Melo getting it
Wherever the Nuggets play on the road in the postseason, Carmelo Anthony can count on not hearing one thing.
“DUI. DUI. DUI.’’
That was the chant at the Staples Center during a first-round playoff series last spring. The Nuggets star forward had been arrested on suspicion of drunk driving April 14, 2008, and Lakers fans were not kind to him during a four-game sweep that got underway six days later.
But what a difference a year has made for Anthony and his Nuggets. Last year, they entered the playoffs a distracted team, thanks to the Anthony arrest that came shortly before the final regular-season game. Now, though, it’s a carefree bunch of Nuggets that will show up for the postseason.
Denver (54-27) clinched the Northwest Division with a 118-98 win Monday over Sacramento. The win assured that a team that has lost five straight years in the first round of the playoffs will open the postseason at home for the first time since 1988.
Anthony, who has been a part of all those first-round defeats, said he’s “starving’’ to finally break through. He certainly will begin the playoffs in a much better frame of mind than last year, when he was involved in an incident that led him to be suspended for the first two games of this season.
“I look back on it now, I don’t want to say it’s funny, but it’s behind me now,’’ said Anthony, who eventually plea-bargained to a lesser charge of driving while ability impaired. “It’s old and it seems so long ago that I happened, although it was a year. And so it goes to show how much I came around from that.’’
Indeed Anthony has.
It’s true his career has been marred by a lot of other negative headlines (a 2004 New York nightclub altercation, a 2004 cameo in the controversial Stop Snitchin’ DVD, a 2004 charge for having marijuana in a backpack that was dropped when the marijuana was determined to have belonged to a friend and a 2006 15-game suspension for throwing a punch in a brawl at New York). But many believe that, in is sixth season, Anthony is finally starting to get it.
Yes, this season featured a March 2 one-game team suspension for Anthony failing to come of a game when Nuggets coach George Karl sought a substitute. But both agree that wasn’t a major issue, and it was nothing compared to the distraction Anthony caused his team on the eve of last season’s playoffs.
“That probably falls into a big mistake,’’ Karl said. “It could have been worse. Hopefully, now, at a very young age, he understands you should never do that.’’
But Karl has seen Anthony continue to mature since then, both on and off the court. He’s talked about Anthony, 24, having grown into a leader after before being just a talented player.
“He’s had a consistent growth spurt,’’ said Karl, “I think every month it’s kind of like, his eyes are open, his mind is open.’’
Over the past year, Anthony has learned even more about the responsibility of being a public figure. He’s been lauded for the dignity he displayed in representing Team USA during last summer’s Olympics, when the “Redeem Team’’ mined gold in Beijing.
It was far different than what had transpired four years earlier in Athens, when the “Green Team,’’ a collection of players too young for the international stage, settled for bronze. Anthony squabbled with coach Larry Brown and barely played.
While in China, Anthony was an ambassador, engaging the Chinese with his personality and showing up at a variety of events. He spent some time with swimming stud Michael Phelps, who also is from Baltimore.
Six months after the Olympics, Phelps got to stand in Anthony’s shoes when it came to a superstar athlete having a negative brush with the law. Then again, after a photo surfaced of Phelps taking a marijuana hit from a bong, maybe it wasn’t that similar.
“In his situation, it’s kind of different than mine,’’ Anthony said. “We grew up (in Baltimore) in two different walks of life. He was the guy who was clean cut. Nobody ever expected anything from him. And finally then, when it hit, that’s why everybody has come down so hard on him. Like what did Michael Phelps do? I can’t believe he did this. I felt bad for him. But he owned up to his mistake.’’
It must be said Phelps also was arrested on a DUI charge in 2004, shortly after the Athens Olympics. He eventually got 18 months probation for pleading guilty.
Phelps’ sentence required him to give speeches to schools. That’s what Anthony soon must do as part of his penalty.
“I’m going to speak at a couple of assemblies,’’ Anthony said of telling students about the perils of drinking and driving. “Whatever I can do to help them out.’’
The way the Nuggets are playing lately, though, chances are Anthony might end up fielding a lot more questions about that.
Porky Said,
April 14, 2009 @ 9:52 am
Everyone deserves a second shot. No pun intended.
David Letterman Said,
April 14, 2009 @ 10:19 am
yah at least one guy admits to his habitual marijuana practices
Yelito Said,
April 14, 2009 @ 10:43 am
Incredible talent, incredibly stupid!
Jimbo Said,
April 14, 2009 @ 12:35 pm
You forgot to mention the rumors of him visiting brothels in Macau, China when he was playing ambassador.
Kobe Bryant Said,
April 14, 2009 @ 3:41 pm
I can’t believe our fans did that, especially with the legal issues I’ve had. They were way worse.lol Wow, I’m so lucky, literally. I have a loaded team and arguably the greatest coach of all time.
BBL, gotta pick up some girl(s) in a hotel bathroom, god, im awesome.
Rob Said,
April 15, 2009 @ 6:08 am
Good article, good to see media giving Melo a positive article. Yelito and Jimbo need to grow up and quit making up shit, deal with facts. It’s incredible to see all of the jealousy when people want to talk down Melo. If any of you would do half in your life what Melo does for the community both in Denver and Baltimore then you’re allowed to critizice or start rumors. I’m glad I don’t have to deal with being a public figure, can’t even imagine all the shit that would blow up in my face!
Gilian Said,
April 15, 2009 @ 8:05 am
The lesson to be learned;
if you can smoke pod and win 8 gold medals, or be one of the NBA’s top athletes, maybe (just maybe) marijuana is not that bad at all..
get over it let the guy smoke if he wants and judge him for what he does on the court.
Allen Iverson Said,
April 15, 2009 @ 8:38 am
Ok, I take that back, not really a punk, but having one year of relative quiet on and off the court does not mean that anybody is now the patron saint of the NBA. On the court, winning will “quiet” alot of items and since Billups has been there, they have developed a brand of winning basketball and Anthony is part of that (but not the sole reason). Karl finally has his true point guard to harness the talent of the other players. That being said, I hope Denver actually does well in the playoffs. They deserve it. I hope for a Detroit - Denver finals (long shot I know)…
Roger Clemens Said,
April 15, 2009 @ 9:49 am
You haven’t did anything until you f&^5 up and here to appear before a Senate Hearing. Melo you are a Saint. Saint Anthony!!
T Dot boi Said,
April 15, 2009 @ 12:11 pm
Melo is a great layer and can score in many different wayz….now dat he is gettn’ his act 2gether the nuggs r playin well n r second place in da western con. if dey continue da way their playin dey can meet up wit the lakers in da western conference finals wit da lakers…buh it starts wit Anthony
luke Said,
April 15, 2009 @ 1:58 pm
My take on Carmelo. Now, he is astute and wants to play defense, but he has not risen to make his team better.
Came into the NBA on a veteran-filled team, thus like Kobe’s rookie year, the vets didn’t/wouldn’t allow him to be a leader.His job was to play a role, SF. He did this. Over the years he looked to complacent with games. I do not discredit his continuing improvement in scoring which led him at one point to be the lead’s leading scorer. His complacency comes to his attitude about winning. Simply put I never see him take the game into his hands in order to win. I never see him step on the floor and self-will his team to a win. I have seen him take game winning shots. He has only been in the NBA for six years and is only 24. He is now a growing into or moreso learning how to be a leader from Billups. My opinion is with his marriage, his bad media publicity that he brought on himself, his success in scoring in the NBA, his status as a league star is satisfying to him. Everyone does not have that every day hunger like Kobe, Lebron, Iverson, Garnett, Wade, CP, Tony Parker etcetera. Carmelo does not, he’s cool with being a millionaire. For some their goals are different in the NBA. Now, he is astute and wants to play defense, but he has not risen to make his team better. He has the potential to either be one of the greatest in NBA or be Rasheed Wallace. That’s my point. True Rasheed has a ring, but for those of us that know and remember Rasheed from Portland we know he stopped playing his hardest and never mentally matured or challenged himself to be the greatest he can be.
Rich Said,
April 18, 2009 @ 8:17 am
I agree that he has matured a bit.
But he still can not play defense. At all.
Every time he gets burned he then goes down to the other end and goes one-on-one. He is a great scorer, so often he scores. He then grins from ear-to-ear as he heads back to the defensive end.
That hardly qualifies as “getting it”.
Charming Devil Said,
April 20, 2009 @ 6:25 pm
When you talk on the court his an All-Star. Off the court he is the a normally 24 y/o, that happens to be a DAD, public figure, and a Millionaire. Best season yet. With no respect. Sure he won a gold medal. Should have two, if Brown would’ve gave him the key. Everybody seen the Cuse! Melo had a lil of this a lil of that and a lot of MELO. Don’t 4get how horrible Denver was b4 he got there, since made the playoffs every year. Franchise. And you disrespect him with Draft Picks, All-Star snubs and All-Star hasbeens. Gave him help, Point Guard that’s willing to pass the Rock, I’m ready now J.R. and healthy bigs. Here we come L.A.!!!!!
kenneth Said,
May 1, 2009 @ 9:36 pm
melo is a beast. He has the best big man offensive game in the league. melo is too strong to be stop. but im glad he got out of the first round for the first time in his career. And congrats to Detriot for giving Denver Billups. we needed a true leader on the team. allen iverson was a bum. he aint the answer no more