A happy reunion?

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- After a one-year separation, Allen Iverson and Larry Brown are back together. For now, everything is beautiful.

This reunion will only be for five weeks, winding up with what both fellows hope is an Olympic gold medal in Athens. But after just a couple of days practicing at the University of North Florida in preparation for the Olympics, Iverson said he's beginning to understand what he missed last season. (Jim O'Brien, take note.)

Sounding a lot like the lyrics from Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi," as opposed to his ill-fated experiment with rap, Iverson said, "You never know how much something means to you until it's gone. And that's kind of the situation with me and Coach Brown."

Responded Brown: "He doesn't need to say those things. I care about him. I miss him." His nose did not appear to expand as he spoke.

For these two, it's a little bit like old times these days at the UNF Arena (home of the Ospreys). Brown, the US Olympic head coach, is calling the shots. Iverson, the oldest member of the team (by 10-plus months over Tim Duncan) and newly minted captain (along with Duncan), is one of the central protagonists, not to mention top players.

While Brown has a long and meritorious record with USA Basketball, including a gold medal as a player in 1964, this will be Iverson's first visit to Olympus. Iverson's international experience is confined to playing on the undefeated 1995 USA team at the World University Games in Japan as well as being a mainstay on the Brown-coached team last summer that went 10-0 in San Juan at the Olympic qualifier.

Iverson and Duncan are the only two players of the original nine selectees who stayed on the team. While others bailed out because of security, family, illness, or common sense, these two held firm.

"This thing means something to me," Iverson said.

He said he never intended not to play as long he recovered from knee surgery, which limited him to 48 games last season. He wouldn't diss those who did withdraw, saying, "I guess they're thinking about their life, their family, the people that care about them, and most importantly themselves. You can't question that. But I just believe so much in God. I feel like God's protected me all my life, through ups and downs, and this is just another obstacle in my life that He'll help me through."

Ups and downs would accurately describe his six-year relationship with Brown. While Brown was in Philadelphia, Iverson developed into one of the NBA's premier performers, winning a Most Valuable Player award, five berths in the NBA All-Star Game, and leading the 76ers to the 2001 NBA Finals.

But the two alternated hugs with shrugs. Or worse. When Brown was allowed to leave the Sixers in 2003, Iverson made his now-famous remarks about how little he valued practice. Brown sees practice as a notch ahead of the Bill of Rights.

While Brown doesn't dismiss the occasional Iversonian williwaw, he still said he enjoyed his six years with Iverson a lot more than people might have thought. Or, at least, that's what he's saying for public consumption.

"I never felt Allen didn't respect what I was trying to do," Brown said. "Yes, there were days that were tough. But I never once thought he didn't think I was trying to help him."

And the coach did note that one of the first calls he received after leading the Pistons to the 2004 title was from Iverson.

"It was late at night," Brown said, laughing.

"I was his coach for six years," Brown went on. "Every arena we played in was full. Every little kid had an Iverson jersey. I think a lot of people respect him. I think the fact he was selected meant a lot to him. He was hurt. He could have taken the easy way out. He didn't. He's committed to be here and that speaks volumes for him." . . .
Brown is putting the 12-member team through two-a-days mainly for conditioning and getting-to-know-you purposes. Yesterday morning's workout, however, had only 10 players as Duncan (food poisoning) and Emeka Okafor (sprained right ankle) were absent. The team will continue to practice here through Friday and then play Puerto Rico in an exhibition game Saturday afternoon at the Memorial Arena. Then it's off to Europe for 12 days of practice and exhibitions in Germany, Serbia and Montenegro, and Turkey. The first Olympic contest is Aug. 15, also against Puerto Rico.