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SXSW capsule summary: ‘No Crossover: The Trial of Allen Iverson’
‘No Crossover: The Trial of Allen Iverson’
Most casual sports fans probably know Allen Iverson as the heavily tattooed basketball player who once rhetorically (and repeatedly) asked a group of reporters if they really needed to waste his time talking about practice.
Despite being one of the greatest-ever NBA players, Iverson has become more known for his selfish attitude (real or perceived) and thuggish image.
In the documentary “No Crossover: The Trial of Allen Iverson,” director Steve James of “Hoop Dreams” returns to basketball and returns to his home of Hampton, Va., to investigate Iverson’s formative years and one incident that helped shape the superstar’s world view.
In the middle of a high school athletic career in which he led his football and basketball teams to state championships, Iverson’s life changed forever. He was at a bowling alley on Valentine’s Day during his junior year when an argument erupted.
What happened next is clear: A fight ensued between Iverson’s friends and a group of white patrons, chairs were thrown and a woman was injured. What was unclear, and still is, is the extent of Iverson’s involvement. Despite conflicting reports, Iverson and two of his friends, all minors, were tried as adults and convicted on a felony charge of maiming by a mob. (The conviction was later overturned.)
In his documentary about the case, James reveals the racial and cultural tensions that still exist in Hampton. And while the facts might ultimately be muddied by history, “No Crossover” leaves audiences with a clearer understanding of the troubled future Hall of Famer, who ever since has had a me-vs.-the-world attitude.
Screenings: 11 a.m. Sunday , Paramount; Also, 2:45 p.m. Friday March 19, G-Tech Theater
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