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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- On the eve of his induction, Allen Iverson was in vintage form during Thursdays festivities at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.Iverson, one of the headliners in the 10-member Class of 2016, arrived tardy and missed a jacket ceremony, then engaged in an enthralling half-hour question-and-answer session with reporters that culminated with an emotional Iverson fighting back tears as he thanked those who aided his journey to the Hall.The Class of 2016 will be inducted Friday night at Springfield Symphony Hall.Inductees received new Naismith Orange jackets Thursday at the Halls Center Court, before taking part in individual news conferences.Organizers initially stalled the scheduled 2 p.m. start, before announcing Iverson would be tardy. Settling into his chair in front of a throng of reporters after the jacket event, Shaquille ONeal playfully needled Iversons no-show.I dont know how you miss this, ONeal said, before altering his voice to spoof Iversons infamous practice rant. Hall of Fame? Im a franchise player. You talking about the Hall of Fame?!About 90 minutes into the two-hour event, Iverson arrived wearing paint-splattered jeans, a black T-shirt, gold chains and a New York Yankees cap. He slipped into his Hall of Fame jacket before sitting down for media duties.Asked about his late arrival, Iverson said simply, Personal situation. Family. When pressed on the matter, he playfully barked, Thats the first thing you want to know about me? and steered the conversation to his basketball career.Iverson answered basketball-related questions for most of his session but commended a reporter who asked whether he ever had two-sport aspirations. He wondered aloud if he could have been the best player in the NFL.Toward the end of his session, Iverson was asked about those whom he played alongside. He fought back tears as he spoke.Thats the only thing that got me here is my teammates, he said, his voice trembling. My teammates and my coach. Thats the only reason Im here. All those guys sacrificed their game and sacrificed different things for me to be honored like this and what Ive done. Without them, it wouldnt have happened.Without my coaches putting me in a position to succeed. Mike Bailey did it my high school level, coach [John] Thompson did it at the college level. And Larry Brown molded me into an MVP and a Hall of Fame player. Without those guys I wouldnt be here. Without those guys, man. I didnt do this by myself, man. It was so many people, so many fans that came in there and cheered for me, night in and night out. So many people supported me and believed in me. They made it so easy for me to believe in myself, because I didnt want to let them down. I wanted my fans and my family and my friends to be proud of me.Iverson said he will save time in his Basketball Hall of Fame induction speech to mention the people who criticized him throughout his career, explaining that they are also responsible for molding the player who earned a spot in Springfield.?Even the ones that were negative in my career, obviously to try and prove them wrong was a motivation, he said.I had to overcome what they said about me. I had to overcome all that to be wearing this [Hall of Fame] jacket right now. The naysayers, they helped me, too.Iversons absence at the start of Thursdays festivities made ONeal the center of attention. Fellow inductee Sheryl Swoopes said ONeal offered her $1 million to fall while walking down the red carpet to receive her Hall of Fame jacket. Swoopes joked she considered it but passed when Shaq couldnt show her the actual money.ONeal produced one of the more comical moments of the jacket ceremony when he sprang from his seat to assist 7-foot-6 Yao Ming with putting on his oversized jacket.Asked about Fridays bigger stage, ONeal said he wouldnt feel any pressure to put on a show or keep things light at Fridays induction ceremony.Im just going to go be myself, he said. I dont think people expect me to give a serious speech with a lot of big words that I dont know what the pronunciation is. Im just going to be myself and speak from the heart.In addition to ONeal, Iverson, Ming and Swoopes, the Class of 2016 features Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf, ABA star Zelmo Beaty, 27-year NBA referee Darell Garretson, Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, John McLendon and Cumberland Posey.Inductees received new induction jackets that feature the Naismith Orange color, which maker Haggar Clothing Co. says represents the true hue of the basketball. Family members received jackets for those entering the Hall posthumously.The jackets also feature a silver lining with Basketball Hall of Fame and Haggar logos, antiqued brass buttons with dual logos, and a larger felted patch showcasing the Hall of Fame emblem on the left breast. Each blazer features the recipients name woven in and is handmade in Ohio.Presented with the first orange jacket after an unveiling, Hall of Fame chairman Jerry Colangelo quipped, Well certainly be seen wherever we are.The Associated Press contributed to this report. Corey Dickerson Pirates Jersey . Jeff Green scored 13 points and Kris Humphries 12 for the Celtics, who nearly blew an 18-point, second-half lead. Sullingers 20-20 was the first by a Celtics player since Kevin Garnetts first game in Boston in 2007. Garnett was dealt -- along with Paul Pierce -- to Brooklyn during the off-season. Lonnie Chisenhall Jersey . 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BOSTON -- Julian Batts and Jerome Frink hit back-to-back 3-pointers to give LIU Brooklyn the lead with 1:29 left and the Blackbirds held on to take a 78-74 win over Northeastern in the Steve Wright Classic at Boston University Saturday.It was the first meeting between the teams since 1988-89.Bolden Braces 3-pointer to put the Huskies up 71-65 with 2:46 left, but the Blackbirds answered with a layup by Nura Zanna. Batts followed with a trey with 2:12 left and Frinks 3 gave thhem the lead, 73-71.dddddddddddd Jashaun Agosto added a 3-point play in the final minute to cap an 11-0 run.Agosto finished with 20 points for LIU Brooklyn (3-0). Batts contributed 13 and Frink added 11.T.J. Williams shot 12 of 14 from the line and led Northeastern (2-2) with 18 points. Shawn Occeus hit 4 of 7 from long range and added 14 points. ' ' '