Keidel: Don't Believe Melo -- Re-Signing Was Nothing More Than A Money Grab
By Jason Keidel
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This is delicious.
One day after I blast Carmelo Anthony for having a monolithic devotion to being rich rather than enriching his teammates, word slips out that his heart was truly divided.
Turns out that Melo wanted money but really wanted wins in the Windy City. Some piece of propaganda, with the nauseating title, "Made in New York," assures us that while Anthony stayed in New York for the far more loyal ideal of bringing a title to a title-starved city, he really came within a whisker of bolting to Chicago for less money but the far more rewarding reality of June basketball.
And if you believe that, then you probably buy Bigfoot, Yeti, and all kinds of Leonard Nimoy myths.
First of all, let's push the proper story. While he was born in Brooklyn, Anthony was raised in Baltimore. Anyone who spends 11 of their first 18 years in a particular place, they regard that as their hometown. So this story of the native son staying on his native soil is a mirage.
James Dolan bombed us with those toxic, homecoming commercials the week of the trade: some slow-mo montage of Melo scoring some meaningless baskets, while a somber piano and Skyler Grey's whiny vocals vomited the "I'm coming home" mantra. That song became the de facto anthem for anyone who decided to return to the womb. LeBron summoned Ms. Grey, in person, when he first trotted out on the Ohio hardwood with his Cavaliers teammates.
The truth is, Melo took the money. Chicago became an afterthought the moment Dolan offered him about $30 million more to play on Broadway. (Yes, MSG is really on 7th Avenue, but Broadway is the generic avenue of NYC.)
No one is questioning any man's right to play for the best pay. But since Carmelo Anthony has never even hinted that winning comes first, it's natural to assume he prefers to flaunt the best MTV Crib over a sparkling bureau of O'Brien Trophies.
It just sounds better to say his soul was split over the idea of holding court with Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah, and play for the stone-fisted coaching guru, Tom Thibodeau. Despite a decade of toiling in the undertow of sub-.500 seasons and first-round failures, Melo took more of the same. In his last moment as the most coveted basketball player on the planet, he decided five more years of losing was more palatable than the megawatt thrills of eternal playoff contention.
This is the classic conduct of a self-absorbed star. Melo wants us to think he's saddled with the twin burdens of wanting to win first but also pulled by the idea of being the bejeweled hero who stayed on the sinking ship until help arrived. And any objective NBA observer knows that help will never come.
But the Fan Guy Knicks fan would rather harpoon those of us who point it out. Peter Vecsey and yours truly were the only local sportswriters who blasted the trade the day it was announced. We were called all manner of moron -- and still are, despite the fact that we were clearly and universally correct. Fan Guy just won't admit it. He's too invested in the Melo mirage. He darted to Modells for his Melo jersey and then doubled down on a No. 7 Snuggie.
We all concede that being a fan means a certain disdain for logic. As adults we wrap ourselves in costumes, gulp beer, and yell at television screens. Others spend obscene amounts of money to yell at 7-foot millionaires who don't give a damn about your support.
So no one chastises you for acting a fool for your favorite team. But since you are the backbone of the sport you adore, you're allowed to demand a decent product. So why celebrate a me-first gunner who has told you in 10 ways that he will happily take your money but will never give you a reasonable chance at a championship?
The Knicks are just three games ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers, who finally bagged their first win Wednesday night. Repeat: the Knicks are three games better than a 1-17 team. Now they host LeBron and his merry cadre of Cavaliers, who will likely toy with the Knicks on Thursday night.
But you should watch, anyway. It will be your one shot to enjoy true royalty. And another chance to see Carmelo Anthony for what he really is -- the consolation prize for King James.
Follow Jason on Twitter at @JasonKeidel
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