[As we enter a new decade, we welcome the new challenges, trends, ideas, and stories that will shape the future of Sport, and we put to rest those which are no longer needed. These are a few of those topics]

Retiring—for practice

          The Allen Iverson retirement saga brings up a topic of great sports importance. Retiring (…deep sigh…) is a subject that should not be taken lightly. Dick Vermeil cried his little eyes out when he decided to step away from the game. Nowadays, “retirement” is something NFL Coaches do to measure how much we miss them. It’s as if the people staying in the game, are less fortunate than the ones stepping out. Momentarily.

          Michael Jordan started it, Brett Favre perfected it, Stephen “A.I.” Smith is dedicated to it.

          Sources close to Fox Sports are now reporting that the 76ers are interested in signing Iverson, in order to fill the void left by injured guard Lou Williams. Although the team has not discussed the pros and cons of bringing Iverson back to the team, they have thought about the financial benefits. More tickets, renewed rivalries, $1 used Iverson jerseys from the Good Will store.

          It seems as though Stephené has found strong interest in bringing Iverson back to the NBA, almost acting as his personal media representation. Smith needs an identity just as much as Iverson.

          I was reading, and then, I did it. I had to. (Shivers).

          w-w-w-(ugh)-dot-s-t-e-p-h-e-n-a-dot-com

          Check out the website for personal up-to-date information on why Iverson is the guy for Philly. He broke the story about former mentor Larry Brown encouraging Iverson to stay. Speaking to great lengths with 76ers head coach Eddie Jordan, Stephené indulges that coach is “incredibly frustrated with everything from Elton Brand’s work ethic to Andre Iguodala’s inability to make plays off the dribble." 

          “But let’s face it: We’re very, very boring right now,” a team source said. “We have absolutely nothing to lose by bringing Iverson back. Nothing at all.”

          Maybe Stephen A got the memo that we were leaving him in the 2000s? He doesn’t have anything to lose either. Being “bored” doesn’t excuse a player from changing their mind, nor creating media havoc. 

          And Brett Favre—we’ve heard enough out of you. 

NO MORE: “It’s just Player X being Player X” – where X represents the adored, self-absorbed, idyllic sports goddess, as it pertains to its individual sport.

          Albert Einstein once had this formula for success, and that’s XYZ = Success, Where X is work, Y is play, and Z is keeping your mouth shut.

          What’s a baseball player without a signature? Who is responsible for Manny Ramirez’ ego without “Manny being Manny?” When American Idol star Adam Lambert performs at the AMAs, and suddenly thrusts an XO on your B flat, where’s the scapegoat? Lambert, being the artist that he is, won’t apologize to the media for his explicit dancing. “I’m not here to babysit,” he says “I’m a performer.”

          Celebs should always watch their behavior, and people can do some pretty stupid stuff. But in the sports world, there’s only one person who’s conduct malfunctions on par with “the inexcusable”—and that person is Manny Ramirez.

          When Manny wants to pee in the wall, Manny can do that! When Adam wants to spontaneously leak on his keyboardist, he can do so behind closed doors. Manny is different, and self-comparable. Let’s leave it as such.

Before it makes it out: The Curse of Nomar Garciaparra

          I read Bob Ryan’s piece in the Globe today which got me thinking about where the Red Sox stand in their infield. He tossed around the names of old, Cabrera, Renteria – and talked about guys like Jed Lowrie (terrible left-handed hitter), Omar Vizquel, Khalil “Sunshine” Greene. Ever since the “fated Nomar Garciaparra trade” that brought in Doug “Gollum-Sticky-Hands” Mientkiewicz, Dave Roberts, and a World Series trophy, the Sox infield has inherited some other kind of curse. And we don’t know what it is.

          Interestingly enough, at the end of the article, Ryan mentioned an ace-in-the-hole, 19-year old Jose Iglesias, highly regarded as “the next best thing” able to turn a 4-6-3 DP with ease. However, when Iglesias takes 3 years to develop, where does that leave us now? Another welcome back whoo-rah and a “thanks for the memories” ass-slap to every shortstop we dispose of? What have you done for me lately, Nomar? What have you done for me lately!? I need the anti-dote, quick! I’m falling ill and it’s not going away anytime soon.

          But the Cubbies? They can stay right where they are.