Iverson says loss of his friend puts life into perspective In a time without basketball, Allen Iverson has had time to consider the future. That is probably the best thing he can take from these past several weeks, which have not been easy for him, physically or emotionally. Iverson, the 76ers' star and the NBA's most valuable player, had elbow surgery Sept. 25, two weeks before training camp. And last week he attended the funeral of his close friend, Rashan R. Langeford, 29, one of the groomsmen from his August wedding. Langeford was shot and killed earlier this month in Newport News, Va. "It's been rough," said Iverson, who shot the basketball during a light workout yesterday.  "I couldn't play basketball, so from the time I was awake I thought about him. When I was asleep, I was dreaming about him. It was a rough 24 hours, every day for me. I knew him 11 years. Eleven good years. To lose him, it was tough. "It helped me put my life in perspective. A lot of things I never paid attention to, I pay attention to them now. He was 29 years old. I'm thinking that if I left at 29 or 26 would it be right? Would my family be right? Would my kids be straight? They're just helping me plan the rest of my life out a little better. "I just look at it as a blessing, too, because I might not have gotten the message, if this never happened to Rashan. I'm just trying to make something positive from it." And now he is trying to return to the court. Iverson, who averaged a league-high 31.1 points last season, is sorely needed on a team that also is without Aaron McKie and Eric Snow. Iverson said yesterday was his first opportunity to shoot. "Just getting back on the court, I feel like a kid in a candy store," he said. He said he wants to play in Tuesday's season opener at Minnesota, but is not sure that will happen. In fact, it seems unlikely. "My heart is ready, but I don't know if my elbow is," Iverson said. "Like I said, today was like the first day I got to shoot. We play Tuesday, so I don't know. I doubt it. But I really don't know." In the past, Iverson has played through numerous injuries, winning over fans and earning the respect of players around the league. This time, he said, he will be more careful with his comeback. He had the surgery to remove bone spurs, which bothered him for much of last season. He said to return too soon and re-injure himself would defeat the purpose of having the surgery. And the Sixers certainly don't want him on the bench for an extended period of time. "I'm not going to get on the court unless I can do the things that I'm used to doing," Iverson said. "If I can't do those things, then I won't get out there. Hopefully, by having the surgery I won't have to worry about this injury for the rest of my career. I'm not going to jeopardize that by coming back too soon. "I'm not going to say when I step back out there I'm not going to have any pain at all. I might, but if it's pain to where I can hurt it again and worsen it, then I won't go out there." Sixers coach Larry Brown remains hopeful that Iverson, along with McKie, who had shoulder surgery the same day as Iverson's elbow surgery, will return soon. Brown said Iverson cannot straighten his arm, and is not shooting the way he can. "I think they're close," he said. "I don't think they'll play Tuesday. Aaron hasn't been in any real contact. Allen hasn't been in any. I don't think it will take them a long time to get in shape, but it's whether they physically can handle the pain."		Author Todd Zolecki   Source Inquirer   Return to Articles