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Ahead of my time CNNSI.com's Hickman: I told you Allen was the MVP
Updated: Tuesday May 15, 2001 5:08 PM
By Fred Hickman, CNNSI.com Last year, right about this time, I was feeling normal, looking ahead to the NBA Finals, watching the games with my normal zest. Then, one Tuesday morning, the gates of hell flew open and I found myself going head-to-head with fire-breathing basketball demons. Why? I had committed the unforgivable sin of voting for Allen Iverson to be the league's most valuable player. (GASP!) It seems every other member of the media voting felt Shaquille O'Neal should win and I didn't. I was drawn, quartered, tarred, feathered and hammered by every Tom, Dick and Harry who could get his hands on a mike or a keyboard. Not that I knew mine was the only non-Shaq vote ... and, not that I would have voted any differently had I known. Point is ... it's a new season. There's no doubt in my mind that Iverson should win again. And, the silence from those who this time are forced to agree, is deafening. Well, I've decided that since we don't seem to like independent thinkers in this country anymore, and the one-man, one-vote thing doesn't seem to matter. I'm starting my own NBA MVP awards this year.
First Prize: my sincere thanks for a great season. Fourth Runner-up: Chris Webber of the Sacramento Kings. C-Webb has had a terrific season, leading his team with 27 points and 11 boards per game. Much maligned for considering his options during the final year of his deal, but breaking his chops nightly to lead this team into the playoffs. Third Runner-up: Ray Allen of the Milwaukee Bucks. Languishing in the relative obscurity that is Wisconsin, 22 points per game to co-lead the club, but an 88-percent free-throw shooter ... not bad for a perimeter guy. Glenn Robinson also got some consideration, but certainly one player from this true "team" had to be represented. Second Runner-up: Shaquille O'Neal of the Los Angeles Lakers. Forget the numbers, except for the improved free-throw shooting. Shaq pretty much carried the club through the Shaq-Kobe spat and to an outstanding run to close the season. First Runner-up: David Robinson of the Spurs. No, he's not Tim Duncan numbers-wise, but he has done a remarkable job as the veteran leader on this team, infusing guys like Anderson in the flow. This was a tough call, though. Tim Duncan is outstanding and deserves consideration. But, this team doesn't stay in the game this long without the steadying command of The Admiral. And the MVP of this campaign: Allen Iverson of the Sixers. Reasons: See my reasons from last season, they haven't changed. Fred Hickman is the co-anchor of Sports Tonight on CNN/Sports Illustrated.
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