NEW YORK -- So, the 76ers' fading franchise player and the NBA's all-time inflexible interim coach are at war again. It's a mismatch the prohibitive favorite can't hope to win.

By benching himself in a Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Milwaukee retro jersey for Sunday's road wreckage vs. the Pistons -- because Chris Ford irrationally refused to start him -- Allen Iverson disrespected the game, dishonored his teammates, denigrated authority, disgraced his image as a compulsive competitor and devalued Philly's playoff pursuit.

Quick, somebody reach for the makeup kit; things have turned ugly.

Once Iverson proved capable of carrying the Sixers to The Finals three years ago, his daily routine of bending or breaking team rules were almost almost acceptable. His pluperfect performances counterbalanced, if not excused, his practiced (so to speak) peculiarities.

Butting brains, challenging convention and trying Larry Brown's patience became folklore. You wouldn't be fractionally wide right if you suggested their conflicts (usually transmitted through media intermediaries; the Hall of Fame coach actually abhors confrontations) and sniping were eagerly anticipated because it squarely pitted one marquee eccentric against another.

This latest incident, on the other hand, is strictly bad theater.

By no means do I think Ford's decision was remotely correct.

So what if Iverson hadn't run full court in practice since his injury?

What does conditioning have to do with having your name being announced for tipoff or embracing your role as nuclear sub?

Last I looked, players still had to sprint 94 feet regardless of whether they're regulars or irregulars.

If Iverson's sin is something else, something far greater than suspect stamina, more mortal than venial, then pray tell us. If not, if that's the extent of it, Ford's logic was warped.

Nevertheless, he's very much in charge, albeit temporarily, not the least bit shy about disputing or disciplining Philly fans' pet player, the same way the former Celtic coach once accosted Larry Legend in practice.

Meaning management must make a command decision of its own. Chairman EdSnider and president Billy King are obligated, it says here, to support Ford. There is no way around it. For staging a sitdown against the Pistons when his offense was dreadfully vital (so much for his pap about being "all about winning"), Iverson has earned a well-deserved fine and suspension.

For brazenly withholding his sacred services, Iverson came across as just another mundane, moldy superstar intent on bullying anyone who doesn't give him what he wants.

For unpardonably bailing out on his teammates and fans, Iverson basically is begging (defying) Snider and King to be traded at season's end.

What a shame!

For all his greatness and constructive contribution to the franchise,Iverson is well on his way to overshadowing it and appears on target to becoming an undesirable.

There's a bogus rumor circulating throughout the league that purports the 76ers will import Maurice Cheeks from Portland during the summer -- because of a mutually revered relationship with Iverson -- and ex-Celtics coach Jim O'Brien will replace him.

It ain't gonna happen!

You can quote me on it because my source would like to remain anonymous.

For one thing, people conveniently forget the Blazers rejected the 76ers permission to talk to Cheeks last summer, then extended his contract.

More importantly, should the 76ers find they have no other choice but to move Iverson (if he hasn't completely devalued his stock and standards), it tends to make the whole concept moot.