Another reason to be steamed about Melo not being at the All-Star Game...

by Andrew Feinstein on Feb 13, 2009 3:46 PM MST

I know the All-Star Game is just a meaningless exhibition, but I still can't get over Carmelo Anthony not being there. Just when I was about to let it go, I found out that former Suns' owner and current USA Basketball boss Jerry Colangelo will be presenting the "Redeem Team" with championship rings at halftime on Sunday. I assumed that meant Melo and the other non-All-Stars who were also Olympians would be there to be honored collectively. But apparently, that's not the case.

Colangelo will be presenting the rings to the six players who were both Olympians and current All-Stars only, while the non-All-Stars (like Melo) will receive their rings later "in their home cities." In my opinion, all 12 Olympians should be there or they should just do away with this ceremony in the first place.

Back to the game itself, not only is Melo better than David West, but the Nuggets are better than the Hornets and the Hornets stunk recently without the services of their true All-Star, Chris Paul. Moreover, I guarantee that if you surveyed all of the fans who attend the game on Sunday, not one would rather see West play than Melo. Not one.

I just can't let it go.

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Amen!

by John on Feb 13, 2009 4:22 PM MST reply actions

Wow, are you serious? That seems pretty tacky that the other Olympians won't be there to recieve their rings with the rest of the team. Isn't that what these Olypics were all about? I can see where you are comming from Andrew. I am not stressing too much, everyone knows Melo is better than West. I just don't get why the coaches havn't voted Melo in as an All-Star. Are we missing something watching him play as fans that the coaches see?

by Goldennugget on Feb 13, 2009 4:34 PM MST reply actions

So how would these trade talks go.
Hey we'll give you Amare for Melo.
Hey we'll give you West for Melo.
Hey we'll give you Gasol for Melo.
Nuggets brass would laugh at the Hornets, laugh at the Lakers, and tell the Suns to throw in Barbosa and a couple first rounders and we'll think about it. It is ridiculous that all of these guys are All-Stars ahead of Melo.

by NugzD on Feb 13, 2009 5:36 PM MST reply actions

On the other hand, I'm expecting Melo to come out of this All-Star break with a chip on his shoulder after having to watch all his buddies have a good time in Phoenix and have a really good finish to the season.

David West is only in the All-Star game for his sweet jersey. "West" on the front and back!

by Brian on Feb 13, 2009 9:27 PM MST reply actions

Sorry. I'm still having trouble caring about the All-Star game.

by Anonymous on Feb 14, 2009 11:20 AM MST reply actions

Thanks andrew, you are speaking for all of us nugs fans! I hope this sparks melo to become even more of a leader and lead us to an even better second half and great playoff run. GO NUGGETS!!

by 2009 SLAM DUNK CHAMP JR SMITH on Feb 14, 2009 12:54 PM MST reply actions

Andrew, if you take this thing so personally, why don't you go blog about it? Oh... yeah...
Anyway, I think this could only be a positive. Melo seems to perform better in the 2nd half of seasons where he has not made the All-Star game. Honestly, the main knock on Melo has been plain old poor shooting this season. I honestly wish Melo could have just rested until after the All-Star game to give those elbows time to heal. I still say the Nuggets are a legit center shy of being contenders, but as things are, Melo will need to leave his all on the floor during the playoffs for the Nuggets to really make some noise. I think a focused Melo with a poised (coach) Billups is the combination that this franchise has been looking for.

by E on Feb 14, 2009 2:23 PM MST reply actions

hey Andrew... this is off topic but apparently on Shawn Kemp's official website on his message boards, he said that he has reached a verbal agreement to playing for the Nuggets.

http://www.reignman.com/section.cfm?wSectionID=1871&RequestAction=VIEW&MessageID=24556

though it might not be credible, i'd love to hear ur thoughts on this.

by Matt on Feb 14, 2009 7:41 PM MST reply actions

nate robinson's second dunk should be on the stiff list

by Anonymous on Feb 14, 2009 8:55 PM MST reply actions

Man! If JR could have pulled off that 360 behind-the-back alley-oop dunk I would have lost my fucking mind.

by Brian on Feb 14, 2009 9:24 PM MST reply actions

Why do they need championship rings? They won frickin gold medals!

by Julian from Australia on Feb 14, 2009 10:13 PM MST reply actions

if the other members had an ounce of class they wouldn't accept unless ALL the members were there.

really nice team spirit. way to go...

by Anonymous on Feb 15, 2009 8:57 AM MST reply actions

This goes right in line with my latest rant. They just showed the Top 10 NBA plays from the 1st half of the season, so of course you had the obligatory dunks by Lebron, DWade, Kobe, even VCarter. What irked me though were the #6, #4, &#3 plays, which were buzzer-beaters by Lebron, CPaul, & BRoy. NOT one mention of Melo's Two(2) game-winners vs OKC, inluding that incredible deep corner three(3). To be sure, ESPN has no credibility but not a mention, an acknowledgement, NOTHING! It's like the things that Melo does are often diminished when compared to the CHOSEN ONES they choose to highlight on ESPN. The problem is that those featured are GREAT players, so when u complain, people think its just whining & you really have no case. But, consider that Melo's the only one in the 03 class thats been in the playoffs EVERY year. Or that his selection INSTANTLY transformed the Nuggs into winners. When he expanded his game this year, his reward was to be on the sidelines, while his Olympic teammates get honored at the All-Star Game. And then they wonder why young kids value showboating, woofing, & the "Sportscenter mentality" instead of fundamentals. Melo has slowly been "eased out" of elite player status. Some of it is due to his own off-court issues, but suddenly this truly great player is considered an also-ran? And whats worse are the All-Star snubs over the years, including this one. If anyone thinks that David West is a better player than Melo- then I'll eat my hat. So what is it? Hard to pinpoint, but I think it SUCKS!

by KaiserSoze on Feb 15, 2009 10:51 AM MST reply actions

Wow, Kaiser I never thought of that (the ESPN top 10 so far). You are right though, everyone else who beat the buzzer got a spot except for Melo and he did it TWICE. It just goes to show you what off the court incidents can do for you in a negative way. It's all up to Melo. If he wants to get his legacy cemented he has to be the one to stop acting like a thug. It doesn't bother me, because reguardless, he is winning games for us. But for his sake, and legacy, he really needs to get his shit together and grow up because it did kind of get to me when watching the All-Star game to see guys like West, Gasol, Lewis, Harris, Granger, ect. who all arn't as good as Melo out there playing with the likes of Lebron, Shaq, Duncan. Melo should have been there but like I already said it's up to him to get it together. As for the Dunk Contest; it was pretty lame to tell you the truth. Hardly anybody did an actual authority dunk. Instead it was all props and storylines, pretty boring and nothing was very original. I though the whole Cryptonite thing with Nate was OK but Howard pretty much gave it to him by letting him dunk over him then doing the lame free throw line dunk which looked just plain embarrasing. JR was pretty dissapointing. Letting Weems throw him the ball instead of Chauncy was the worste descicion of his life! Oh well. It was great to see the big Shaqtus out there with the Jabawakeez doin his thing. And he looked fantastic in the game as well. Can't wait til' the next game. Go Nugs!

by Goldennugget on Feb 15, 2009 10:58 PM MST reply actions

I agree with Brian. Melo will come out with a huge block on his shoulder, and start making people remember who he is.

On a side note: Did anyone else realize that after Nate Robinson's first round of dunks he left the arena to change into his Kryptonite Knick's uniform. He left to get ready for the final round before he was even announced as a contender for the final round. I thought it was fishy at best.

As far as Melo's off-court behavior it does need to be cleaned up. But the league should be fair. Look at the long list of players that have done or been accused of doing things far more reprehensible. Shaq's public direspect of Kobe. Kobe's troubles in Eagle County. Jason Kidd and his domestic issues. Pao and Marc Gasol's Chinese insults. Barkley's latest folly. And those are just the things off the top of my head, and relatively recent. It's ridiculous that Melo is treated as a black sheep amongst his colleagues. ESPN, TNT's Kenny "The Jet" Smith, and the NBA in general are a bunch of bandwagon basketball fans.

by joelsopinion on Feb 16, 2009 11:50 AM MST reply actions

i'm glad he didn't make it. nothing like getting 5 days rest for his elbow and hand

by EB from Dubai on Feb 17, 2009 5:29 AM MST reply actions

I actually think it's cooler that Melo gets a personal ceremony before the next home game.

He didn't deserve to be an All-Star. Not this year.

by My name is Luke. on Feb 17, 2009 9:40 AM MST reply actions

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STIFF LIST (as of 4/26 by Andrew Feinstein)

1. METTA WORLD PEACE

Metta resorted back to Ron Ron last Sunday by clubbing James Hardenwith an "inadvertent celebratory elbow", landing him a 7-game suspension. Apparently, changing his name didn't prevent NBA commissioner David Stern from overlooking Metta's past behavior problems.

2. CHARLOTTE BOBCATS

The 'Cats are on the verge of securing the worst winning percentage in NBA history. Given that the guy who runs the team - Michael Jordan - had previously drafted Kwame Brown and Adam Morrison, should this really be a shock?

3. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
The team that was supposedly built to overcome the lockout-shortened season managed to lose 7 of its last 14 games, ceding the Western Conference's 1-seed to the Spurs in the process. Their reward might be a first round matchup with defending champion Dallas.

4. BILLY HUNTER AND DEREK FISHER

With report after report coming out about NBPA union head Hunter's shady, nepotistic dealings and questions arising about Fisher's own role in dealing with NBA owners behind Hunter's back during the lockout, this off-the-court scandal could prove to be more exciting than the playoffs themselves!

5. STEVE NASH AND THE PHOENIX SUNS
The Suns are on this list for squandering the last few great seasons from Nash. Nash is on this list for his stupidly stubborn loyalty to a franchise as awful as the Suns.