What Up. It's the Crossover Pod Friday Edition. I'm Howard Beck, senior writer for Sports Illustrated. Fantastic show for you today, not one but two Hall of famers, Karl Malone, one of the greatest power forwards in basketball history, and Alan Iverson, who is simply one of the most electric players and personalities of all time. Both of them kind enough to spend a little time with me while attending All Star festivities last weekend in Salt Lake City. Malone was making his first NBA related appearance of really any kind in nearly two decades. Karl heads kind of distanced himself from the game, from former teammates, from pretty much everyone for quite a while, but with the game in Utah, where he spent the bulk of his career, Karl decided it was time to reconnect and it was a really emotional homecoming for him on a lot of levels. As you'll hear in our chat, Iverson has been more visible than Malone in recent years, but he too is making sort of a renewed effort to stay connected to the game and the league. Both of them I thought were just really candid, very heartfelt during our conversations. The interviews are a little shorter than we usually have on the pod. These guys had a lot going on, and of course I wanted to be respectful of their time, grateful they sat down for a bit given all the other demands. Before we get to that, a quick note, this is my last episode hosting The Friday Crossover. I am moving on from SI. Chris Mannix and I will record our last pod together on Monday, so please stay tuned for that. Just wanted to take a moment to thank all of you for tuning in the last couple of years, for all your support and feedback along the way, and I promise you will be hearing from me again soon sometime in the near future. For any updates on what's next, please follow me on Twitter at Howard Beck or on Instagram Howard excuse me at Howard Abeck for any updates on what's next. Okay, my conversation with Karl Alone followed by my chat with Alan Iverson is coming up next, so stick around. It's The Crossover, an NBA show hosted by Sports Illustrated. It's Chris Mannox and Howard Back. It's a whole new level for you and me. Chris. This relationship like can subscribe for the best weekly NBA content, These two are capable of what does that mean? Could be the best duo ever. I don't see how you can beat that. Here they are Chris Mannox and Howard Back now very pleased to be joined by Carl Malone, somebody I have not seen in a very long time. And Carl, it seems very natural to see you here. Of course jazz legend. There's a street outside named after you statue here. But at the same time, I have not seen you at an All Star weekend or anything else NBA related in a very long time. Why did you want to be here this weekend in particular, aside from obviously that it's in Salt Lake, Well, it's been it's been thirty years, and this word really is all started from and I'll be sixty in July. And they say that you reflect so reflecting things happened during the lockout year that uh, you know, when I went to the meeting that my pride got into way, and and uh I missed my brothers. These are my brothers, and I miss them, and but uh, it's just amazing to be back because whether I go to another one it's been thirty years, it's been uh CO MBP with John Stockton, Miss Co Sloan, Miss Larry Miller. You know. So it's just reflective, bro, It's just one of them things that the older you get, they say at it, and when you're young, you don't think about it. So it's pretty neat. I know, the bonds in this league can be very strong, and you've just kind of alluded to it in a very emotional way too, Jef, have you missed that? I mean, I know, look, you're a very private person. You've been out I think, out on your ranch doing doing whatever that is, um, But have you missed those connections this whole time? Absolutely? It seemed like I wasted twenty years. You know. We let our pride get the best of us sometime, and it's amazing because words do two things. It's no metal. They uplift to turn down and we allow things to bother us. And my pride kept me away from the game. And I'm happy to be here because I missed my brothers. When I say a brotherhood, it ain't black or white, it's just our brothers, and I miss it. So I just felt I just felt the need that I needed to be here for this one, and whether I come to another one, that's fine. But I'm home and the Miller's gave me my start, and it's it's been. It's been an awesome More to the point, bro that after all this time and I'm most sixty years old, I think my mom gonna walk in and shake man, say boy, get ready for school. It just seemed like a blur that I played almost twenty years. But it's a heck of a ride, and playing with the best point guard to ever played the game, it's just been an amazing ride. Bro. I don't want to pride you much for when you say you let pride get in the way. Can you give me a little bit of understanding of what the pride was that was keeping you from reconnecting. They know, just just you know, things saying doing the lockout, you know, while doing the meeting one of the first meetings I went to and back in ninety eight, Yes, sir, and it's just just you know, growing up and things just said. It took me a while, everybody healed different. It took me this loan to just get over and say it that you know, it's it's over with but I'm I'm a very pridul person and I tell people all the time that but I respect. I respect hardy lord hard. And when a person showed a respect and we don't feel you get it, you know it do bother you? So yeah, um, the last time we saw each other was also an emotional night for you, and I think I remember seeing some tears that night. It was in two thousand and four in Auburn Hills when the Pistons beat the Lakers, my last year on the beat before moving to New York. You're a last year in the league. What do you remember about that night in the emotions of that night because you were for the first time in your or not the first time in your career, but what turned out to be the last time in your career, this close to potentially winning that elusive ring. What did what did that night due to you emotionally? And just how did you process it? How do you think about on it now? Well? Obviously what what allowed me to get through that? I lost my mom that same year suddenly, So you got to compartmental line and put people play things in their proper places. Nobody in the world, not even my family, but I and the man above knew that that was my last game. So I knew it. And to be able to just kind of take a moment, and you give the pistols and credit. They played their butts off and then and they and they won. But I just knew it was over with. So you know that that cowboy he start off on that ride. But then but then that ride got to come to an end, and I knew that was the end. And uh, what a hell of a ride, you know, from a little kid that at times only his bomb believed in it. When I had dreamed to be a fighter pilot, to fly to Harrier Jet and the Marines, she told me I could, and a lot of people told me I couldn't. And then go out and try to go out and try to conduct yourself. And she also said a lot of noise out here at home, and you go out there and you get you a big old bite of this world, and you let success be your noise. And I've always remembered that, and it's been a great It's been great. Um. I have said this to people over the years many times, so I'm not just saying this to you in front of me. I've said this to Chauncey Billops by the way, no disrespect to his Pistons team, But if you had stayed healthy, I still think that was the lynchpan. You were the lynchman on that team. You were the one keeping Shack and Kobe from beating the hell out of each other. You were I felt like the kind of a balance there. And it felt like to me, like when you got hurt again, like that was that was kind of it. Did you have those kind of feelings that you're like, this was if not for maybe you know, one freak accident in an early season game against the Suns, like there's a it's a different season. Well we can't out, we can't ever do that. Yeah, because you had drive yourself crazy. I know what I what I what I will say is the game, my body, my mind never failed. Yeah, it was that time. You could say one thing to young people is father time is the biggest thief of them all and we all going to be done with our time when this earth bro. But the ride was amazing. I was this little black cowboy from North Louisiana. I'm all trusted, mayor, and we rode baby. You accomplished obviously a hell of a lot an incredible career. When you started that year with the Lakers H three or four, you were in that position where it was like, you know, Karmelon, durable as hell, still productive. You were the one that we thought might someday threatened that scoring record that we just saw broken by Lebrond Was that anything you ever wanted? And what do you think about Lebron getting it now? No, sir, I never played the game for that, but but I'll say this to you. With Lebron, I don't think it'll ever be broken. And what he's doing at this continue right, it's truly amazing. So I'm looking forward to telling him congrats and giving him a big old hug and just tell him keep riding it, brother, for as long as you want to ride, because when it's over with that old basketball get thrown up and it bounced high, and it bounced a little ol and a little low, and then it rolls and then it comes to a stop wherever that may be. Yeah, that's the career. Yeah, we got folks hovering. I know there's a lot of other people who want to get a chance to chat with you, So I need to let you go, even though you said you would sit here. We could probably do this for three hours. I would love that, but I'm gonna let you. Let you make the rounds here. Carl. Great seeing you again. Thank you you spend the time. I appreciate it. Thank you. I want to see this. As athletes, we know what's written about us, and we know it's said about it. We know when it's cruel. I'm only doing interviews because of the respect. Appreciate that you never you never created the news, you just reported it. Thank you much respect. I appreciate that respect. Thank you now really pleased to be joined by the answer Allen Iverson. I don't think I've ever actually been able to make that intro before it. How are you answer? Does anybody actually call you answer? Do they just say? One of my friends, one of my friends, UM been my guy for like maybe fifteen years now, and you know, the rest of my friends tease him about it, but you know, that's just his thing, and he years he heard a guy UM called me that before, and he'd been calling me that ever since, and they tease him, give him a hard time about it, but I don't care nothing about it. It's like certain nicknames are great but it's not. It feels weird to call the person that right, Like you see Cromallin, don't say high mailman, it's just right. A um, we're back here at All Star weekend. I was talking to Candice Parker a couple of weeks ago about the fact that she was gonna call the game for the first time, and the first thing she said about when I asked her about what the honor of that is, what it meant to be able to call the game, she immediately talked about two thousand and one All Star Game when you were MVP and her vivid memories of that as she was like a fourteen year old kid, and how that just lit her up, like that was her first memory that she went to. You probably get that a lot, I'm sure. Is that one that in your own mind is when you think about all the All Star Games and all those moments, is that one always stand out for you too? Definitely, you know, because I had a lot of significance, um when it came to me and my coach's relationship, so that one meant a lot. We had just acquired to Keim Bay in the trade, so um, it definitely, it definitely meant a lot, you know what I mean. And then when it come down to the actual game, you know, us being down so much and then being able to come back and win it, you know what I mean. Have those bragging them rights this many years later? It was awesome? Yeah. Um. And then when you come to an All Star weekend, now, like I know you've been. You know, you've you've made the rounds with the NBA the last several years, you've stayed connected. Um, what is a weekend like this like for you in terms of whether it's reconnecting with guys or just kind of being back in this kind of broader NBA community. What is it for you? Just? Um, knowing that, Um, I'm satisfiable the decision that I made, um to retire, but then to be back and be amongst the greats still, um, the atmosphere, UM, the love of the fans, the way that they treat us and embrace us. UM. Just to know that, um, just because you know I don't play anymore, you know they still treat me the same way. It's It's awesome. And then just being an old head in the situation in the bea to come back and the young guys get a thrill out of um seeing me. Um. I just I just think it's cool man, and it's um It's something that I'll keep doing and I'll cherish and love for the rest of my life. When you come to an event like this, Alan are you is it the older guys, even the generation before you or your own peers, or is it like the young guys, like who are you most interested? Like actually getting to see I like UM, the response that I get from the guys before me, you know what I mean. I love that that feeling of them embracing me and and I'm honoring me and respecting me for what I did for the game. And then you know, just the young guys feeling the way they feel about me is the icing on the cake, you know what I mean, just them talking about how I inspired them and how you know I made them, you know, want to be in the predicament that they are in right now. I first started covering the league in ninety seven, I was covering the Lakers, and during that period of time, right like you were a polarizing figure. Did you ever think, at this moment, all these years later, like you would be looked at like the role model like the guys are looking up to trying to emulate you fashion wise, playing wise never never, and UM, it's honestly, UM, a blessing you know to UM know that you know I put in the work that I put in, and you know I played every game like it was my last and for it to amount to something means a lot to me. UM. I was reading the GQ story that you did recently, UM, seeing I had forgotten about the lifetime deal with Reebok. I didn't realize that the black and white Reebok answer for is are now called the stepovers. I'm wondering, like, how's Tyler feel about that? I don't know, you know what I mean, Um, I always I always have um a bit of sweet um feeling about that because I love him so much as a as a man, you know what I mean, as a person, um, and as a friend. UM. I guess that was just a casualty of war type of situation. You know, it's the same thing. Well Mike, you know what I mean, Mike my idol and I love him, and UM, I always really wanted to be like Mike, and I still do, UM, But it was just you know what it is, and they I think they understand it. Yeah, and you know they know what it is. It's just you know the game and how it goes. But you know, Tylo is my man and I love him to death. Ty told many years ago that actually he was grateful for that moment because he felt like that kind of it was this indelible moment kind of put him on the map. He's like, actually, he goes, you know, he said you were good friends and he had thanked you for it at some point or maybe I don't express stratitude like it did. It did something for him, and like, you know, he got that next contract I think with Washington never whatever. He feels like that was actually, like in a weird way, kind of a boost for him. Um. So again, like I was covering the Lakers back then when when you guys met it faced off in the finals, everything else, and I just I recall there was a there was a fierceng court rivalry between you and Kobe, and you were often pitted against each other too by you know, people in my business. Um, what was the actual relationship like between you guys? Was it like friendly rivalry? Was it like did you guys maybe not connect until after you'd retire, like, how did how did that go? It was it was there were the relationship as far as a friendship. Um, I think that accumulated afterwards, you know what I mean. We became friends afterwards. I think during it was so competitive, you know what I mean, And and men um that guy. We were um so competitive and we were at the top of our games. We were the face of the NBA. So at that time, you know what I mean, I think we didn't even have any room for any type of friendship, you know what I mean. But in the aftermath of all that, we became friends and the love and respect was always there. It was mutual between him and I and until you know, that day I could say, you know that we were friends. Yeah, quick note from the GQ story, it was just there was some great stuff in there. But it says, talking about you, your story hasn't always been rosy, and it's no wonder that he shied away from the press in recent years talking about you, it says, but he's As he leaned against the table cradling his Q, Allen Iverson seemed almost relieved to be talking, like he'd been waiting for us to catch up. To him. Do you feel like and I know they mentioned too, you're working on an autobiography. You got a restaurant in Virginia coming. Is this a moment in your life, you know, thirteen years removed from when you're retired and this stage closing in on fifty. Um, it's not that bad. I'm on the other side, it's not that bad. Is this a moment where you're kind of reflecting more and feeling like you kind of want to share some of this stuff? And you know, writing an autobiography. I think Peter, I think, oh good, all good, Pete. Always make always make time for another legend. How you doing? Man? You too? I think, Um, he threw me off. Man. I love Peter as as my guy. Um. I just I just think. Um, I'm an open book, you know what I mean. I think so many people can learn from me, from from my tribes, trip relations, my ups and my downs in my life. UM. And I'm not afraid of expressing, Um, where I went wrong, UM, the things that I did right, you know what I mean, and and all the above, and uh, you know I feel like, um, the things that I do far as my autobiography, interviews, UM, anything that I do. I feel like if I can help one person, you know what I mean, whe to be a kid or somebody middle age or older, you know what I mean, it's it's a it's a great thing that they can learn from me and not make the mistake that I made or you know, capitalize things that I did. Right. I think it's a beautiful thing. So you know, I'm I'm looking forward to all of those things that I can do in my life. And I'm and I'm and I'm outgoing, I'm I'm I'm so me, you know what i mean. I'm so in love with the guy that God made, you know what I mean. If I died today and I got a chance to come back tomorrow, I would rather be me. So I'm cool with it. When you talk about some of those mistakes or regrets, anything in particular that stands out the kind of thing that you think, Um, um basketball wise, Um, what's up a sick basketball wise? I think the only thing that um, I probably regret Um, it's probably not um embracing them. Yeah, constructive criticism from Clos Brown, that's probably it. You know what I mean. The man did wonders in my career. Um, he did so much for me, Like once I bought in to what he was selling. Um, you know that took me from just a talent, a great talent to you know, all of the accolades that I was, you know, able to accomplish in my career. You know, without him, I would I would not be able to do none of the things that I've I've done. It was a bumpy last few years for you before you retired. Any regrets about the way those years went, as you're going to you know, Denver, Detroit, Memphis, I wouldn't, Um, I wouldn't. I wouldn't say that because I stood firm on what I believe. Then you know, as far as my talent and who I was, um, you know, I always you know felt like if you know, you put a person in front of me and they were better than me, regardless if I was the rookie Allen Iverson all the way through my whole career, If the guy that's in front of me is better than me, then that's the guy that you put in front of me. If not, then I would have a problem with it. And I still feel that way today. Yeah, So no, no, no regrets to throughout that where people talking about all you know, he should have been a sixth man, he should have been like that stuff, because I didn't feel that way, you know what I mean. I could easily say that if I felt that the person in front of me was better than me at that time. Yeah, you know what I mean. But nah, you know what I mean. I nah, I never submitted that one. The NBA over the course of a weekend like this, they always have what they call the text of it, right, They're trying to all these fancy things you can put on the VR headsets and be and whatever. I was thinking, like, if you could like be transported back to like one moment in your career, like happiest one or the most successful one, the bett like what, like what's the memory? Like if you could just go like relive a game, a shot, what would it be? Wow, that's a great question. Um, I don't know, there's so many, so many Um, it's right. I might have gotten too creative with that question. But it's awesome, awesome, awesome question, And it is not one that you can just answer off top um. That would take a lot of career highlights. It would be a lot to choose for Bobby Yeah, because you know, it's some things that I could have I would think in my mind, I would think so many things that I could have did UM better, you know what I mean, opposed to UM, making you know, a great situation for me, you know, making it even more awesome. But you know, I would think of something that I could have probably did better in a in a in a game, or even UM or even a decision making process. I think that UM, the thing that I probably would change the most UM was probably agreeing to UM the trade to Detroit, you know what I mean, because I thought that was the greatest opportunity for me to win a championship, you know what I mean. But UM, I thought the circumstances would have been a lot better, you know what I mean, because it would have been a UM. You know, if if I was traded for UM, if I was traded for Rep. Hamilton opposed to Chauncey, I think, you know, we our opportunity would have been a lot better, and then we wouldn't have been UM. We wouldn't have went through the hooplah of all the stuff that we went through UM when we went to UM Detroit. You know, I felt like if if the trade was for Um Rep. It would have been a lot better for myself and it would have been a lot better for Rep. But shout out to Rep. I love Rep. I love his family. Last thing before I let you go, I know you've got some other stuff to do here. UM, when you're watching today's game, either favorite player to watch or the guy who most reminds you of you, somebody who kind of embodies what you did. Everybody, Um, obviously everybody on UM talk about Jah. Yeah, you know what I mean, And that's a great compliment to myself. UM, and I love him to death. UM. I love who he is, you know, on the basketball court and off the court. But honestly speaking, I can see from the point guard to the five man. I can see a lot of myself and a lot of guys, you know what I mean. I could see it, you know, just like people can see it or could see it in me, because I took a lot from everybody, and I implemented everybody's game into my game. They try to create the Allen iverson game, you know what I mean. So I took from not just guards, you know, guys from every position. So I can see a lot of me and a lot of these guys. Yeah, Alan Iverson, appreciate it. Man, good to see you. Thanks for spending the time. I thank you. Good. Okay, that's it for today's show, Mike, Thanks again to Karl Malone and Alan Iverson. Huge thank you to Julio Mantega, the pr Ace for the National Basketball Retired Players Association for making it all happen. Thanks as always to our producer Shelby Royston, and thank you all for listening. Last episode of Me and Chris MANNOX is coming Monday. Don't miss it, and if you'd like to stay in touch, please follow me on Twitter at Howard Beck or on Instagram at Howard A. Beck.

What Up. It's the Crossover Pod Friday Edition. I'm Howard Beck, senior writer for Sports Illustrated. Fantastic show for you today, not one but two Hall of famers, Karl Malone, one of the greatest power forwards in basketball history, and Alan Iverson, who is simply one of the most electric players and personalities of all time. Both of them kind enough to spend a little time with me while attending All Star festivities last weekend in Salt Lake City. Malone was making his first NBA related appearance of really any kind in nearly two decades. Karl heads kind of distanced himself from the game, from former teammates, from pretty much everyone for quite a while, but with the game in Utah, where he spent the bulk of his career, Karl decided it was time to reconnect and it was a really emotional homecoming for him on a lot of levels. As you'll hear in our chat, Iverson has been more visible than Malone in recent years, but he too is making sort of a renewed effort to stay connected to the game and the league. Both of them I thought were just really candid, very heartfelt during our conversations. The interviews are a little shorter than we usually have on the pod. These guys had a lot going on, and of course I wanted to be respectful of their time, grateful they sat down for a bit given all the other demands. Before we get to that, a quick note, this is my last episode hosting The Friday Crossover. I am moving on from SI. Chris Mannix and I will record our last pod together on Monday, so please stay tuned for that. Just wanted to take a moment to thank all of you for tuning in the last couple of years, for all your support and feedback along the way, and I promise you will be hearing from me again soon sometime in the near future. For any updates on what's next, please follow me on Twitter at Howard Beck or on Instagram Howard excuse me at Howard Abeck for any updates on what's next. Okay, my conversation with Karl Alone followed by my chat with Alan Iverson is coming up next, so stick around. It's The Crossover, an NBA show hosted by Sports Illustrated. It's Chris Mannox and Howard Back. It's a whole new level for you and me. Chris. This relationship like can subscribe for the best weekly NBA content, These two are capable of what does that mean? Could be the best duo ever. I don't see how you can beat that. Here they are Chris Mannox and Howard Back now very pleased to be joined by Carl Malone, somebody I have not seen in a very long time. And Carl, it seems very natural to see you here. Of course jazz legend. There's a street outside named after you statue here. But at the same time, I have not seen you at an All Star weekend or anything else NBA related in a very long time. Why did you want to be here this weekend in particular, aside from obviously that it's in Salt Lake, Well, it's been it's been thirty years, and this word really is all started from and I'll be sixty in July. And they say that you reflect so reflecting things happened during the lockout year that uh, you know, when I went to the meeting that my pride got into way, and and uh I missed my brothers. These are my brothers, and I miss them, and but uh, it's just amazing to be back because whether I go to another one it's been thirty years, it's been uh CO MBP with John Stockton, Miss Co Sloan, Miss Larry Miller. You know. So it's just reflective, bro, It's just one of them things that the older you get, they say at it, and when you're young, you don't think about it. So it's pretty neat. I know, the bonds in this league can be very strong, and you've just kind of alluded to it in a very emotional way too, Jef, have you missed that? I mean, I know, look, you're a very private person. You've been out I think, out on your ranch doing doing whatever that is, um, But have you missed those connections this whole time? Absolutely? It seemed like I wasted twenty years. You know. We let our pride get the best of us sometime, and it's amazing because words do two things. It's no metal. They uplift to turn down and we allow things to bother us. And my pride kept me away from the game. And I'm happy to be here because I missed my brothers. When I say a brotherhood, it ain't black or white, it's just our brothers, and I miss it. So I just felt I just felt the need that I needed to be here for this one, and whether I come to another one, that's fine. But I'm home and the Miller's gave me my start, and it's it's been. It's been an awesome More to the point, bro that after all this time and I'm most sixty years old, I think my mom gonna walk in and shake man, say boy, get ready for school. It just seemed like a blur that I played almost twenty years. But it's a heck of a ride, and playing with the best point guard to ever played the game, it's just been an amazing ride. Bro. I don't want to pride you much for when you say you let pride get in the way. Can you give me a little bit of understanding of what the pride was that was keeping you from reconnecting. They know, just just you know, things saying doing the lockout, you know, while doing the meeting one of the first meetings I went to and back in ninety eight, Yes, sir, and it's just just you know, growing up and things just said. It took me a while, everybody healed different. It took me this loan to just get over and say it that you know, it's it's over with but I'm I'm a very pridul person and I tell people all the time that but I respect. I respect hardy lord hard. And when a person showed a respect and we don't feel you get it, you know it do bother you? So yeah, um, the last time we saw each other was also an emotional night for you, and I think I remember seeing some tears that night. It was in two thousand and four in Auburn Hills when the Pistons beat the Lakers, my last year on the beat before moving to New York. You're a last year in the league. What do you remember about that night in the emotions of that night because you were for the first time in your or not the first time in your career, but what turned out to be the last time in your career, this close to potentially winning that elusive ring. What did what did that night due to you emotionally? And just how did you process it? How do you think about on it now? Well? Obviously what what allowed me to get through that? I lost my mom that same year suddenly, So you got to compartmental line and put people play things in their proper places. Nobody in the world, not even my family, but I and the man above knew that that was my last game. So I knew it. And to be able to just kind of take a moment, and you give the pistols and credit. They played their butts off and then and they and they won. But I just knew it was over with. So you know that that cowboy he start off on that ride. But then but then that ride got to come to an end, and I knew that was the end. And uh, what a hell of a ride, you know, from a little kid that at times only his bomb believed in it. When I had dreamed to be a fighter pilot, to fly to Harrier Jet and the Marines, she told me I could, and a lot of people told me I couldn't. And then go out and try to go out and try to conduct yourself. And she also said a lot of noise out here at home, and you go out there and you get you a big old bite of this world, and you let success be your noise. And I've always remembered that, and it's been a great It's been great. Um. I have said this to people over the years many times, so I'm not just saying this to you in front of me. I've said this to Chauncey Billops by the way, no disrespect to his Pistons team, But if you had stayed healthy, I still think that was the lynchpan. You were the lynchman on that team. You were the one keeping Shack and Kobe from beating the hell out of each other. You were I felt like the kind of a balance there. And it felt like to me, like when you got hurt again, like that was that was kind of it. Did you have those kind of feelings that you're like, this was if not for maybe you know, one freak accident in an early season game against the Suns, like there's a it's a different season. Well we can't out, we can't ever do that. Yeah, because you had drive yourself crazy. I know what I what I what I will say is the game, my body, my mind never failed. Yeah, it was that time. You could say one thing to young people is father time is the biggest thief of them all and we all going to be done with our time when this earth bro. But the ride was amazing. I was this little black cowboy from North Louisiana. I'm all trusted, mayor, and we rode baby. You accomplished obviously a hell of a lot an incredible career. When you started that year with the Lakers H three or four, you were in that position where it was like, you know, Karmelon, durable as hell, still productive. You were the one that we thought might someday threatened that scoring record that we just saw broken by Lebrond Was that anything you ever wanted? And what do you think about Lebron getting it now? No, sir, I never played the game for that, but but I'll say this to you. With Lebron, I don't think it'll ever be broken. And what he's doing at this continue right, it's truly amazing. So I'm looking forward to telling him congrats and giving him a big old hug and just tell him keep riding it, brother, for as long as you want to ride, because when it's over with that old basketball get thrown up and it bounced high, and it bounced a little ol and a little low, and then it rolls and then it comes to a stop wherever that may be. Yeah, that's the career. Yeah, we got folks hovering. I know there's a lot of other people who want to get a chance to chat with you, So I need to let you go, even though you said you would sit here. We could probably do this for three hours. I would love that, but I'm gonna let you. Let you make the rounds here. Carl. Great seeing you again. Thank you you spend the time. I appreciate it. Thank you. I want to see this. As athletes, we know what's written about us, and we know it's said about it. We know when it's cruel. I'm only doing interviews because of the respect. Appreciate that you never you never created the news, you just reported it. Thank you much respect. I appreciate that respect. Thank you now really pleased to be joined by the answer Allen Iverson. I don't think I've ever actually been able to make that intro before it. How are you answer? Does anybody actually call you answer? Do they just say? One of my friends, one of my friends, UM been my guy for like maybe fifteen years now, and you know, the rest of my friends tease him about it, but you know, that's just his thing, and he years he heard a guy UM called me that before, and he'd been calling me that ever since, and they tease him, give him a hard time about it, but I don't care nothing about it. It's like certain nicknames are great but it's not. It feels weird to call the person that right, Like you see Cromallin, don't say high mailman, it's just right. A um, we're back here at All Star weekend. I was talking to Candice Parker a couple of weeks ago about the fact that she was gonna call the game for the first time, and the first thing she said about when I asked her about what the honor of that is, what it meant to be able to call the game, she immediately talked about two thousand and one All Star Game when you were MVP and her vivid memories of that as she was like a fourteen year old kid, and how that just lit her up, like that was her first memory that she went to. You probably get that a lot, I'm sure. Is that one that in your own mind is when you think about all the All Star Games and all those moments, is that one always stand out for you too? Definitely, you know, because I had a lot of significance, um when it came to me and my coach's relationship, so that one meant a lot. We had just acquired to Keim Bay in the trade, so um, it definitely, it definitely meant a lot, you know what I mean. And then when it come down to the actual game, you know, us being down so much and then being able to come back and win it, you know what I mean. Have those bragging them rights this many years later? It was awesome? Yeah. Um. And then when you come to an All Star weekend, now, like I know you've been. You know, you've you've made the rounds with the NBA the last several years, you've stayed connected. Um, what is a weekend like this like for you in terms of whether it's reconnecting with guys or just kind of being back in this kind of broader NBA community. What is it for you? Just? Um, knowing that, Um, I'm satisfiable the decision that I made, um to retire, but then to be back and be amongst the greats still, um, the atmosphere, UM, the love of the fans, the way that they treat us and embrace us. UM. Just to know that, um, just because you know I don't play anymore, you know they still treat me the same way. It's It's awesome. And then just being an old head in the situation in the bea to come back and the young guys get a thrill out of um seeing me. Um. I just I just think it's cool man, and it's um It's something that I'll keep doing and I'll cherish and love for the rest of my life. When you come to an event like this, Alan are you is it the older guys, even the generation before you or your own peers, or is it like the young guys, like who are you most interested? Like actually getting to see I like UM, the response that I get from the guys before me, you know what I mean. I love that that feeling of them embracing me and and I'm honoring me and respecting me for what I did for the game. And then you know, just the young guys feeling the way they feel about me is the icing on the cake, you know what I mean, just them talking about how I inspired them and how you know I made them, you know, want to be in the predicament that they are in right now. I first started covering the league in ninety seven, I was covering the Lakers, and during that period of time, right like you were a polarizing figure. Did you ever think, at this moment, all these years later, like you would be looked at like the role model like the guys are looking up to trying to emulate you fashion wise, playing wise never never, and UM, it's honestly, UM, a blessing you know to UM know that you know I put in the work that I put in, and you know I played every game like it was my last and for it to amount to something means a lot to me. UM. I was reading the GQ story that you did recently, UM, seeing I had forgotten about the lifetime deal with Reebok. I didn't realize that the black and white Reebok answer for is are now called the stepovers. I'm wondering, like, how's Tyler feel about that? I don't know, you know what I mean, Um, I always I always have um a bit of sweet um feeling about that because I love him so much as a as a man, you know what I mean, as a person, um, and as a friend. UM. I guess that was just a casualty of war type of situation. You know, it's the same thing. Well Mike, you know what I mean, Mike my idol and I love him, and UM, I always really wanted to be like Mike, and I still do, UM, But it was just you know what it is, and they I think they understand it. Yeah, and you know they know what it is. It's just you know the game and how it goes. But you know, Tylo is my man and I love him to death. Ty told many years ago that actually he was grateful for that moment because he felt like that kind of it was this indelible moment kind of put him on the map. He's like, actually, he goes, you know, he said you were good friends and he had thanked you for it at some point or maybe I don't express stratitude like it did. It did something for him, and like, you know, he got that next contract I think with Washington never whatever. He feels like that was actually, like in a weird way, kind of a boost for him. Um. So again, like I was covering the Lakers back then when when you guys met it faced off in the finals, everything else, and I just I recall there was a there was a fierceng court rivalry between you and Kobe, and you were often pitted against each other too by you know, people in my business. Um, what was the actual relationship like between you guys? Was it like friendly rivalry? Was it like did you guys maybe not connect until after you'd retire, like, how did how did that go? It was it was there were the relationship as far as a friendship. Um, I think that accumulated afterwards, you know what I mean. We became friends afterwards. I think during it was so competitive, you know what I mean, And and men um that guy. We were um so competitive and we were at the top of our games. We were the face of the NBA. So at that time, you know what I mean, I think we didn't even have any room for any type of friendship, you know what I mean. But in the aftermath of all that, we became friends and the love and respect was always there. It was mutual between him and I and until you know, that day I could say, you know that we were friends. Yeah, quick note from the GQ story, it was just there was some great stuff in there. But it says, talking about you, your story hasn't always been rosy, and it's no wonder that he shied away from the press in recent years talking about you, it says, but he's As he leaned against the table cradling his Q, Allen Iverson seemed almost relieved to be talking, like he'd been waiting for us to catch up. To him. Do you feel like and I know they mentioned too, you're working on an autobiography. You got a restaurant in Virginia coming. Is this a moment in your life, you know, thirteen years removed from when you're retired and this stage closing in on fifty. Um, it's not that bad. I'm on the other side, it's not that bad. Is this a moment where you're kind of reflecting more and feeling like you kind of want to share some of this stuff? And you know, writing an autobiography. I think Peter, I think, oh good, all good, Pete. Always make always make time for another legend. How you doing? Man? You too? I think, Um, he threw me off. Man. I love Peter as as my guy. Um. I just I just think. Um, I'm an open book, you know what I mean. I think so many people can learn from me, from from my tribes, trip relations, my ups and my downs in my life. UM. And I'm not afraid of expressing, Um, where I went wrong, UM, the things that I did right, you know what I mean, and and all the above, and uh, you know I feel like, um, the things that I do far as my autobiography, interviews, UM, anything that I do. I feel like if I can help one person, you know what I mean, whe to be a kid or somebody middle age or older, you know what I mean, it's it's a it's a great thing that they can learn from me and not make the mistake that I made or you know, capitalize things that I did. Right. I think it's a beautiful thing. So you know, I'm I'm looking forward to all of those things that I can do in my life. And I'm and I'm and I'm outgoing, I'm I'm I'm so me, you know what i mean. I'm so in love with the guy that God made, you know what I mean. If I died today and I got a chance to come back tomorrow, I would rather be me. So I'm cool with it. When you talk about some of those mistakes or regrets, anything in particular that stands out the kind of thing that you think, Um, um basketball wise, Um, what's up a sick basketball wise? I think the only thing that um, I probably regret Um, it's probably not um embracing them. Yeah, constructive criticism from Clos Brown, that's probably it. You know what I mean. The man did wonders in my career. Um, he did so much for me, Like once I bought in to what he was selling. Um, you know that took me from just a talent, a great talent to you know, all of the accolades that I was, you know, able to accomplish in my career. You know, without him, I would I would not be able to do none of the things that I've I've done. It was a bumpy last few years for you before you retired. Any regrets about the way those years went, as you're going to you know, Denver, Detroit, Memphis, I wouldn't, Um, I wouldn't. I wouldn't say that because I stood firm on what I believe. Then you know, as far as my talent and who I was, um, you know, I always you know felt like if you know, you put a person in front of me and they were better than me, regardless if I was the rookie Allen Iverson all the way through my whole career, If the guy that's in front of me is better than me, then that's the guy that you put in front of me. If not, then I would have a problem with it. And I still feel that way today. Yeah, So no, no, no regrets to throughout that where people talking about all you know, he should have been a sixth man, he should have been like that stuff, because I didn't feel that way, you know what I mean. I could easily say that if I felt that the person in front of me was better than me at that time. Yeah, you know what I mean. But nah, you know what I mean. I nah, I never submitted that one. The NBA over the course of a weekend like this, they always have what they call the text of it, right, They're trying to all these fancy things you can put on the VR headsets and be and whatever. I was thinking, like, if you could like be transported back to like one moment in your career, like happiest one or the most successful one, the bett like what, like what's the memory? Like if you could just go like relive a game, a shot, what would it be? Wow, that's a great question. Um, I don't know, there's so many, so many Um, it's right. I might have gotten too creative with that question. But it's awesome, awesome, awesome question, And it is not one that you can just answer off top um. That would take a lot of career highlights. It would be a lot to choose for Bobby Yeah, because you know, it's some things that I could have I would think in my mind, I would think so many things that I could have did UM better, you know what I mean, opposed to UM, making you know, a great situation for me, you know, making it even more awesome. But you know, I would think of something that I could have probably did better in a in a in a game, or even UM or even a decision making process. I think that UM, the thing that I probably would change the most UM was probably agreeing to UM the trade to Detroit, you know what I mean, because I thought that was the greatest opportunity for me to win a championship, you know what I mean. But UM, I thought the circumstances would have been a lot better, you know what I mean, because it would have been a UM. You know, if if I was traded for UM, if I was traded for Rep. Hamilton opposed to Chauncey, I think, you know, we our opportunity would have been a lot better, and then we wouldn't have been UM. We wouldn't have went through the hooplah of all the stuff that we went through UM when we went to UM Detroit. You know, I felt like if if the trade was for Um Rep. It would have been a lot better for myself and it would have been a lot better for Rep. But shout out to Rep. I love Rep. I love his family. Last thing before I let you go, I know you've got some other stuff to do here. UM, when you're watching today's game, either favorite player to watch or the guy who most reminds you of you, somebody who kind of embodies what you did. Everybody, Um, obviously everybody on UM talk about Jah. Yeah, you know what I mean, And that's a great compliment to myself. UM, and I love him to death. UM. I love who he is, you know, on the basketball court and off the court. But honestly speaking, I can see from the point guard to the five man. I can see a lot of myself and a lot of guys, you know what I mean. I could see it, you know, just like people can see it or could see it in me, because I took a lot from everybody, and I implemented everybody's game into my game. They try to create the Allen iverson game, you know what I mean. So I took from not just guards, you know, guys from every position. So I can see a lot of me and a lot of these guys. Yeah, Alan Iverson, appreciate it. Man, good to see you. Thanks for spending the time. I thank you. Good. Okay, that's it for today's show, Mike, Thanks again to Karl Malone and Alan Iverson. Huge thank you to Julio Mantega, the pr Ace for the National Basketball Retired Players Association for making it all happen. Thanks as always to our producer Shelby Royston, and thank you all for listening. Last episode of Me and Chris MANNOX is coming Monday. Don't miss it, and if you'd like to stay in touch, please follow me on Twitter at Howard Beck or on Instagram at Howard A. Beck.