h Haslam seated to his left. "Jimmy doesnt bite his ton

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 Yeezy Boost .J. -- New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz will miss the rest of the season after having surgery on his left knee. Buy Yeezy Boost Wholesale . 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On a day filled mostly with qualifying matches, fifth-seeded Marcel Granollers of Spain also entered the second with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 win over Aljaz Bedene of Slovenia, while Guido Pella of Argentina defeated Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain 7-6 (6), 6-4 to advance.CLEVELAND -- As outspoken, unapologetic and intimidating as ever -- even at age 77 -- Jim Brown has reunited with the Cleveland Browns. Still going strong, the great No. 32 is back where he belongs. "Here I am," he said. The Hall of Fame running back, who was estranged for years from the NFL team where he starred in the 1950s and 60s -- after his previous role was eliminated by former president Mike Holmgren -- was welcomed back to the Browns on Wednesday by new owner Jimmy Haslam. Brown will serve as a "special adviser," focusing on community work, interacting with fans and helping mentor players. Haslam called Browns return a "very special and significant day in Cleveland Browns history." Browns homecoming has been in the planning stages for months, and after a few meetings with Brown, Haslam was pleased to bring back "the greatest Brown of all." "Hes not only the most famous Cleveland Brown of all time and best player thats ever played here," Haslam said. "One of the reasons the Browns remain so popular is when a lot of us were growing up, they followed 32 and he was their hero. So to have 32 back on our team and working with us and being part of not just the Browns but the Cleveland community is tremendously important." Brown, who retired in 1965 at the peak of his playing career to become an actor, is thrilled to be again working for the Browns, his pro football family and the team he helped lead to its last championship in 1964. The years he was disconnected were difficult, but Brown, who was accompanied to the news conference at FirstEnergy Stadium by his wife, Monique, said the Haslam familys desire to bring him back soothed any hard feelings he may have had. "Ive been through many ups and downs here," Brown said. "I like the new ownership. I respect the new ownership. I will stand by the new ownership come hell or high water, and I will be doing everything in my power to help the Cleveland Browns be successful." Brown said being away from the beloved brown and orange was tough. "Nothings changed except I was off the payroll and out of town and it was not a good feeling because Im used to being around," he said. "I have no animosity, I have no thoughts on any of that because this is a tough game.dddddddddddd The main thing is, Im very happy to have been invited back." Although he lives in Los Angeles, Brown vowed to have a constant presence with the Browns, who havent been able to win with any consistency since their expansion return in 1999. "You will see as much of me as they can stand because somehow, sometimes I wake up thinking Im the coach and it doesnt work that way," Brown said. "Im going to be here quite a bit and I will be on call to the Cleveland Browns first. My activities, whatever, will take a secondary position to the needs of the Cleveland Browns." Never one to mince his words or hold back on an opinion, Brown promised to continue being himself in his new position with Haslam, who bought the franchise last year from Randy Lerner. "I wouldnt be sitting here if there was not a relationship between the two of us," Brown said, with Haslam seated to his left. "Jimmy doesnt bite his tongue, so I kind of like that. I try not to bite mine, as most of you know. But I think with Jimmy I will be a little more under control." "I doubt it," Haslam said with a laugh. While Browns return has given Haslam a boost with the Browns, he remains embroiled in a federal investigation for alleged fraud at Pilot Flying J, his family-owned truck-stop chain. On Wednesday, two PFJ employees pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and conspiracy. Federal prosecutors allege members of Pilots sales team deliberately withheld rebates to boost profits. Brown has also had his share of legal troubles, including a string of arrests for assaults on women. He vowed his full sport of Clevelands embattled owner and said the timing of his return could help comfort Haslam, who has maintained he was unaware of any fraud. "That is my guy," Brown said. "I have a relationship with him. I believe in him. I stand behind him. Yes, Im glad this timing is the way it is. Im here, I believe in this man and thats it. I have been through a thousand things, but ultimately I turned out to be a decent human being. Volatile and involved in controversial things and so forth and so on, but in America thats the kind of country we have." ' ' '