"Iverson is the failed dream of sports run amok," argued the local reader.
The Philadelphia 76ers guard had just been placed under house arrest following a domestic incident. Criminal charges were to follow. Iverson responded by throwing an all-night party at his mansion.
Fifteen months later, this October, Iverson enjoyed a triumphant homecoming in Virginia. Thousands turned out to pay homage as he took in a football game at his old college before playing for the Sixers in an NBA pre-season warm-up.
His 44-year-old mother Ann, who had only recently lost one twin baby while giving birth to a new son -- named Mister Allen -- was given pride of place opposite the Sixers' bench.
Iverson had been excused team duty so he could be present at the arrival of his new brother. "Allen was counting the baby's fingers and toes...he was real emotional," Ann said.
Days earlier, Iverson had talked with sincerity about his love of the Sixers and his desire to secure with them this season the one thing missing from his life -- an NBA championship ring.
Somewhere in those 15 months it seems Iverson -- a proudly religious man nicknamed the Answer -- became something of a reformed character.
NEW WISDOM
Perhaps it is foolish to assume that, at 28, he has changed forever. But there are signs that the arrogance of youth is being replaced by wisdom.
Pinpointing the catalyst is a challenging task.
Perhaps he is just tired of controversy. A bowling alley brawl resulted in a criminal conviction in 1993, although Iverson served just four months. He was later granted clemency and the conviction was overturned on appeal.
Four years later, he was banned for one game by the NBA and given three years' probation after Virginia state troopers found a pistol in a car he was travelling in.
Maybe Iverson has realised that another brush with the law could do grievous damage to his career -- no matter how much his sponsors Reebok value his "street cred".
Perhaps last season, his seventh with Philadelphia since joining as the number one draft pick in 1996, was a frustration too far. Iverson's talent -- he is a four-time All-Star with career averages of 27 points and 5.6 assists -- demands honours.
Perhaps it was his part in the United States' successful attempt to qualify for next year's Olympic Games. Blossoming as a more selfless player in a team full of big names in August, Iverson lapped up the praise as one of his country's most important players.
It may be that the appointment of Randy Ayers as successor to former Sixers coach Larry Brown -- with whom Iverson had a fraught relationship -- has becalmed him.
"He is definitely more relaxed," said Ayers.
ENDORSEMENT DEAL
Perhaps it was simply the birth of his third child, Isaiah, with wife Tawanna.
Iverson is the kid from the underprivileged streets of Newport News, Virginia, made good. His lifetime endorsement deal with Reebok is worth $85 million, according to reports.
The last book Iverson read was entitled "For the Love of Money". In fact, it appears he has so much money now he needs other, more fulfilling incentives to inspire him -- specifically, becoming the most famous and longest-serving player in Sixers history.
His new contract, reputedly worth $76.7 million over four extra years, could enable him to surpass Charles Barkley, Julius Erving, Bobby Jones, Moses Malone and Mo Cheeks with the most franchise appearances.
But perhaps, more than anything, he has had a rare moment of introspection and come to the conclusion which many others reached some time ago: that his prized role as Sixers talisman could actually be working against him.
Ever the showman, Iverson has seen Jerry Stackhouse, Toni Kukoc, Larry Hughes and Keith van Horn come and go as his sidekick on offense. Now they have Glenn "Big Dog" Robinson and Iverson has so far welcomed him with open arms.
"I'm ready to do whatever it takes to win a championship," said Iverson, whose Sixers lost in the NBA finals of 2001.
"Something is going to come up this season but it's important for me to act like an eight-year veteran and deal with it. That's just a part of growing up as a person and as a basketball player."
Suddenly he is a pillar of the community. From Phenomenon through Dilemma to Enigma, Iverson has thus far been anything but the Answer for Philadelphia. That could be about to change.
