Screaming Mimi Resurfaces

Grab your earplugs and prepare for maximum decibels. Screamin' A. Smith has returned to give us more of his patented jet engine reporting.

Yesterday, Smith wrote in a Philadelphia Inquirer column titled "Iverson Needs More Than a Prayer", that Allen Iverson is battling alcoholism and a gambling problem.

This was first brought to our attention on a Facebook news feed posted by frequent passenger Julie T. (a.k.a. Ms. Awesome, Her Royal Awesomeness, etc.) of Roxborough.

The article reads:

"If numerous NBA sources are telling the truth - and there's no reason to believe they'd do otherwise in a situation of this magnitude - Iverson will either drink himself into oblivion or gamble his life away."

First, Iverson's wife filed for divorce last week, in addition to the Philadelphia 76ers saying that he is essentially done for the season. And let us not forget the obviously serious illness that his daughter is afflicted, which had been keeping Iverson away from the team.

Smith eloquently wrote this on the subject of the impending divorce:

"The one advantage Iverson acknowledged having all of these years was a wife about whom he publicly said, "I'd die for her. . . . I'd die without her." Now, she essentially has said, "Go right ahead."

Nice Smith, real nice.

Second, "Numerous NBA sources"? What does that mean?

We here at the D-train Daily are often afforded access to the NovaCare Center due to a long friendship with a member of the coaching staff. On occasion we chat with say, a janitor or cafeteria employee. If we cite them in a report does that count as an NFL source? Because we are of the belief that it would for Screamin' A.

Also, the only quote that Smith had in the column was from former Temple University Men's Basketball Coach Jon Chaney. Obviously Chaney is a knowedgeable source, but not on the NBA and certainly not with respect to Iverson.

Smith is kicking Iverson while he is down in an obvious attempt to bring himself back in to the eye of the sport-viewing public. For whatever reason, Smith was hot in the streets for a moment in time. Between the regular columns, the frequent ESPN appearances on all things NBA, and his show "Quite Frankly" (SUCKED) you could not go two days without enduring Smith.

Okay, we have an ax to grind with Screamin' A. if that has not been picked up on yet. Three years ago, Smith had this to say about bloggers:

"And when you look at the Internet business, what's dangerous about it is that people who are clearly unqualified get to disseminate their piece to the masses...Therefore, there’s a total disregard, a level of wrecklessness that ends up being a domino effect. And the people who suffer are the common viewers out there and, more importantly, those in the industry who haven't been fortunate to get a radio or television deal and only rely on the written word. And now they’ve been sabotaged. Not because of me. Or like me. But because of the industry or the world has allowed the average joe to resemble a professional without any credentials whatsoever."

A psychologist would refer to Smith's words as projecting. He was an over-opinionated freelance writer who got his break due to the popularity of his Internet website. So talk about someone getting in the door and then slamming it shut behind them, that's this guy; the same guy who gives irresponsible reports with haphazard attribution of his sources, is hypocritical in his assessment of amateur writers, sounds like he was grabbed from in front of a 40-store to be put on TV, and just basically an all-around a-hole.

Quite frankly, Stephen A. Smith can suck it, and suck it dry. Ask yourself this dear passenger: Have you missed him?