Sports cultural icons

How two kids from Virginia became the biggest influencers in NBA and NFL history.

The relationship that hip hop has with football and basketball is truly a unique one that has grown over the last couple of years. The culture has influenced many players to befriend rappers and to truly display their love for the music and lifestyle. The freedom that players have to express themselves with things such as tattoos and hair styles is also an amazing part of the game since players can be themselves. But who was it that sparked this influence in these sports. The answer is…The Answer. Allen Iverson and Michael Vick were both kids born in Virginia and later made an everlasting impact on the sports landscape.

Allen Iverson at Georgetown University. Photo credit: Getty/Mitchell Layton

Allen Iverson was born in Hampton, Virginia in 1975. He was an extremely gifted athlete at Bethel High School, playing both basketball and football and received offers for both. After an incident at a bowling alley that had nothing to do with him, he went to jail on a 15 year sentence and was later pardoned by Governor Doug Wilder after 4 months. The outstanding athlete quickly lost his offers until Georgetown took a chance on him. Iverson showcased his talent and eventually became the 1st overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft.

Allen Iverson receiving his MVP trophy.

Iverson quickly impacted the game with his flashy streetball style as he crossed defenders left and right. He later went against the traditional NBA mold with his iconic cornrows and his tattoos as players haven’t traditionally done this before. Iverson also showed up to games in the then trendy baggy clothes and chains that rap artists were wearing. His impact was quickly followed by then Nuggets young forward Carmelo Anthony as he dawned braids and tattoo sleeves as well.

Iverson court-side at an NBA game. Photo credit: Original Shift

This didn’t sit well with commissioner David Stern, as he instituted the first major dress code in professional sports. Stern ordered that players wear business casual attire with dress shoes to the games before suiting up, if they were sitting out on the bench, or conducting interviews. Multiple players were disgruntled with the rule and Stern told the players that they had to decide their future in the league. Players still decided to protest and wear their baggy and comfortable clothes and took the fines like it was nothing. Eventually, the NBA and new commissioner Adam Silver changed the rule as it was more relaxed and allowed players to wear hoodies and polos, saying goodbye to the sports jacket era. Iverson had led the way for the 2000s era of basketball and has influenced the likes of Kyrie Irving and James Harden as they constantly snatch ankles and cross players up with new moves on a nightly basis. His influence also expands to multiple guys like Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony, Damian Lillard, Derrick Rose and plenty of other players with the idea of expression with tattoos and hairstyles.

Michael Vick (7) answering the media after defeating Boston College. Photo credit: Hokie Sports

Another stellar athlete from Virginia that was just as athletically talented as Iverson is Michael Vick. Michael was born in Newport News, Virginia in 1980. Vick attended Homer L. Ferguson High School and played football as a freshman before the school closed down. He then attended Warwick High School and was a full time starter as a dual threat quarterback who passed for over 4,000 yards and ran for over 1,000. With his amazing athletic prowess and exceptional football skills, the star quarterback decided to attend Virginia Tech over Syracuse in 1998. Vick redshirted his freshman year and started the next year as a redshirt freshman. With a year to groom, Vick blossomed into one of the most electrifying players in NCAA history and had an immediate impact on the school and area. His amazing play helped to raise the school’s sales and boost the local economy. With his marketability and stunning play, Michael became the first African American quarterback to be drafted 1st overall as the Falcons traded up to take him in the 2001 NFL draft.

Michael Vick hurdles a defender to score a touchdown. Photo credit: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Vick went to the African American capital of America, Atlanta, and broke the stereotypes of black quarterbacks. Vick was outstanding as he gashed defenses on a weekly basis with his arm and legs. Vick was the ultimate dual threat as he became the first quarterback to rush for 1,000 yards in a season and made the Falcons a relevant team in the 2000s. Vick signed a deal with Nike and created the iconic “Michael Vick experience” commercial and has been named-dropped in multiple rap songs, especially by Atlanta native Ludacris. The Atlanta star also donned his cornrows and his style of play as he ran all over defenses and gave defensive coordinators nightmares about containing him.

Michael Vick

In 2007, the hero in ATL was arrested on dog fighting crimes and went to jail for 21 months and was suspended from the NFL. After his sentence, then Eagles coach Andy Reid took a chance on him in 2009 and the once Atlanta star didn’t miss a step. He looked like his old self and reclaimed his spot as a top quarterback in the league. Michael Vick made it normal for African American quarterbacks to be great at throwing and running the ball and to be in discussions for best quarterback in the league. After him, Cam Newton, Kyler Murray, and Jamarcus Russell (yes, Jamarcus Russell) are the only other black quarterbacks to be drafted 1st overall. Vick has set the way and inspired those after him like Cam Newton, Russell Wilson, Deshaun Watson, Lamar Jackson, Kyler Murray and many other black signal callers in the league today. Cam Newton came into the league as an electric QB in 2011 as he instantly displayed his dual threat ability. Later in his career, Newton donned the moniker “Superman” as he ascended to superstardom and went on to win the league MVP. Superman became iconic for his infamous touchdown dances and trash talk and became the all time rushing touchdown leader for QBs with 70. Lamar Jackson played off the charts in college as he won the Heisman in his sophomore year and finished 3rd as a junior. Going into the draft, many scouts and teams doubted Jackson’s ability to be an NFL quarterback, saying he lacked the arm strength and accuracy and should switch positions. He was drafted by the Ravens 32nd overall in 2018 and brought the swagger and charisma back to the position in 2019. In his first full season as a starter that year, Lamar finished with over 3,000 passing yards and broke Vick’s record for rushing yards by a QB with 1,206, led the league in passing touchdowns, and led the Ravens to a league’s best 14-2 record as he became the 2nd unanimous MVP in league history.

Allen Iverson and Michael Vick both embraced their athletic prowess and used their platforms to inspire a whole generation after them. Who would’ve thought that 2 kids from Virginia in the projects would become the greatest cultural influences and icons in sports lasting to this very day.