ANTHONY STILL CARMELTS IN MY MOUTH
He may not have the best reputation to some, but to me, Melo is still all right.
Why? Because I believe he is one of the more sincere athletes when it comes to giving back love to the community. No matter how many snubs Carmelo Anthony hands out, he always answers back by making kids smile-and after all, isnt that more important than how hard his slam is?

Melo held his annual basketball camp this week in Colorado, where everyday, lucky ‘lil Melo lovers enjoyed daily games of hoops after learning the fundamentals of basketball…according to the Denver Post, Melo is waking up with chills —chills of joy. “It touches my heart, knowing I can put a smile on these kids’ faces,” the Nuggets forward said Tuesday from his annual basketball camp in Lakewood. And ya know what? I believe him. Unlike others who establish a Foundation simply for the tax write-off- Melo actually seems to be maturing before our eyes, sometimes even one-upping some hefty so-called-big-hearted-athletes-who-pretend-they-love-kids-but-don’t-show-up-to-events…continuing along his new path, Melo has also signed on with a new marketing firm, New York-based The Agency, who recognize his genuine love for community involvement.

Melo’s website proudly offers help to homeless kids, runaways and at-risk youth via the NINELINE from Covenant House…and according to that oh-so-resourcsefull Wikipedia, one of Melo’s childhood friends said, “from drugs, to killings, to anything you can name that goes on in the roughest parts of town, we’ve seen and witnessed hands on. Those are the things that teach you toughness and keep you mentally focused on your goals.” Is it any wonder that Melo donates so much time and money to help youngsters avoid seeing what he has? In Denver: Melo is a spokesman for the Family Resource Center and helps organize “A Very Melo Christmas,” every year for neeedy kids…In Baltimore, Melo hosts his annual H.O.O.D. Movement 3 on 3 Challenge (Holding Our Own Destiny)…he opened the Carmelo Anthony Youth Development Center on December 14, 2006…he contributed $1.5 million to the Living Classrooms Foundation…he donated $35k for relief efforts after the tsunami hit in 2004…he donated $1,000 per point scored against San Antonio and Houston on January 8 and 9, 2005 respectively…and Melo kicked in $3M toward the construction of a new hoops facility at his alma mater, Syracuse University, representing one of the largest individual donations to the Syracuse University Athletics department…and you telling me Melo ain’t got a big heart? Think again my friends and do your Carmelo Anthony homework before asking me how I feel about any off-court controversy, pa-leeze.

As always, thanks for reading. Delinda Lombardo
delinda@athlebrities.com