Picking up the pieces of Allen Iverson’s press conference

Comcast SportsNet, which televised Allen Iverson’s news conference live, had a decision to make when Iverson started rolling out profanities. Delay or not delay the broadcast? That was the question.

"There was a time when Allen really started getting emotional about it that we were debating whether to go to a delay, but for us to go to a delay, we would have to stop," news director Tom Stathakes said. "We would have had to get out of it first and then come back, and I really think it was too compelling. "

The most colorful adjective Iverson used rhymed with "hit. " Once however, he dropped an F-bomb, saying that he liked a writer even though he sometimes wrote "f--ed-up" stories.

"I regret that he said [the F-word]," Stathakes said, "but I have no animosity toward him. You don't know when somebody is going to say something. If I'd have known it, obviously we'd have put it on delay. But that's the beauty of live television and the guy was pouring his heart out. And we weren't going anywhere. "

"It was riveting," Stathakes said. "So many guys stand up there and say nothing. We do postgame show after postgame show where guys sit up there and say nothing. He came out and was a human being.

"Every once in a while it's nice to have someone come out, be a human being. Forget the money, forget the business part and just speak from the heart.

"Just look at the reaction of the media," Stathakes continued. "Everybody was buzzing. Because somebody got up there and told the truth. Whether you believe it's the truth or not, it's his version of the truth and that's what he believes and the one thing you can't criticize that guy for is for being real. And it was awesome."

Here is the official tally on Allen Iverson’s use of cuss words in his news conference shown live on Comcast SportsNet: