- ABC News
- September 10, 2016
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Only Allen Iverson could deliver a Hall of Fame speech that name-checked '90s rappers, referenced Chappelle's Show, and thanked just about every person he met along his basketball journey. Iverson, one of the headliners of the Hall of Fame's Class of 2016, delivered a captivating 31-minute speech Friday in which he overcame initial jitters to deliver a memorable address that featured multiple standing ovations from the crowd at Springfield's Symphony Hall, with many in the balcony wearing No. 3 Iverson jerseys and cheering throughout his speech. In maybe the most memorable moment of the speech, Iverson recalled his first time playing against his idol Michael Jordan. "Man, I wanted to be like Mike," said Iverson. "I remember the first time I played against him. I walked out on the court and I looked at him. And, for the first time in my life, a human being didn't really look real to me. You know what I mean? I don't know if you all watch the...