For Iverson, the fun hasn't begun

By KEVIN TRESOLINI

Gannett News Service

ATHENS, Greece - Allen Iverson is having no fun.

And he'd do it again if he had the chance.

Team USA's busy schedule of games and practices has prevented Iverson from enjoying his first Summer Olympics as much as he'd like. He hasn't been able to attend to any other Olympic events as he'd hoped, though there's still time.

The Philadelphia 76ers guard's quest for basketball gold, and the pressure that comes with it, has dominated his time.

"Honestly, even without the scrutiny and losses, it hasn't been that much fun for me anyway, and I honestly feel like I can speak for a lot of the other guys on the team," he said after an 89-53 win over Angola on Monday left his team 3-2 in group play.

"It hasn't been that fun, but who said it was going to be fun? We came out here to accomplish a goal, to win a gold medal. That's supposed to be the funnest part of it all."

The United States begins medal play Thursday with a quarterfinal game against Italy, Spain or Argentina. The semifinals are Friday, with the gold- and bronze-medal games on Saturday.

It's been a struggle for the U.S. team, which came into the tournament with an all-time Olympic record of 109-2 and three straight gold medals since NBA players became eligible prior to the 1992 Games.

Still, Iverson, at 29 the oldest U.S. player, doesn't regret playing in the Olympics in a year when many top NBA players decided against it. He would also urge other future players to take advantage of the opportunity.

"Being a part of the whole thing is great," he said. "It's an honor, and if I had the chance to do it again, represent my country, I would do it all over again.

"It hasn't been drop-dead fun, like we thought it was going to be. It's been tough, obviously, with the two losses. But I feel like, when it's all said and done and we get the gold medal, then that won't even be thought about. The fun part will be standing on the podium with the gold medal."