Bands as NBA Players: Part II

Radiohead is Allen Iverson*

Unique. Controversial. Wildly popular yet somehow under-appreciated

Radiohead is my favorite band of all time. I am going to see them in Charlotte next month, and I have never been more excited about a show. When I first thought of Radiohead I wanted to put them with Jordan, Magic or Bird; a sure-fire Hall of Famer. But then I thought about my favorite player of MY lifetime. It was easy: Allen Iverson. An all-time great that was worshipped by those that loved him, and misunderstood by those who didn’t. Both Iverson and Radiohead were at the same time overrated (by critics and fans alike), yet underrated and judged by the masses.

Radiohead had one-hit wonder written all over them after "Creep" became a massive radio hit. Some of you reading this right now would know "Creep" if you heard it right now, but have no idea who Radiohead is. Their second album, "The Bends" was (mistakenly in my opinion), considered a disappointment by many. But in 1997 Radiohead put out the best album of my lifetime: "OK Computer". It was revolutionary and relevant. You could listen to it happy or listen to it sad. It propelled Radiohead into iconic status for their fans and critics around the world.

They would never put out another "normal" album. There next 2 albums ("Kid A" and "Amnesiac") were recorded together and released separately. Oh yeah, it was done without guitars. They did not make radio songs, and they didn’t care what people thought about them. They didn’t care about the money or fame, and these ’weird’ albums sold by the millions.

They released their songs on Napster so fans could get a ’feel’ for the music and it made "Kid A" a chart-topping success (remember at the time every other band was trying to get Napster shut down). Fans and critics loved them for it ("Kid A" won the Grammy for Best Alternative Album and was nominated for Album of the Year), but to this day, there are many who wonder where the boys that put out "OK Computer" have gone.

Last year they released the critically acclaimed "In Rainbows" over the Internet. My Friend Who Knows About Such Things told me they made more money on that album than all of their other albums combined (thanks to not having a label). They don’t need the radio, and they don’t need you to like them. They have been called snobby, pretentious, and arrogant. All of those things are true on some level. But to those that love them, they can do no wrong. Those that know music know they are brilliant. And there will always be those that wonder if they could have done more.

Philly fans are notoriously rude, obnoxious, and unrelenting. When Philadelphia native Kobe Bryant returned to his hometown, he was booed lustily by the town he once called home. But with Iverson, it has always been nothing but love.

Misunderstandings with management and coaches? They loved him. Missing practice but pouring his heart and soul onto the court from tip-off to the final buzzer? They loved him. He could do no wrong, and he couldn’t take a bad shot. He was applauded after every miss, and brought the crowd to their feet with every make.

Critics lauded him as the hardest worker in the NBA, the little man who got more out of his body than anyone who ever played the game. A warrior, a gamer, a show-stopper…but the masses disagreed.

He was more style than substance, too much flash and not enough results. Yeah he could score, but couldn’t anyone who hogged the ball as much? He had too many tattoos before too many tattoos were ok (or at least overlooked). His cornrows and baggy clothes made it all too easy for people to dismiss him as a thug. He never cared. He didn’t do it for you, for me, or the fans. He lived his life and played the game for himself. As long as he could sleep every night knowing he was true to what he believed; that when the game began he would put 13 teammates on his 165-pound back and will them to a win. That’s all that mattered.

His "OK Computer" moment was 2001 when he won the MVP with a 31.1 ppg average, won the All-Star game MVP in leading a completely undermanned East squad to victory, and took his rag-tag Sixers to the NBA Finals. In game one he scored 48 points to upset the defending-champion Lakers. They would go on to lose the series, but I will never forget that season.

On any given night, in any given arena, Iverson could win you a game by himself. You could not talk about the best without him. Like Malone, there are players that were more consistent, or steady, or reliable. But you can’t talk about the best NBA players without bring up Iverson, and you can’t talk about the best band of my lifetime without mentioning Radiohead.

Maybe they weren’t your favorite, but you can’t deny me Iverson’s ’01 season, and you can’t deny me the best album of my life: "OK Computer".

- Paul Phipps

Next Week: Part III

* This is Part II in a series of columns by Paul Phipps. If you missed Part I, check it out in our blog section.