Who could have predicted that Allen Iverson would become the media darling of Team USA? Who in the world could have imagined that the NBA's premier bad guy would transform himself into a poster boy for patriotism, complete with a red, white and blue 'do-rag pulled over his cornrows?

Well, if there's anything NBA fans have learned this summer, it's that a player's image and his reality aren't always the same. So while the supposedly squeaky clean Kobe Bryant prepares to defend himself against rape charges, Iverson is in New York this week talking about how proud he is to be representing his country.

"This means everything to me," Iverson said of his inclusion on the U.S. Olympic basketball team. "In a lot of people's eyes, I'm not supposed to be here. I am happy to be able to make this team and not have to cut my hair off or laser my tattoos or wear a suit or stop hanging out with the people I know. I'm happy I've been picked for this team as I am."

The public will get its first look at Iverson and the rest of the new Dream Team Friday night when they play Puerto Rico in an exhibition game at Madison Square Garden. Next week, the team heads to an Olympic qualifying tournament in San Juan, where it will try to make up for last year's miserable sixth-place finish in the World Championships.