Today, there was an interview of Carmelo Anthony via !Yahoo Sports and it sent my brain a rushing again. If you remember correctly, over a month ago, I did a “Why I am a Carmelo Anthony” post that NY fans found interesting, Denver fans found annoying and Melo groupies threw up in my face.
Essentially, the premise to the piece was that while I may not have appreciated the manner the trade went down, or the actions afterwards, he has a choice, as we all do, to do what is best for him and his family. While, I may not buy a #7 Melo jersey any time soon, and while I may receive pleasure when NY loses to sub .500 teams, I don’t want to be a typical, bitter Denver fan.
Last week, when I gave Melo props on that beasty 37 points he had against the Celtics, I was labeled a “closet Knicks fan” by fellow Denver fans (very, very bitter). The guy has moved on, and nearly 11 months later, so should those that felt accosted and hurt by him.
Take what Melo said here to !Yahoo Sports:
“I want to win. I didn’t feel like we were heading in the right direction in Denver as far as knowing who’s not going to be there contract-wise, free agents. And they didn’t [clearly] express the future of the organization. I wanted to win. If I’m going to start over, I might as well start over from somewhere that I want to be.”
I can NEVER fault a man for looking out for him and his family. NEVER.
How many of the fans took into consideration those last days of Melo attending practices and shoot arounds??? The tension as thick as the pot smoke in Balkman’s car, I assume, how many thought about the emotional stress of this nature??
“There was crazy stuff that [Nuggets coach] George [Karl] was saying. I was saying, ‘How could you say that?’ Before I left, George and I were talking and he kept telling me he wanted me to stay and this and that. As soon as I leave, [everything changed]. I was more kind of stunned with where that was coming from. I don’t know if it’s out of anger or something that he felt throughout the whole 6½, seven years that we were together.
His feelings???
“There was plenty of nights where I didn’t rest and sleep before games, on the road. I was up all night talking about the trade to people. I was trying to stay positive about it, but it got tough.”
Did any of the redundantly, bitter fans ever think, that perhaps, Melo felt guilty? This was his home for so many years?
“You start thinking about all kinds of stuff and how other people are going to be affected. I knew me. I knew I could handle that stuff. But I knew Chauncey [Billups’] wife and his family were going to be affected. I knew Anthony Carter’s family was going to be affected. I wasn’t worried about me. For what? I get that [expletive] all the time. I’m past worrying about what people are saying about me.” – Melo
So many of us wanted him to return, a closing chapter, although for many of the Denver fans, it wouldn’t have mattered. In their eyes, Melo was a traitor, he was the enemy, when, in fact, this is a business…….
“I hope so. I’ve been through a lot in that city. But I’ve been through a lot good and bad. I hope they can realize and recognize the things that I did to that city. What I accomplished in Denver was a lot. I know we didn’t win a championship, but we accomplished a lot. I was part of an organization that did a complete 180-degree turnaround. I was proud to say that and proud to be a Denver Nugget.” – Melo
This is what separates the bitter from the “I’ve move on” fan. If you can honestly say, “I appreciate what he did for my city, I appreciate the relevancy he brought to Denver, I appreciate him.”
Then I would say: YOU ARE OVER MELO.
Until next time,
Mrs. NBA
