Allen Iverson

The Rochester Lancers of the Major Indoor Soccer League announced they have offered a contract to former NBA star Allen Iverson. The Lancers have offered Iverson $20,000 per game,  with a bonus of $5,000 per goal scored, win bonuses and merchandise bonuses.  More than 12 goals are scored, on average, per game. One caveat: The Lancers have only two games left this season. "Allen Iverson is one of the premier athletes of our time," said Rich Randall, Lancers vice president.  "With his athleticism and competitive hunger, I think he can be a great fit with our team and fans as we make an important playoff push, while also driving interest to an exciting, growing sport.

The Rochester Lancers of the Major Indoor Soccer League announced they have offered a contract to former NBA star Allen Iverson. The Lancers have offered Iverson $20,000 per game,  with a bonus of $5,000 per goal scored, win bonuses and merchandise bonuses.  More than 12 goals are scored, on average, per game. One caveat: The Lancers have only two games left this season. "Allen Iverson is one of the premier athletes of our time," said Rich Randall, Lancers vice president.  "With his athleticism and competitive hunger, I think he can be a great fit with our team and fans as we make an important playoff push, while also driving interest to an exciting, growing sport.

Memphis Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley says he is not sure of what Allen Iverson's future plans are, though he hopes Iverson returns to the Grizzlies soon. Heisley granted the 10-time All-Star permission Saturday for an indefinite leave to deal with a personal matter. The Commercial Appeal newspaper reported Monday that Iverson is contemplating retirement. Heisley told the Associated Press on Monday that he doesn't know what's in Iverson's head and thinks Iverson still can play another three NBA seasons.

Clippers tonight VS. MINNESOTA When: 7:30. Where: Staples Center. On the air: TV: Prime Ticket. Radio: 980. Records: Clippers 15-25, Timberwolves 10-32. Record vs. Timberwolves: 1-1. Update: Blake Griffin is coming off his career-high 47 point performance, the second time he has scored more than 40 points this season. For the sake of comparison, Allen Iverson had five games of 40 or more points in his rookie season, 1996-97.

Allen Iverson's second stint with the team he once led to the NBA Finals ended with a whimper Tuesday when the Philadelphia 76ers announced he would not return for the rest of the season. Iverson has mostly been absent from the team for a month, returning to Atlanta to be with his family as they deal with an undisclosed illness of his 4-year-old daughter, Messiah. Iverson, who returned to the 76ers as a free agent in December, has not played since Feb. 20. "After discussing the situation with Allen, we have come to the conclusion that he will not return to the Sixers for the remainder of the season, as he no longer wishes to be a distraction to the organization and teammates that he loves very deeply," team President Ed Stefanski said.

The Clippers' future was on display Monday night, in front of NBA Commissioner David Stern, team owner Donald Sterling, General Manager and Coach Mike Dunleavy and veteran Marcus Camby. Other elements of the Clippers' future were in the works, though not in full view. Blake Griffin and Allen Iverson.

I was on my way to a meeting Thursday morning, completely oblivious to my surroundings, when I realized that the man in the car next to mine was speaking to me. "Lakers didn't look so good last night," he said. I was startled. My principal human contact so far that day, with grown-ups at least, had been online. And I didn't think of a stoplight on Olympic as a usual gathering place for conversation. "But the 76ers looked great," I finally managed to say.

The Memphis Grizzlies confirmed Wednesday they have agreed in principle to a contract with Allen Iverson , hours after the guard said on Twitter he was heading to Memphis. The team scheduled a news conference today at FedExForum. Iverson would become the highest-profile player ever to put on a Grizzlies uniform. "We anticipate signing him to a contract very soon," Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace said. The New Orleans Hornets agreed to trade reserve point guard Antonio Daniels and a 2014 second-round draft pick to Minnesota in exchange for forward Darius Songaila and guard Bobby Brown . Ronny Turiaf had a double-double and Tony Parker had 17 points to help France beat defending champion Russia, 69-64, and finish the group phase undefeated at the European basketball championship in Warsaw.

EXACTLY Clippers broadcaster Ralph Lawler, on the "personal problems" that obliged Allen Iverson to leave the Memphis Grizzlies: "He has personal problems, all right. He personally doesn't want to come off the bench." THAT TOO ESPN's Josh Elliott: "Iverson left the team Saturday after receiving permission from owner Michael Heisley to deal with a personnel matter." MY LIFE AS A BUG Minnesota Coach Kurt Rambis, on telling role players they're "parasites" who feed off stars: "I was a parasite, so if it doesn't bug me, it shouldn't bug anyone else.

The Philadelphia 76ers' Allen Iverson is the ultimate summer romance. The handsome guy you see across the pool or the park who looks a little scary at first because he's all tattooed, or sitting on a motorcycle or something. His skill and passion are renowned. He looks right at you and smiles. Sunlight glints off his perfect teeth and jewelry. He'll be gone in a week or so. You're infatuated. Normally, you don't follow sports.

Allen Iverson's second stint with the team he once led to the NBA Finals ended with a whimper Tuesday when the Philadelphia 76ers announced he would not return for the rest of the season. Iverson has mostly been absent from the team for a month, returning to Atlanta to be with his family as they deal with an undisclosed illness of his 4-year-old daughter, Messiah. Iverson, who returned to the 76ers as a free agent in December, has not played since Feb. 20. "After discussing the situation with Allen, we have come to the conclusion that he will not return to the Sixers for the remainder of the season, as he no longer wishes to be a distraction to the organization and teammates that he loves very deeply," team President Ed Stefanski said.

Lakers tonight VS. PHILADELPHIA When: 7:30. Where: Staples Center. On the air : TV: FS West; Radio: 710, 1330. Records: Lakers 43-15, 76ers 22-35. Record vs. 76ers : 1-0. Update : The Lakers beat the 76ers, 99-91, last month in Philadelphia as Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson had a scoring duel. Bryant had 22 of his 24 points in the second half, while Iverson scored 21 of his season-high 23 in the second half. Iverson has taken an indefinite leave, and has missed the 76ers' four-game trip, to be with his ill daughter.

at Denver 127, Dallas 91: Carmelo Anthony scored 19 points in his return from an ankle injury and the Nuggets had their biggest win of the season. Anthony had been out eight games. Oklahoma City 89, at Portland 77: Kevin Durant had 33 points and 11 rebounds to help the Thunder win its season-high sixth in a row. Durant has scored 25 or more points in 25 consecutive games-- the longest streak since Allen Iverson's 27 games during the 2000-01 season. at Philadelphia 119, Minnesota 97: Andre Iguodala scored 24 points and Elton Brand added 21 in a game played before a sparse crowd that braved the area's second major snowstorm in less than a week.

A listless game between the Lakers and 76ers on a cold Friday night became a showdown between Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson. Bryant and Iverson raised the temperature of the game in the second half, the two of them taking the game over, giving the crowd inside Philadelphia's Wachovia Center something to get excited about. The Lakers pulled out the victory, 99-91, because Bryant had 22 of his 24 points in the second half and because he has a better supporting cast. Iverson had 21 of his season-high 23 points in the second half.

at Philadelphia 117, Golden State 101: Thaddeus Young had 26 points and 14 rebounds, Allen Iverson scored 20 points and the 76ers' losing streak ended at 12 games. Iverson reached the 20-point plateau for the second consecutive game. Minnesota 110, at Utah 108: Jonny Flynn drove for the go-ahead layup with three seconds left and the Timberwolves (4-21) beat the Jazz for the second time this season. Corey Brewer tied his career high with 22 points for Minnesota. at Denver 102, Oklahoma City 93: Carmelo Anthony scored 31 points -- his fourth consecutive game with at least 30 points -- and the Nuggets defeated the Thunder for the fifth consecutive time.

New Jersey Nets General Manager Kiki Vandeweghe is set to become the team's coach for the rest of the season. He doesn't have to worry about being on the bench for a potential record-setting loss, though. Vandeweghe won't coach his first game with the team until Friday, a person with knowledge of the team's plans told the Associated Press on Monday. The person requested anonymity because the Nets don't plan to announce their plans until this morning. Tom Barrise , who led the team Sunday night after Lawrence Frank was fired, will coach again Wednesday against Dallas, when the Nets can set an NBA record with an 18th straight loss to begin a season.

And now, up close and personal with Allen Iverson . . . Georgetown style. Well, he's a point guard. He wears No. 3. He's 6-1. And after that, you're pretty much on your own. Iverson is the most publicized best-kept secret in college basketball. He might be the nation's best freshman, but no one knows a thing about him except that he's playing for the 20th-ranked Hoyas and is averaging 18.8 points, 4.3 assists and 3.2 steals.

Greatness just arrived in a baseball cap with the bill turned southwest, an oversized flannel shirt, a large gold crucifix and jeans big enough for Charles Barkley riding precariously on his hips. This little slip of a thing is Allen Iverson? In the flesh, what little there is of it. The future just slouched in, looking like any kid at the mall.

Top-ranked Roger Federer was eliminated from the ATP World Tour Finals in London on Saturday, losing to Nikolay Davydenko , 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, in the semifinals. Federer, who was broken three straight times in the first set, came within two points of winning while leading, 5-4, in the third set. But Davydenko held on and then broke Federer to take a 6-5 lead before serving out the win. Davydenko will face U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro in today's final. The 21-year-old Argentine advanced by beating Robin Soderling , 6-7 (1)

Mike Bresnahan covers the Lakers for The Times and ties up loose ends on the day of his self-designated "Lakers game of the week." The Lakers play tonight at Golden State. Uh-oh. Tim Kawakami's acting strangely. The former Times reporter who covered the Lakers a few years before I stumbled into the picture has been a literary thorn in the side of the Golden State Warriors as a columnist for the San Jose Mercury News. He has weighed in on a world of chaos up there, badgering a franchise that hasn't played for a championship since 1975.