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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- On the eve of his induction, Allen Iverson was in vintage form during Thursdays festivities at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.Iverson, one of the headliners in the 10-member Class of 2016, arrived tardy and missed a jacket ceremony, then engaged in an enthralling half-hour question-and-answer session with reporters that culminated with an emotional Iverson fighting back tears as he thanked those who aided his journey to the Hall.The Class of 2016 will be inducted Friday night at Springfield Symphony Hall.Inductees received new Naismith Orange jackets Thursday at the Halls Center Court, before taking part in individual news conferences.Organizers initially stalled the scheduled 2 p.m. start, before announcing Iverson would be tardy. Settling into his chair in front of a throng of reporters after the jacket event, Shaquille ONeal playfully needled Iversons no-show.I dont know how you miss this, ONeal said, before altering his voice to spoof Iversons infamous practice rant. Hall of Fame? Im a franchise player. You talking about the Hall of Fame?!About 90 minutes into the two-hour event, Iverson arrived wearing paint-splattered jeans, a black T-shirt, gold chains and a New York Yankees cap. He slipped into his Hall of Fame jacket before sitting down for media duties.Asked about his late arrival, Iverson said simply, Personal situation. Family. When pressed on the matter, he playfully barked, Thats the first thing you want to know about me? and steered the conversation to his basketball career.Iverson answered basketball-related questions for most of his session but commended a reporter who asked whether he ever had two-sport aspirations. He wondered aloud if he could have been the best player in the NFL.Toward the end of his session, Iverson was asked about those whom he played alongside. He fought back tears as he spoke.Thats the only thing that got me here is my teammates, he said, his voice trembling. My teammates and my coach. Thats the only reason Im here. All those guys sacrificed their game and sacrificed different things for me to be honored like this and what Ive done. Without them, it wouldnt have happened.Without my coaches putting me in a position to succeed. Mike Bailey did it my high school level, coach [John] Thompson did it at the college level. And Larry Brown molded me into an MVP and a Hall of Fame player. Without those guys I wouldnt be here. Without those guys, man. I didnt do this by myself, man. It was so many people, so many fans that came in there and cheered for me, night in and night out. So many people supported me and believed in me. They made it so easy for me to believe in myself, because I didnt want to let them down. I wanted my fans and my family and my friends to be proud of me.Iverson 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 who earned a spot in Springfield.?Even the ones that were negative in my career, obviously to try and prove them wrong was a motivation, he said.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.Iversons absence at the start of Thursdays festivities made ONeal the center of attention. Fellow inductee Sheryl Swoopes said ONeal offered her $1 million to fall while walking down the red carpet to receive her Hall of Fame jacket. Swoopes joked she considered it but passed when Shaq couldnt show her the actual money.ONeal produced one of the more comical moments of the jacket ceremony when he sprang from his seat to assist 7-foot-6 Yao Ming with putting on his oversized jacket.Asked about Fridays bigger stage, ONeal said he wouldnt feel any pressure to put on a show or keep things light at Fridays induction ceremony.Im just going to go be myself, he said. I dont think people expect me to give a serious speech with a lot of big words that I dont know what the pronunciation is. Im just going to be myself and speak from the heart.In addition to ONeal, Iverson, Ming and Swoopes, the Class of 2016 features Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf, ABA star Zelmo Beaty, 27-year NBA referee Darell Garretson, Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, John McLendon and Cumberland Posey.Inductees received new induction jackets that feature the Naismith Orange color, which maker Haggar Clothing Co. says represents the true hue of the basketball. Family members received jackets for those entering the Hall posthumously.The jackets also feature a silver lining with Basketball Hall of Fame and Haggar logos, antiqued brass buttons with dual logos, and a larger felted patch showcasing the Hall of Fame emblem on the left breast. Each blazer features the recipients name woven in and is handmade in Ohio.Presented with the first orange jacket after an unveiling, Hall of Fame chairman Jerry Colangelo quipped, Well certainly be seen wherever we are.The Associated Press contributed to this report. Vente Air Max 97 . Pettersen, winner of last years Evian Championships, had nine birdies and three bogeys, holding off a series of challengers led by Marion Ricordeau of France. The second-ranked Norwegian made her season debut after missing the LPGA Tours opening event last month in the Bahamas because of a shoulder injury. Air Max 95 Pas Cher Chine . -- Most satisfying to Russ Smith about No. http://www.airmaxpaschervente.fr/destockage-air-max-tn-france.html . The next step is a better finish. Bae played bogey-free Friday on another gorgeous day at Riviera for a 5-under 66, giving him a one-shot lead over Aaron Baddeley and Robert Garrigus going into the weekend. Acheter Air Max 270 Pas Cher . -- Anaheim Ducks defenceman Luca Sbisa will be out at least six weeks with a torn tendon in his right hand. Fausse Air Jordan 1 Pas Cher .875,000, avoiding arbitration. Clippards deal Monday means all eight Nationals players who filed for arbitration wound up settling before a hearing. New York City FC sits atop the Eastern Conference standings and owns the leagues best road record. But coach Patrick Vieria says his squad remains humble heading into Sunday afternoons road showdown with the rival New York Red Bulls.We will go to the game with humility like always, Vieira told the teams website. Were going to go there knowing that it will be a difficult place to go, to dictate the game and try to play. We know what to expect from there. We will have to go there and be brave and play the way we played in the last few weeks and the last few months.New York City (9-6-6) is in first place in the Eastern Conference with 33 points, five more than the Red Bulls. New York City is 6-3-1 on the road and coming off an impressive performance in a 3-1 victory at Montreal.The Red Bulls (8-9-4) enter the game in third place in the Eastern Conference and have been stout on their home pitch, going 7-2-1 at Red Bulls Arena. They are also getting healthier.Striker Bradley Wright-Phillips was limited in training this week, but coach Jesse Marsch insists his leadiing goal scorer was just receiving a little rest.dddddddddddd. The Red Bulls also expect to have fullback Sal Zizzo for Sundays game. Zizzo left last weeks match against Philadelphia late in the second half, but trained in full Wednesday, according to the teams website, and should be fit against New York City.The Red Bulls will be without defender Kemar Lawrence, though. He has yet to return from a groin injury sustained in Copa America play.Everybodys pretty much healthy, Marsch said. Kemar is getting closer and closer each day. Hopefully well get him in training or close to it by the weekend.This is the third meeting between the two Empire State rivals this season. The Red Bulls have dominated this series and embarrassed New York City 7-0 on May 21. It tied the MLS record for the largest margin of victory in league history. But New York City responded with a 2-0 win on July 3, their first victory over the Red Bulls in the series. ' ' '