Carmelo Anthony Greeted On Court By Young Fan, Calls It 'A Security Issue'
By Tom Bogert
CBS Local Sports
A little boy in New Orleans acted in a way that a lot of young New York Knicks fans probably would like to: running onto the court to give Carmelo Anthony a harmless, childish hug.
In the dying moments of another Knicks loss, 99-91 on the road to the New Orleans Pelicans without Anthony Davis, the Knicks were readying an inbound pass. As Anthony was leaning over before the ball was to be thrown into him, a young boy ran on the court unbeknownst to security and hugged the superstar.
Anthony admitted he was "shocked" at first, just because he was caught off guard. When he looked down and saw the little fella, Anthony smiled, patted the boy on the head and pulled him in.
Security did their best impression of Jose Calderon trying to defend a quick point guard, offering little to no resistance to the basket. Even after missing the child running down the stairs and onto the court, security had an absence of reaction when he got onto the floor as well. A referee had to guide him back toward the stands where he just kept on running to his mom. Again, as security looked on, motionless.
If this was a grown man with a sinister prerogative, it would've been a bit tougher for him to squeak past security. He certainly wouldn't have inspired reactions of "aw, how cute!" Hopefully not, at least.
Due to that momentary lapse of concentration from the staff at the Smoothie King Center, Anthony did concede the incident was "definitely a security issue," via ESPN.
"I think it was because he was a little kid, they just let him go," Anthony said. "Definitely a security issue, though, for sure."
As a fan of repetitive disappointment and frustration, Tom holds Liverpool FC, the New York Knicks and New York Red Bulls near and dear to his heart with occasional joy coming from the New York Giants and New York Yankees.
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