76ers bad boy Iverson leaves his answers blowing in the wind

When NBA bad boy Allen 'The Answer' Iverson was in town last week, Hong Kong's media had to mind their questions.

The 23-year-old 76ers point guard, here on the final leg of a five-city Asian tour, has in the past been arrested on gun and drugs charges, has done time in jail, his car has been shot at and he has been known to tell journalists that he carries a gun for his own protection. 'He loses his temper easily,' a worried public relations representative warned journalists before a press conference. 'If he gets any questions he doesn't want to answer then he will just walk out.' In short, The Answer wasn't going to answer any questions he didn't like.

When Iverson arrived, he was happy to talk about his on-court life, but the off-court stuff was severely restricted. He had chicken for lunch, he wants his fans to keep supporting him and he hopes to come back to Hong Kong some day. Oh, and he loves him mum. Illuminating stuff, indeed. Iverson sat and looked suitably mean and nasty for the cameras, the throng of photographers got short, sharp shoves from Iverson's minders for getting too close to the great man and then he left. And Hong Kong's press were none the wiser.

Later in the day, Iverson was asked what advice he would give to a man shooting for a $100,000 prize from three-point range.

'Just throw the ball as you would with any other shot,' was the Philadelphia 76ers player's advice.

It was no surprise to see the player throw the ball 10 feet short of its target.

The Hong Kong Horse Society has bought five expensive horses which will be used by the Hong Kong Asian Games squad in Bangkok.