Wisconsin State Journal from Madison, Wisconsin • 36

D8 Sunday, July 14, 2002 NBA Wisconsin State Journal 76ers star Allen Iverson is no stranger to trouble, and he's at it again. But for advertisers and memorabilia sellers, he remains the answer. NOTES No gun found in Iverson case good for But police do find blood in the car of the 76ers star's wife. State Journal wire services Police found broken glass and smeared blood inside a vehicle frequently driven by Allen Iverson's wife, but an extensive search of the Phila Associated PressWSJ illustration While the blood and glass may bolster the police theory that Iverson acted violently, defense attorneys said the failure to find a gun will hurt the prosecution. "Unaccompanied by a weapon, this is a nothing case, an absolute nothing case," said Edwin Jacobs an attorney for convicted Philadelphia mob boss Joseph Merlino.

Coach Ewing? Pondering retirement, Orlando Magic center Patrick Ewing has begun exploring the possibility of a coaching career. In the past two days, Ewing has had conversations with NBA teams, including the New York Knicks and the Washington Wizards, about becoming an assistant coach, multiple league sources say. The conversations are be- lieved to be preliminary. But for the first time, the former Knicks center and 11 -time All-Star is thinking seriously about life after playing basketball. Neither Ewing nor his agent, David Falk, could be reached for comment.

Ewing is still under con-tract with the Magic and is considering playing out the final year of his two-year $4.4 million deal. Bucks tip Pacers Marcus Goree led the Bucks with 12 points, while first-round draft pick Marcus Haislip and Dean Oliver added 10, as Milwaukee (2-3) nipped Indiana 69-67 during the finale of the Orlando (Fla.) Professional Summer League. Catching on with the NBA's Miami Heat in the Orlando Professional Summer League, Kansas City Chiefs football player Tony Gonzalez leaves open the possibility of playing two sports. Going for Basketball Associated Press Allen Iverson, the All-Star Game MVP last season, is expected to surrender Tuesday morning to be charged with assault criminal trespass, terrorist threats and gun offenses. Four of the counts are felonies.

delphia 76ers star's home and cars failed to turn up any guns, a police official said. Investigators also found rocks and women's' clothing inside Tawanna Iverson's Cadillac Escalade, according to the official, who spoke Saturday on condition of anonymity. In a court affidavit, police said they were hunting for evidence to back accusations that Iverson threw his wife out of their Gladwyne, home during a fight, then barged into a cousin's Philadelphia apartment with a gun while searching for her a night later. It was not immediately clear what impact the discovery had on the case. Police were able to confirm that Tawanna Iverson had checked into a hotel on July 1 and that Iverson had gone there looking for her shortly before 3 a.m.

on July 3. While at the hotel, Iverson allegedly told security guards he was looking for a car with smashed windows. He left without having found it, police said. None of the Cadillac's windows were broken when police searched the vehicle Thursday, but in court papers investigators said they were also seeking automobile repair receipts. 1ft na a.

Patrick Ewing, who is under contract ken with the Knicks and the Wizards Mm B- ll M- M- Sensi hair 5502 University BB Gonzo speed and great lower-body strength," said Van Gundy, the former University of Wisconsin head coach. "So, he can hold his position nobody's going to move him and he's quick enough on rotations and blitzes to be very good." Gonzalez earned his way on to the Heat's summer team during a tryout camp earlier this month. Miami's team also competes in Long Beach, next week, and it's undetermined whether Gonzalez will play there before the Chiefs open training camp on July 25. "But they way I'm thinking now is, if they want me to play, I'll play," he said. Basketball is, Gonzalez said, neither a last-minute whim nor a ploy to jump-start stalled contract negotiations between him and the Chiefs.

"I didn't decide to do this six months ago," said Gonzalez, who has caught 242 passes over the past three years. "I don't care how gifted your are you better put some time, work and planning into this." In May, Chiefs general manager Carl Peterson angrily publicized the fact Gonzalez had turned down the biggest signing bonus and the most money ever offered a tight end. Gonzalez says his love for basketball ranks a close second to football. That's why, he said, he's playing for no money in Orlando while risking an injury that could cost him millions of NFL dollars. "I'm just trying to make the most of my opportunities in life, and if I have a dream I'm going to go for it," Gonzalez said.

"I don't go out there and fear getting hurt, I don't fear going out there and mess up my chance to get a good contract with the Chiefs. "I'm just letting it all hang out and having a good time." Associated Press with the Magic, has reportedly spo- about becoming an assistant coach. NFL All-Pro tight end Tony Gonzalez adds pro basketball to his resume at least for now. By Mike Branom Associated Press ORLANDO, Fla. Tony Gonzalez, a tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, showed Wednesday that he can compete in one of the NBA's summer leagues.

The 6-foot-5 Gonzalez grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds and played stellar defense in helping the Miami Heat's squad of rookies and free agents to a 72-71 victory over the Indiana Pacers. Although Gonzalez's shooting was off he was l-of-7 from the field and scored two points the three-time NFL All-Pro was all smiles afterward. "It was fun. I had a great time," said Gonzalez, who played basketball for three seasons at California before opting for the NFL draft. "I was a little nervous at first, but once you go up and down (the court), it's basketball." Miami assistant coach Stan Van Gundy paid the power forward the ultimate compliment: "If we were flat-out playing, with no other objective than to win, he would be playing (a lot), based on what he showed tonight." But the five-day Orlando Professional Summer League isn't about winning; it's about giving rookies a taste of pro ball and providing free agents a forum to showcase their skills.

Gonzalez didn't play in the Heat's first game Tuesday. On Wednesday he came off the bench and became the Heat's defensive stopper. "I think he's great defensively because he's got great '111 tt Serious By Michael Rubinkam Associated Press PHILADELPHIA Allen Iverson has been in trouble before and emerged relatively unscathed. So it's too soon to tell how felony charges against Iverson might affect the career of the volatile NBA superstar. Iverson spent time in prison as a teen-ager and has been charged with gun offenses in the past.

He olten squabbles with Philadelphia 76ers coach Larry Brown, and he made a rap CD in 2000 that used terms for women and gays that drew harsh criticism. Through it all, Iverson has survived, even thrived. With his bad-boy image and electrifying moves on the court, it's no surprise that his jersey is the NBA's top seller. But it Iverson is convicted of forcing his way into an apartment with a gun and threatening two men, he could end up in prison. Stephen Iverson said his fa mous nephew had been "progressing so well" since coming into the league in 1996 as the No.

1 overall pick in the NBA draft. "Just look at what's hap pened since he's got into the league. How he's changed. It's been like a steppingstone, going up and up, and these type ot things just bring it to a standstill," Stephen Iverson said. At times, Iverson presents himself as more of a family man who can behave and be a team player.

During news conferences, he sometimes brings along his children. His main sponsor, Reebok, is standing by him. The footwear and apparel company gave Iverson a lifetime exten sion of a 10-year, $50 million endorsement deal last year. While some experts believe the case could hurt Iverson's marketability, others said it might even help sales for Ree bok. "The bad-boy image, unfor tunately right now, is what sells, and he's the best bad boy out there," said Alan Brown, president of a Holly wood, sports mar keting firm.

Iverson, 27, is expected to surrender Tuesday morning to be charged with assault, criminal trespass, terrorist threats and gun offenses. Four of the counts are felonies, and Iverson faces up to 54 years in prison if convicted of all the charges. In the meantime, Iverson is confined to the grounds of his $2.4 million suburban mansion. Iverson and another uncle, Gregory Iverson, are accused of barging into cousin Shaun Bowman's apartment on the morning of July 3 as the guard searched for his wife, Tawanna. Iverson is said to have thrown her out of their house naked during a dispute, according to a transcript of a 911 call Bowman's roommate, Charles Jones, was at home with another man and told police that a gun-toting Iverson and his uncle demanded to know the whereabouts of Tawanna and Bowman.

Iverson's lawyers declined comment Friday. Richard Sprague is the lead defense attorney in the case. Other defense lawyers predicted Iverson would reject any offer of a plea bargain and take his chances at trial. They said the case was winnable and called Jones reportedly evicted from his apartment this week a weak witness. "I think Iverson is going to beat the case," said Chris Warren, an attorney for convicted Philadelphia mob boss Joseph Merlino.

Under the NBA's collective bargaining agreement, Iverson would be automatically suspended for a minimum of 10 games if convicted of a "violent felony." NBA commissioner David Stem could take more drastic action. The NBA planned to contact Iverson to get his "side of the story," league spokesman Tim Frank said. While some NBA stars such as Kobe Bryant do business with many companies, Iverson has only two endorsement deals with Reebok and Sega. That's not likely to change anytime soon, said Bob Williams, president of Burns Sports Celebrities an Evanston, 111., company that pairs athletes with companies for commercials and other marketing. "Most advertisers don't feel any different today because they had already checked him off their list as being too controversial," Williams said.

"But it hurts his chances with advertisers who are edgy and trendy and possibly contemplating his services." Still, Iverson paraphernalia was flying off the shelves as usual at Philadelphia sporting goods stores. Iverson jerseys, bobblehead dolls, armbands, hats, pins, photos and other assorted knickknacks were still in demand at Team Sports Inc. in Center City, said Marc Gold, the store's co- owner. "People don't think it's really that big of a deal. They think the media is making a lot bigger deal out of it than it really is," Gold said.

Reebok stock has fallen some 10 percent since Monday. The Iverson brand is expected to generate between $125 million and $150 million for Reebok this year, or 4 to 5 percent of total revenues. "It is Allen's celebrity status, not the facts, that continues to fuel these proceedings," Reebok vice president Denise Kaigler said. "We firmly believe that Allen will be vindicated." Brokerage house Merrill Lynch, meanwhile, sought to reassure jittery Reebok investors. "We do not think there is serious risk of Iverson being kicked out of the NBA or missing next season entirely, the only negative scenarios we can think of," Merrill Lynch reported to investors.

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Call 2497032 for question GATES AUTO BODY, INC. 5317 Wayne Terrace Associated Press NFL All-Pro tight end Tony Gonzalez, left, grapples with NBA veteran Dickey Simpkins for a rebound during the Heat's Orlando Summer Professional League game Wednesday against the Indiana Pacers. (Next io East Gate Cinemas, behind Jon Lancaster Lexus).