<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Todd Boyd is a professor of film at the University of Southern California and a commonly sought-out expert on the intersection of hip-hop culture and pro athletes. When he hears that Carmelo Anthony wants to be a leading voice of urban America, he thinks of Michael Jordan, who went a different direction and became a voice of corporate America. Without all those NBA championships, Jordan's influence would have been limited. "If 'Melo's successful on court, if his team is successful, people will embrace him," Boyd says. "The street will embrace him. Madison Avenue will embrace him. The suburbs embrace him. It all really depends on how 'Melo plays." It would be hard to play much better than Anthony has lately. Coming into Wednesday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James, the Nuggets forward is on a month-long roll. He is consistently piling up big numbers, leading his team to tough victories and showing all the hallmarks of a superstar. The NBA's eighth-leading scorer at 25.7 points a game, he went for 39 at Chicago on Monday and 38 the game before that at Milwaukee, both Denver wins. His jumper is falling at all the right times, too, providing game winners the previous week against Houston and Phoenix. He also stuck a 3-pointer to force overtime at Dallas in an eventual loss. The Denver media has likened his clutch play to that of John Elway, the retired Bronco who was famed for his late-game drives. With the Nuggets limited by injuries to several key players, teams have tried double-teaming Anthony. They've stacked his side of the court. They've gone big. They've gone small. Played him more physically. The way to limit Anthony is to "entice him into a bad-shot game," Bulls coach Scott Skiles says. Not much has worked. ''He's hungry," Nuggets guard Earl Watson says. "If he misses a shot, he'll follow up his shot two, three times until he scores. As a coach, you can draw up any scheme you want, but you can't stop a player who is driven. He's hitting the boards like a power forward."</div> http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/stor..._tom&id=2295853 I suggest reading the article and watching the interview with Tom Farrey.
Carmelo has learned how to play smart, and that has been the key to his success this season. A large part of that has to do with George Karl's coaching. Karl has taught Melo not to settle for outside jumpers all the time, and to penetrate and make plays using his strength.
Melo has already done too much mess off the court. Enough to cover a whole NBA career for most. Claimed to throw his bronze medal into a lake. Appeared on that "don't snitch dvd" with drug dealers. Kicked a ball into the stands and hit a girl. Refused to enter the game in his rookie year. Got into a bar fight. I'm sure there's more that I can't remember right now. I'm not saying that Jordan didn't do plenty of dirty stuff on the down low, but his people kept it quiet while he was still young. Melo hasn't made the allstar team, and he hasn't show constant improvement like Wade and Lebron have. He topped out statistically in his rookie year, and he's a one dimensional ball stopper. His name should never be mentioned in the same sentence as MJ's, unless it's refering to Team Jordan.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Jurassic:</div><div class="quote_post">Melo has already done too much mess off the court. Enough to cover a whole NBA career for most. Claimed to throw his bronze medal into a lake. Appeared on that "don't snitch dvd" with drug dealers. Kicked a ball into the stands and hit a girl. Refused to enter the game in his rookie year. Got into a bar fight. I'm sure there's more that I can't remember right now. I'm not saying that Jordan didn't do plenty of dirty stuff on the down low, but his people kept it quiet while he was still young. Melo hasn't made the allstar team, and he hasn't show constant improvement like Wade and Lebron have. He topped out statistically in his rookie year, and he's a one dimensional ball stopper. His name should never be mentioned in the same sentence as MJ's, unless it's refering to Team Jordan.</div> But look at him now. He got his team in the Playoff hunt like every year, he is not causing any troubles and he is without question on his way to Houston to play in the All-Star game. So he is basically turning things around and overcoming adversity/obstacles similar to how Mr. Jordan was doing in his career. Jordan was always criticized for not passing the ball then he ended up averaging 8 APG. Then he was also being questioned on the defensive end of the floor and then he got DPOY. Anthony on the other hand was unfairly getting compared to LeBron plus the off the court distractions and was being questioned all over but he is his own man and again has turned the corner and is overcoming obstacles just like MJ. So in that essence you can mention Jordan along the lines with his name in it. Some guys like Eddie Griffin for example before the T-Wolves or better yet, Rodney White has hurt their careers from off the court distractions but Melo happened to rise over that and is doing much better for himself an you could only applaud him for that.
Melo has had plenty of help getting to the playoffs, it's not as if he put the team on his back. He's had Camby, Miller, Martin, Boykins, etc. You really think he'll get an allstar invite? I don't, there are too many forwards that are more deserving than him. Tmac KG Dirk Duncan Marion Gasol Brand I'm biased but I would probably throw Rashard Lewis in there too.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">You really think he'll get an allstar invite? I don't, there are too many forwards that are more deserving than him. Tmac KG Dirk Duncan Marion Gasol Brand I'm biased but I would probably throw Rashard Lewis in there too.</div> Tracy McGrady? You're kidding me right? Marion? He's solid, very, but he is not more deserving than Melo. Gasol? They are about even, if anything Melo has the slight edge. It's a toss up. Brand? I give you that. As well as KG. It's going to be a tight race (you also left out AK47 but Melo is more deserving than him anyways) but at the end of the day Carmelo should get the last spot. The guy is having an INCREDIBLE season. He is starting to get into his own.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Avery:</div><div class="quote_post">Tracy McGrady? You're kidding me right? Marion? He's solid, very, but he is not more deserving than Melo. Gasol? They are about even, if anything Melo has the slight edge. It's a toss up. Brand? I give you that. As well as KG. It's going to be a tight race (you also left out AK47 but Melo is more deserving than him anyways) but at the end of the day Carmelo should get the last spot. The guy is having an INCREDIBLE season. He is starting to get into his own.</div> Okay I'll concede the Tmac point, but it doesn't matter because he will be starting anyway. You admitted that KG and Brand are more deserving, Dirk and Tim Duncan (starter) certainly are as well. That's 5 forwards right there. I hate to break it to you but Melo just isn't versatile enough. Marion averages 21 and 12 while shooting over 50%. Melo scores about 26 per, but that's all he does. Pau Gasol is nearly a 20 and 10 guy, and his team has a better record than the nuggets. Based on what you admitted, and those starting, here are the people ahead of Melo. The only way he has a chance is as an injured reserve if Tmac is still out. Tmac Duncan Dirk KG Brand
To whomever noted Melo's help, I have a thought. First and foremost? Where's Camby? That's right, injured. Nene? Him too. How about KMart? Missed a bunch of games and has underachieved thus far. He may have great help on paper, but when 2 of the best bigs on the team are hurt and KMart underachieves, it's hard to consider that help sometimes.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Claimed to throw his bronze medal into a lake.</div> He has already said it's in his mothers house in Baltimore. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Appeared on that "don't snitch dvd" with drug dealers.</div> I'll give you that, that was a mistake. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Kicked a ball into the stands and hit a girl.</div> Yeah, I bet he did it on purpose. I can see it now, he just intentionally tried to hit her. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Refused to enter the game in his rookie year.</div> He made a mistake their, but it's not like he was the first one to do it. (Pippen, Francis) <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Got into a bar fight.</div> When somebody spit on his girlfriend. It's stupid people are getting on him for this, but they don't realize someone spit on his girlfriend. Please tell me, what you would do in this situation. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">His name should never be mentioned in the same sentence as MJ's, unless it's refering to Team Jordan.</div> Who's comparing his skills to MJ's? <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Melo has had plenty of help getting to the playoffs, it's not as if he put the team on his back. He's had Camby, Miller, Martin, Boykins, etc.</div> Who's saying that he is carrying this team by himself? Every superstar needs role players alongside, but you can't deny what Carmelo has done for Denver since his rookie season. 17 wins to 42 to 49. He has improved every season so far. He's also very clutch for a young player (6 or 7 game winners already I believe). Melo has been carrying Denver back into first place in the division without Nene, an inconsistent and underachieving Kenyon Martin, and an injured Camby. It's all right to not like him, but don't portray him to an immature jerk who is a team cancer or something.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Moo2k4:</div><div class="quote_post">To whomever noted Melo's help, I have a thought. First and foremost? Where's Camby? That's right, injured. Nene? Him too. How about KMart?</div> First of all, we were talking about past years not this year. Second of all I didn't even mention Nene's name, as he is injured more than he is healthy. So go back and read my post. Kmart is not injured right now . Even though Camby is injured he has played a huge role in the Nuggets success the past couple years, so stop twisting what I said and adding in stuff that I never mentioned. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Bobcats:</div><div class="quote_post">He has already said it's in his mothers house in Baltimore.</div> It's disrespectful to even joke about throwing a medal away. Of course I never believed that he actually threw it away, but it's silly to even play like that. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Yeah, I bet he did it on purpose. I can see it now, he just intentionally tried to hit her. </div> I don't care if he did it on purpose or not. Things should not come from the fans onto the court, and things so not go from players into the stands (except Arenas' jerseys after every game). He threw a ball into the stands, McDyess was ejected for the same thing not too long ago and he didn't even hit anyone. Don't justify the nonsense that this kid does. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">He made a mistake their, but it's not like he was the first one to do it. (Pippen, Francis)</div> Kobe wasn't the first Laker to get caught cheating either (Magic, Worthy), does that make it okay? <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">When somebody spit on his girlfriend. It's stupid people are getting on him for this, but they don't realize someone spit on his girlfriend. Please tell me, what you would do in this situation.</div> I would have done the same thing, this individual incident isn't that big a deal. But when you consider everything else that he has done you realize that whether provoked or not, this type of behavior is habitual for him. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Who's comparing his skills to MJ's?</div> Nobody is, but the article (which YOU posted by the way ) is talking about his influence in relation to Jordan's. The damn title of the thread is "Anthony Soaring in Jordan's Shoes". That's what I was referring to. You posted it, you should know that.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't care if he did it on purpose or not. Things should not come from the fans onto the court, and things so not go from players into the stands (except Arenas' jerseys after every game). He threw a ball into the stands, McDyess was ejected for the same thing not too long ago and he didn't even hit anyone. Don't justify the nonsense that this kid does.</div> So it's ok because he didn't anyone? <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Kobe wasn't the first Laker to get caught cheating either (Magic, Worthy), does that make it okay?</div> I never said it was ok. I'm just saying it isn't a rare case. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I would have done the same thing, this individual incident isn't that big a deal. But when you consider everything else that he has done you realize that whether provoked or not, this type of behavior is habitual for him.</div> Ok then, that's done. Next. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Nobody is, but the article (which YOU posted by the way ) is talking about his influence in relation to Jordan's. The damn title of the thread is "Anthony Soaring in Jordan's Shoes". That's what I was referring to. You posted it, you should know that.</div> So why shouldn't anybody be compared to Jordan off the court? You said 'His name should never be mentioned in the same sentence as MJ's'. What made Jordan so good off the court that Carmelo couldn't be compared to him?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Bobcats:</div><div class="quote_post">So it's ok because he didn't anyone?</div> I never said that what Mcdyess did was okay because he didn't hit anyone. I'm saying that he was ejected for it, and that means that it is wrong. How could you possibly have taken that from what I wrote? By the way, I don't believe that Carmelo was ejected, and he actually hit someone. Think about it. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">So why shouldn't anybody be compared to Jordan off the court? You said 'His name should never be mentioned in the same sentence as MJ's'. What made Jordan so good off the court that Carmelo couldn't be compared to him?</div> Dang man, you have some serious literacy issues. I never said that NOBODY should be compared to Jordan off the court, just that Camelo shouldn't be. Melo's influence is nowhere near Jordan's. It's silly to think that it is, people write articles so cause controvery so that they'll have readers. I seriously doubt that the authour even believes what he wrote.
