If we're not hearing about the maiming-by-mob arrest years ago that put Iverson in jail for four months, then we're hearing about his friends, who in turn remind us of the arrest, of the incarceration, and of every irresponsible thing he has done. Every incident leads to examinations of his past, and talk about what he should be doing in the present and how he'll pay dearly in the future if he doesn't follow the path of righteousness.

Enough already.

Some woman reportedly rams a few cars, nearly hits a couple of people, and gets her car smashed. This becomes news because one of Iverson's buddies may have been involved in the incident.

As a result, we all have to be inundated with unsolicited opinions about what this 23-year-old - who wasn't involved, by the way - needs to do with his $70.9 million contract and the rest of his life.

And what about the black mark attached to the 76ers, those same folks who reached out to you the last two seasons, giving you a playoff team and a bunch of Beanie Babies to boot?

"We can't comment on the situation because we don't know anything," Sixers president Pat Croce said.

Glad to know there is one intelligent voice in the crowd.

Before any misperceptions develop, let's make this clear: If Iverson's buddies were involved, something needs to be done.

How many incidents will it take? Three? Four? Five? Another marijuana charge? Another concealed-weapons charge? What, exactly?

After all the bad publicity Iverson received after the August 1997 traffic incident and last summer's arrest of two of his friends who were in one of his cars, Iverson was determined to clean his house. He told them, "Enough! Every time you guys get in trouble, that's my name that's out there." And they said OK. You didn't see any of them acting rowdy at the First Union Center. You didn't hear about any off-court incidents last season. Conscience had prevailed.

Assuming that was the case, what happened Friday morning? If - and I do mean if - the allegations are true and Iverson's friends were involved, then why? Was last year's behavior the order of the day because Iverson was in a contract year, looking to get his $70 million? Now that he has it, what are his friends thinking? That they can all get buck-wild again?

And what if they weren't involved? Is it fair to keep throwing Iverson's name out there every time someone with braids on his head and gold chains around his neck is within 100 yards of him? When does it end?

In this city, probably never. Controversy sells, and this city loves it, which is all right.

What isn't all right is how easily controversy develops and how easily people get subjected to mere conjecture.