i remember when alan iverson came into the n.b.a. and there was a hubbub about why does he need a possie. i understood exactly why he need add possie because he had come from a place where it was quite clear that you needed security around you because you never knew what somebody might do to you. >> rose: but growing up, did you think i'm going to do what with my life? >> i had no idea. >> rose: really? i had no idea. i knew what i liked, but i had no idea what i liked might actually be a career because, as i was instructed, what you did with your life or how sucksful l you were at life was based on how well you did in school. when i was taught about keeping yourself out of danger, i wasn't the best at that. i certainly was nobody's thug, but, at the same time, i can't say i even had the security of being a nerd and being great at school. i didn't have that either. i had no idea what was going to become of me and that added to the fear. for young black boys growing up in west baltimore in that period and i suspect growing up in our c