Naomi Osaka Is Now A Philadelphia Athlete After Showing Up To The US Open Dressed Like Allen Iverson
Those peak Allen Iverson years were unlike anything we've ever seen in Philly sports. For as far as I can remember, AI was really the first Philly athlete who was universally considered cool as shit. The first Philly athlete I can remember where people who weren't even Philly fans would be wearing his jersey.
Chris Covatta. Getty Images.Everything about AI was iconic and pretty much defined the early 2000s. The cornrows, the headband, the shooting sleeve. Dennis Rodman was probably the first NBA star to be tatted up but Allen Iverson was right there behind him. And then just the overall style of play. He took street ball and showed the world that you can turn that it into an MVP, Hall of Fame, NBA Finals appearance kind of career in the NBA. He's a cultural icon whose influence is still being felt 20 years later.
Now I wouldn't necessarily put Naomi Osaka in that category. She's not exactly universally beloved. I'd say she's polarizing at best. But people can change, and maybe this is the start for Naomi Osaka. Allen Iverson ruled because he was exactly who he is. He was authentically himself every step of the way, and he was also a beast on the court. Maybe throwing the cornrows in is all it'll take for Naomi Osaka to do the same. She's won the US Open twice before. But if she does it this year while cosplaying as Allen Iverson, then it officially counts as a title for Philadelphia.