Allen Iverson is a frustrated man, there is no denying that.  Just listening to him speak yesterday will tell you that.  He is an emotional balloon that yesterday was blown up too big and exploded, showing that the recent talk of problems between he and coach Larry Brown and that he might be traded during the off season had gotten too much for him.

His Sixers team mates had their end-of-season meeting with coach Larry Brown and general manager Billy King three days ago, and yesterday it was Iverson?s turn.  While the results from the meeting apparently are that both Brown and Iverson will be back next year, Iverson?s tirade afterwards suggests that is not etched in stone.

After losing Game 5 Iverson refused to meet with Brown, prompting the coach to fire some warning shots at Iverson Saturday.  According to Ashley Fox of the Philadelphia Inquirer Brown made it clear that no player is safe from being traded, Iverson included. And everyone, Iverson included, must prove to Brown he is willing to do whatever the coach asks - practice, work out, play hard - or else be gone. And, Brown said, the proverbial clock is ticking.

Those comments lead to Iverson meeting with Brown yesterday in an attempt to clear the air.  Iverson?s sound-off ranging from work ethic to practice to trade rumors to his best friend being killed last fall read like the two still have their issues, issues that are perhaps unrepairable.  Brown didn?t comment on what was said, but will hold a news conference today to address the media.

"Why are we talking about this?" Iverson said. "Everybody on my team, all the rest of the soldiers that went to war with me, are enjoying their summer, enjoying it. But look at me. Look what I'm going through... . It's summertime. I'm supposed to be with my kids and my wife chilling.

"I've got to go through this. This is what I've got to go through. This is Allen Iverson's life in a nutshell. I know I don't do everything right. I do a whole lot of s---- that ain't right. Yes, I do."

"Now it's not even about me and coach Brown. It's about Allen Iverson, that's it. The ball is in his corner. I read the little articles. My friends tell me what people say.?

"If I can't practice, I can't practice. If I'm hurt, I'm hurt," Iverson insisted yesterday. "It's not about that. It's easy to sum it up when you talk about practice. I'm supposed to be the franchise player, and we're in here talking about practice. Not a game - we're talking about practice. How silly is that??

"I know I'm supposed to be there, I know I'm supposed to lead by example, I know that. I'm not shoving it aside. I know it's important, but we're talking about practice."

"I'm the MVP and I've got to worry about trade talk. I'm the MVP. The MVP...When I lose, this is what I've got to go through?"

There is no doubt that there has been an immense amount of emotional stress on Iverson this year, starting with losing his best friend to a slaying in Virginia in the fall to losing to the Celtics in the opening round only last week, but for the Sixers will time heal all or will the emotions simply be bottled over the summer.  Iverson already holds a grudge against Brown, claiming the two ?are not as close as he thought? after Brown?s recent comments ? which, IMO, are not really fair for the reigning MVP (Duncan is not official yet) ? so the question still remains will the two ever be on the same page again?

"Just for one minute try to stick your foot in my shoe and try to deal with what I go through in my life," Iverson said. "My best friend dead, and we lost.?

"Now this is what I've got to go through for the rest of the summer until the season starts again. This is my life in a nutshell."

That?s why maybe it would be better if both sides started over fresh, Iverson getting a clean break with a new coach, a new team and a new system while the Sixers get some new blood and with it a new lease for life.