fan, a true fan, and just somebody that, you know, give a damn about how nice you was on the court. Because a true fan give a fuck about you. You know what I mean? Like, you feed them, I'm feeding my daughter.

You know what I mean? I'm in a restaurant and stick a piece of paper and a pen. Sign this right here, AI. You know what I mean? Hold on, baby. Let me, and I, you know, I love women. You know what I mean? The death.

I love all my fans. But women fans, they don't like taking note. Yeah. You know what I mean? Do tell you no all the time. But me, somebody you don't know, tell you know you go crazy. In a minute, I'm going to feed my daughter right now. Well, fuck you then, A.I.

Kobe Bryant better than you anyway. Yeah, damn. I'm going to burn these shoes. I bought your shoes. I bought your jersey. I'm like, I ain't say no. I just said, let me finish feeding my daughter. You know what I mean?

Like, it's, and it's just, it's crazy. I remember I was at Dave and Buses with the kids. I'm on the phone talking to my mom. And a lady walked up to me and she was like, hey, let me talk to you. I said, hold on. Man, I'm talking to my mom on the phone right now. What, your mom more important than your fans?

Yes. And I was like, yo. Jesus Christ. What? What kind of clicking than that? I was like, yo, let me just get away from you. You know what I mean? But that's like, you know, all in the nutshell, man.

Being a celebrity, man, you say that, because people think about the money and the fame and the talent or whatever. Man, you say you want this life and whatever. Man, you really. Man, a lot of people, if they're. with me would have been I jumped off a building and put a pistol to their head and blew it off by now. That's the crazy thing. Lord John said that same thing when we had him. He said

you got to be built, you got to have tough skin. This is not an easy industry to be in. But your influence was crazy because I'm telling you, them, them. I was getting them and I was getting bitches and I wasn't even gay. In middle school, I would come get my hair braided and that's good. You told me your hand on hang time. I didn't either, but the bitches ain't

no, because I had the aphistence. Right. Yeah. So, I just want to tell you. You had time in Philly, right? I mean, influence and impact and everything you did, but Philly embraced you so much. And the person you aren't meeting you, I get it now, but you know, Philly don't embrace everybody. What was your time like there just in, like,

what were you doing, I guess, to lean into that? Or like, I don't know, like, did you feel the, okay, they love me here? Like, when you walk out onto the streets and... Not at first. Because people, you know, Philly is tough. They're tough. And they call it, it's brotherly love. That's crazy about it.

My relationship, not in the beginning, but I think I have, I would say Michael Jordan in Chicago, Steph in Florida State. Who else? No, they said the Bay Area. Now probably Shea in Oklahoma City. I think I have the best relationship with a fan base, I think, in sports history. You know what I mean Like magic to LA That's crazy

And Kobe L.A. Yeah Kobe L.A. You know what I mean? They watched me grow up I was 21 years old when I got there They watched me You know, go through my ups and downs

But I played every game Like it was my last And if you know Philadelphia That's all they really want Like I could I was telling Steve yesterday Like I could be out there I can go O for Winfrey

from the field you know what I mean but they knew that AI played hard as he could you know what I mean I could look in the mirror after the game every game I played

hurt, sick, whatever and look at the mirror and I never felt bad you know I felt good I'm upset about not playing well but I knew that I played that game like it was my last

people in Philadelphia love that and all relationship has been that you know what I mean since I've been retired with 15 years now and the relationship

is still the same You walk in the building, it's the same feeling. And then the people in Philadelphia are used to me outside of being in that arena. I've heard stories about you go to the barbershops and... Everywhere. Applebee's or T.G.I. Club Fridays. Club Fridays.

Well, I was a little younger, so I came a little bit after you weren't there. You weren't in Fridays when I was there. But, yeah, Club Fridays was a thing. It became the third largest Fridays in the country. You know what I mean? Like, it was really a club. You know what I mean? lines, they start checking ideas, you had to get, you had to have reservations and, you know what

I mean? Like, it was, it was crazy, you know what I mean? In Philly, I love Philadelphia. I mean, I love it, you know what I mean? But it's just, just like Virginia, I can't never, like, live there. You know what I mean? Like, when I retired, I went to Florida, like, trying to get away from everything. Then it's just me, her, and the kids, and no family, no friends, like, No, you know what I mean? So I moved to Charlotte and it's close to Virginia, but, you know, I can never go live there again. Yeah.

People are worried me to damn death. You know what I mean? Like, but close, my mom could drive or hour flight. Right. They're saying you got a rap, but I do got one last question, man. You changed the entire culture of basketball, but to me you changed black culture. You also change hip-hop culture from your fashion

to your attitude to just your authenticity. When you see how the NBA and the world, world embraces individuality now. Do you feel celebrated or do you still feel misunderstood? No, it's, um, I get the opportunity. Like, this is an opportunity for me, you know what I mean? Like, all of those years, you, um, you wanted to, you know, you wanted to, you know, you wanted to, ah, man, you got me wrong, you know what I mean, and talk about it to your family

and your friends, man, I'm misunderstood. They don't, they ain't getting it. You know what I mean? It ain't like that. And then this platform and then all the other big platforms, you know, just you guys give me an opportunity to come up here and ask me shit that I want to answer that, that I want the world to know. You know what I mean?

I want them to know it. It ain't like that. It's like this. You know what I mean? And then you're hearing it from someone else. You know what I mean? Someone else telling who Alan Iverson is, then just to have the opportunity to do it. And the excitement about it is the long wait.

Because now I finally get a chance to, man, you was wrong. You had me fucked up. Like, that ain't what it is. You know what I mean? And going through your career, you can't explain to everybody, every situation. It don't, you know what I mean? And this book took years. You know what I mean?

The documentary took years to do. And, man, I just, I'm just happy that I get an opportunity to tell my story write my story and help and help somebody you know what I mean just like um you know Michael Jordan did for me you know what I mean like he if it wasn't for no Michael Jordan it would not be the Allen Iverson that everybody in the world know like I literally like he gave me the vision man like I want to be like him you know what I mean that's who I want to be him and Michael Jackson I want all the dudes to love me you know what I mean

I want all the girls and love you know what I mean I want to put that in one you know what I'm saying and I want to be you know not just a basketball player but just big all the way

and I didn't I didn't get this vision until until I started to take care of what I had to do on the basketball court and then becoming a cultural icon you know what I mean

okay all these rappers all these people in the world that want to just express themselves the way they want to express themselves. Now they get an opportunity. Man, he can do it. Man, ain't nothing wrong with what I'm doing. Regardless how I look.

Regardless how I look. Everybody talk about that runway walking into the game. I'm watching it. You know what I mean? I don't like everything up there, but I just love their confidence of walking in there. Like, yeah, I'm doing it today. You know what I mean?

And like just my story, all I want is for people to get. get out of it, man, it's all right to be you. It's all right. That's right. You know what I mean? And it's things that's going to happen in your life, and it's going to be tough. You know what I mean? But that's when you're going to lean on, number one, you're going to lean on him. You're going to lean on God.

They don't ask them any, you don't question him at all. You know what I mean? Whatever happened happened. My grandma told me when I went to jail, that bowling alley thing, I said, I said, nah, why are they doing this? me if they know I didn't do what they said I did. Don't question God. Never questioned God.

And I've never done it since then. You know what I mean? Whatever he do, you know what I mean? I'm cool with it. You know what I mean? He driving his car and I'm just sitting there, ride shotgun, wherever he take me. That's where I'm going and I'm going

and I'm going to live with the results. So that's the only thing I want. I just think, man, live and laugh. Love, man. We love you, brother. We love you, yeah. It's like this is available everywhere now. understand it's out right now.

It's the breakfast club. I just walk out. I got to go. I'm going to have overcome. Oh, okay. You're asking this shit. It's Alan Adison. It's the breakfast club.

Good morning. Hold on. Every day I wake up. Wake your ass up. The breakfast club. You're all finished or y'all done? I'm investigative journalist, Melissa Jeltson. My new podcast, what happened in Nashville, tells

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the mindset that changed the game. I fell in love with the grind. You have to find joy in the work you do when no one else is around. Success is not an accident. I'm passing the ball to you. Let's go. Steph Curry redefined basketball. now he's rewriting what it means to succeed shot ready isn't just a memoir it's a playbook for

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Listen to the unwanted sorority, new episodes every Thursday, on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast, guaranteed human.