Oh, Allen Iverson. Dear old AI. The 76ers' tremendously successful draft pick in 1996 (pretty much its last, according to yesterday's Bleacher Report) was perhaps the Philadelphia basketball player who garnered the most conflicted reaction from fans: abject worship of his skill; frustration with his arrogance; emulation of his tats and cornrows; weak-kneed arousal from that big smile; grudging respect for the fact that he was just Allen Iverson—he didn't pretend to be anyone else. He was a little like the Joe Biden of the team: When he opened his mouth, you know the front office was wringing its hands over what he'd say next.
And then he went to Denver, and had all kinds of public domestic problems with Tawanna, and then he came back—but wasn't the prodigal son or conquering hero or any other life-saving metaphorical creature—and then he moved to Turkey (!), and now we've kind of washed our hands of him. Not a Kobe-style washing, but just like ... it's over. AI and us—we broke up.
But before the breakup, when he tried to sell his Villanova estate in 2007, he listed it at a hefty $6.3 million, which would have netted (heh) $1.3 million in profit over what he paid originally. Suffice to say, coming into 2008, he didn't get it.
The six-bedroom, 14,000-square-foot home spent three years on the market and ultimately sold for $2.6 million. This, despite the estate's many luxury amenities: a movie theater (pictured, right), a stream, a poolhouse, a waterfall, a billiard room, a lounge with a bar with space for more than 200 wine bottles—you get the picture. It sold finally in 2010, and for whatever reason, the current owners have decided enough is enough with AI's old crib. So it's back on the market, this time for $3,295,000. Iverson will not be pleased to learn of that asking price. When Iverson owned it, it was listed by Long & Foster. The listing read thusly:
This masterpiece of craftsmanship encompasses 14,000 sq. ft. of award winning design. Nestled amongst 4.0 of meticulously designed landscaping, pool house, stream and cascading waterfalls, this modern Chateau is a haven of tranquility. Four complete levels of lavish appointments beginning in the Foyer and Great Room with flr to ceiling Palladian windows, custom rail work and breathtaking molding, 5 fps, 9 custom baths, French doors and soaring ceilings offer drama and grace throughout the Estate. Now, the same property is listed this way:
Beautiful gated estate...situated on 3 1/2+/- acres on a most private lane in Villanova. Lavish appointments with soaring ceilings, beautiful moldings, 6 bedroom suites, 7 1/2 baths, 5 fireplaces, theater, pool, pool house, guest quarters, 4 garages plus too much to list, within this recently updated, custom designed estate. Total privacy..yet minutes to all major highways, Center City Philadelphia & Airport!
House as it is now.Not a huge difference, actually, but we can't help notice the new listings photos do not include the photo of the movie theater. And something tells us the decor isn't the same as when AI lived there. However, should AI decide to come back and take up residence in his old estate, we have a feeling Philadelphians wouldn't reject him entirely. We'd feel...conflicted.
· Listing: 800 Chateau Lane, Villanova [Prudential Fox Roach]
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