which will hurt the Tar Heels in more ways than points and re

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Allen Iverson wants to thank the haters, too.The former Philadelphia 76ers point guard said he will save time in his Basketball Hall of Fame induction speech to mention the people who criticized him throughout his career, explaining that they are also responsible for molding the player that earned a spot in the Springfield shrine.Even the ones that were negative in my career, obviously to try prove them wrong was a motivation, he said Thursday after arriving late to a pre-induction press conference. I had to overcome what they said about me. I had to overcome all that to be wearing this (Hall of Fame) jacket right now. The naysayers, they helped me, too.An 11-time All-Star, Iverson averaged 26.7 points and 6.2 assists in his 14-year NBA career. But he was also a polarizing figure in a league struggling with racial issues, with his tattoos and cornrows and embrace of a hip-hop culture that was at odds with the corporate image the NBA wanted to project.A dozen years after Michael Jordan joined the league and established himself as its greatest player -- and greatest pitchman -- Iverson was a different kind of star.When it came to basketball, obviously I wanted to me like Mike. Doesnt everybody? Iverson told reporters on Thursday during a media availability for the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame Class of 2016. But I didnt want to talk like him. I felt it was enough being who my mom loved.Funny at times and emotional at others, Iverson acknowledged that he made mistakes, attributing many of them to entering the league as a 21-year-old with the expectations of a historic franchise on his shoulders. Listing former Philadelphia stars like Julius Erving, Moses Malone, Billy Cunningham and Bobby Jones, Iverson lamented having to come in there and fill all those shoes -- when I was only a size 10 -- and those guys are greats.I was a puppy, he said. All the mistakes I was making, I didnt even realize I was making mistakes. I was poor all my life. Then all of the sudden you put your John Hancock down and youre rich. I still dont know. In the aftermath of being an NBA player, Im still learning ... Im still finding my way.Also scheduled to be inducted on Friday night are Shaquille ONeal, Yao Ming, Sheryl Swoopes, Tom Izzo and Jerry Reinsdorf. Posthumous honorees include 27-year NBA referee Darell Garretson; John McLendon, the first African-American coach in a professional league; Cumberland Posey, who also is in the Baseball Hall of Fame; and Zelmo Beaty, who led Prairie View to an NAIA title in 1962.Iverson, 41, said his induction will be a proud moment for his fans, and all the people that are waiting for A.I. to get a chance to say `He did what you never thought he could do.Thats a great feeling for me, he said. For all the barbershop talk, the ones that supported me can always say, `This guy was immortalized by being a Hall of Famer.Questions about Iverson persisted right up until Thursdays news conference.Iverson was a no-show at the 2 p.m. ceremony where inductees were presented with their Hall of Fame jackets. Its unusual for an inductee to miss the event; even posthumous honorees are usually represented by a family member.Players were ushered upstairs to a function room to answer reporters questions shortly after 3 p.m., and ONeal soon launched into an imitation of Iversons notorious Practice? speech.Its the basketball Hall of Fame. I dont know how you miss this, ONeal said. Im going to get my jacket AND my ring.Iverson arrived at about 3:30 p.m., sliding into a Naismith Orange Hall of Fame jacket and taking a seat at his table. Asked about the delay, Iverson said it involved a personal situation; family.Thats the first thing you want to know about me, man? he added. Why cant it just be good news? Wholesale Air Max 720 .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have recalled forward Kevin Porter and defenceman Chad Ruhwedel from the minors as part of a five-player roster shuffle made by the NHLs worst team. Air Max 720 Sale . Pence singled in the winning run with no outs in the ninth inning to give the Giants a 7-6 victory over the San Diego Padres on Sunday. http://www.airmax720cheap.com/ . At a news conference Tuesday where it was thought that the fiery Schallibaum may be shown the door after a dismal finish to the Major League Soccer season, team president Joey Saputo said no decision has been made on whether the Swiss Volcano will be back in 2014. Air Max 720 Outlet . Down by seven with 90 seconds left in regulation, thats where they looked comfortable. Cheap Air Max 720 . The Nashville Predators were glad their captain was still on their side. Weber had a goal and two assists, and Roman Josi scored the shootout winner to lift the Predators to a 4-3 win over the Flyers on Thursday night. CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- North Carolina?junior Theo Pinson had surgery on the broken fifth metatarsal in his right foot Wednesday in Charlotte.Coach Roy Williams said Dr. Robert Anderson of the Carolinas Medical Center was performing the surgery. Anderson is the same surgeon who operated on Pinson in May 2015, when he broke the same bone in his left foot as a freshman.Pinson will be out indefinitely, which will hurt the Tar Heels in more ways than points and rebounds.Itll be real interesting to see what he does the next eight, nine, 10, 11, 12 weeks -- whatever it is, Williams said. His leadership was in a different way but very necessary. He was playing the best basketball Ive ever seen him play.Pinson revealed pain in his foot when the Tar Heels practiced at Fort Bragg in North Carolina last week, according to teammate Joeel Berry.ddddddddddddHe was expected to compete for a starting position.In his absence, that role could fall to senior guard Nate Britt. Sophomore Kenny Williams and freshmen Brandon Robinson and Seventh Woods also could be in the mix.But none can fill the character void of Pinson, according to Williams.?He was in a different way one of the leaders of our team, Williams said. He was one with personality, that gregarious personality, the positive thinking the positive feeling the sunshine every day instead of the clouds. So he was really, really important and still will be.Pinson, a 6-foot-6 Greensboro, North Carolina, native, averaged 4.5 points last season, appearing in every game for UNC. ' ' '