Melo Does Good

**Before I begin this entry, I'd like to mention, as an aside, that a co-worker, who I completely had the URL to this blog, mentioned that he has been reading my entries and likes my work. I hope he realizes that Just Me, My Dignity and this Guitar Case is just like Vegas in that what happens here should stay here. lol.

I wonder how frequently he reads. He asked for this shout out, so I'm sure he'll mention it when/if he reads again.**

I've never been a fan of Carmelo Anthony.

I don't dislike him, but I don't root for him or his team to win like He, for me, has never been a hometown hero. I don't root for Carmelo and the Nuggets to win like I do for, say, Baltimore natives and former Terps Toronto guard Juan Dixon and the Raptors or current Maryland assistant Keith Booth and the Bulls when he played.

Maybe its because Juan helped lead my team to Final Four in 2001 and the 2002 NCAA National Championship and ACC Regular Season Title. Or perhaps its because Keith helped lead the Terps to a regular season ACC title in 1995 and Sweet 16 appearances in 94 and 95. Maybe I'm still bitter that Carmelo attended Syracuse and led the Orangemen (throwback) to the 2003 title instead of helping secure a second consecutive title for the defending national champion Terrapins.

Juan and Keith seemed like 'good guys'. Carmelo, on the other hand, helped introduce the world-at-large to Baltimore dope dealers' now infamous 'Stop Snitchin' campaign in 2004. Then in 2006, he was suspended 15 games by the NBA dictator commissioner David Stern for his involvement for fighting at the office.

Since the 'Stop Snitchin' thing, Young Melo has been a paragon of virtue. Of course the media doesn't report the good, so I will. After idiotic P.D.T.s (personal displays of thuggery) in 2004 and 2006, Melo has:

• Donated $1.5 million of his money to endow what is now known as the Carmelo Anthony Youth Development Center located just east of Downtown Baltimore.
  
  
• Apologized for his appearance in and condemned the message of the 'Stop Snitchin' video and has worked with Baltimore police to create an anti-violence video message.
  
  
• Continued serving underprivileged Baltimore youth through camps and clinics.
  
  

Kudos to Carmelo. I appreciate philanthropy regardless of the team they played for in college.


Background - Snippet of the 'Stop Snitchin' video in which Anthony appeared