Illadelph Halflife

AI has officially signed back with the Sixers ending his "retirement." Whether this move was for basketball purposes, ticket purposes or simple desperation it will help all those problems. After Lou Williams went down and the Sixers started to tailspin out of control they realized they needed to stop the bleeding somehow. Grabbing a free agent to patch up the roster could have helped that problem. However, grabbing a former MVP who was the heart and soul of your team and city for 10 years brings a lot more.

AI will start and will certainly provide the fire power that the Sixers lost with Williams. He will also provide the team and city with a much needed spark. I would expect the Sixers to start turning things around and playing to their potential. Not just because of the talent of AI but the effect he will have on his teammates, some of whom he's played with but other who simply know what he meant to Sixers history.

For the fans and city this is even more important. The Sixers are in one of the largest markets in the country and a great basketball town. Their tickets sales are at 29th in the EL this year. It would be naive to think that Comcast didn't have this in mind when inking AI. Philadelphia worshiped the Answer. He was the embodiment of what the citizens of South Philly stood for: he represented the struggle that they all represent, he was gritty, he was tough, he was the perpetual underdog, and he persevered.

When AI was shipped out of Philly to Denver it might as well have been a day of mourning on Broad street. The city lost its heart. Success may have stayed in Philly in other sports but Iverson was their pulse and bringing him back should revitalize both the team and the fan-base. A seemingly no brainer move by Comcast here.

The Answer may not be the missing piece to bring the Sixers back to the finals but his homecoming should be wonderful to watch.