December 19, 2006 12:00 AM
Not-so-Melo
It's too bad that Carmelo can't seem to get his rage under control. What happened in New York is just more evidence that he is a work in progress and still has a tremendous amount of maturing to do. Now his "leadership" skills have cost his team dearly. Missing both Melo and J.R. Smith for that length of time (15,and 10 games respectively) will be brutal. Is the punishment too severe? Absolutely. And how Isiah Thomas got off without any punishment is beyond me but clearly Melo was to blame for some of the mess he got himself into. Until he learns to control his emotions he will never become the player he can be.
To be honest with you I could have done a weeks worth of cartoons off of this one subject. There were so many facets of this fight that deserve to be commented on. Melo. Isiah Thomas and the fact he claimed his team had "surrendered" by the time Smith went for the lay-up which started the whole melee. Don't know about you but I wouldn't want the head coach of my franchise EVER SURRENDERING and giving up no matter how much time ther is left on the clock. There , of course, are the ramifications that come from all the suspensions which I probably will draw about in the days to come. Then there is the fact that the NBA continues to sell seats closer to the court which, of course, make fans more susceptible to situations like the one Saturday night. And let's not forget this whole mess just makes the Allen Iverson trade even more a possibility. So you see sometimes it's not just picking a cartoon topic but which cartoon topic.
I worked today with one of our very talented page designers, Jon Perez, on the year-in-review page of cartoons which we will publish on Saturday. I always look so forward to it and I've gotten positive feedback from a lot of you through the years about it. Thanks. That means a lot. Hope you all will tune in for it this Saturday and we will have a way that you can see them all here online.
Drew
December 19, 2006
12:43 AM
Mike writes:
Thank goodness the basketball gods have come to their senses. Nuggets successful? It should NEVER be allowed. It would throw the world as we know it into chaos.
Thanks 'Melo. Your ego cost the team, the city, and the NBA more than you are worth. Nuggets - suck. Denver - backwater sports town. NBA - a profitable affiliation of gangstas playing ball.
I'd rather you, "Melo, were traded and the Nuggets continue to lose than to win a championship with a thug like you.
December 19, 2006
1:46 AM
G.Mackler writes:
I've always loved your cartoons, but tell your editor to rank your comments. For someone so creative and talented I'm stunned day after day at how feeble your facilities are with words.
That being said you completely miss the point regarding what happened with 'Melo. Keep your racism in your own pocket. Isiah Thomas threatened the Nuggets with violent retaliation because the Knicks team he put together couldn't compete. Does anyone remember going to an Opera and seeing a soprano take out an alto because they were showed up, how about going to a movie where an actor steals the show did you hear about a brawl in the trailer later because someone ego was bruised? There is no place in basketball for the thuggery that Isiah Thomas brings to the NBA. The Knicks pulled a similar stunt with the same goon in their previous game. The Nuggets players didn't go into the Knicks fracas fighting, the Knicks chocked 'Melo, and JR was tackled into the stands. All 'Melo did was react as anyone would to a bunch of punk thugs. He didn't even give Collins the dignity of knocking him out, but gave him the slap he deserved. That you would characterize that fight as a 'Melo issue shows how shortsighted your perspective really is. Stick to sports, anything with substance is beyond your grasp.
December 19, 2006
7:12 AM
what?? writes:
"Is the punishment too severe? Absolutely."
Are you kidding me???? He should have gotten more!! This is basketball, not the NHL!! He was caugh on camera smacking a guy right in the face. Not only did he smack that guy, he also smacked the NBA, the Denver Nuggets, and everyone associated with him in the face. A supposed "superstar" needs to be breaking these things up, not getting in the middle of them. Did you ever see John Elway doing anything like this?? Good grief.
December 19, 2006
9:12 AM
Chris from Littleton writes:
G.Mackler - I don't understand your "racism" comment. I didn't read a single comment from Drew about race and I just don't get why you would bring it up.
'Melo reacted poorly in the situation. The fact is, the situation was beginning to cool down when he threw that punch and he should have been able to recognize that. He's got plenty of heart, and I like that, but he needs to start focusing that intensity into more productive actions on the court. Sure he scores - a lot - but think how much better the team would be if he gave them someone to rally around on the court rather than a martyr who has to sit for 15 games. That's the leadership this team needs.
December 19, 2006
11:18 AM
charlie writes:
I love watching Melo and JR play, their type of high-flying basketball is entertaining. I think we are in a moment where all of our hometown franchises have young talented individuals that will be fun to watch for a long time, see: Cutler, B Marshall, Javon, Atkins, Holliday, Francis, Svatos. However both players deserve the suspension they received, they both crossed the line and should be punished.
The only problem I have with this mess is Isiah Thomas. He is an embaressment to the league and the New York Knicks. He has a history of provoking violent reactions, see: break Bruce Bowen's foot, confrontational argument with George Karl this summer, threatens Pacers after win on Nov. 4th. He should be escorted out of the league.
December 19, 2006
3:08 PM
Nugget in CO writes:
So, Mike..........Denver's a backwater sports town huh?? Where might you be from??
I do agree with your NBA statement though.
December 19, 2006
4:34 PM
Dwayne writes:
Denver....backwater sports town. Yeah ok. You ever been to Denver, or do you think you know the city. Bet you think all Canadians live in igloos, and all Texans are cowboys.
Backwater sports town. And before we go all out on basektball players as thugs....take a look at baseball. Fights in the NBA are more isolated than in baseball, which is probably why this whole thing is getting blown WAY out of whack.
But then again what do I know. I was born and raised in a backwater sports town, my wife grew up in an igloo in Vancouver, and the moment I moved to Texas I was fitted for chaps and Ten-Gallon hat, oh yeah, and I traded my car in for a horse.
December 19, 2006
8:56 PM
Tom writes:
I am so happy about this.
The Nuggets are now an even worse team, and they have given up two #1 picks.
Now that the Nuggets have Iverson.....they have 2 gangsters playing on the same team. Maybe Anthony and Iverson can go get matching tats and smoke some weed together.
Now the Nuggies get to start playing conference games that actually mean something, and they are about to get toasted by the West.
Christmas does indeed come early.
December 19, 2006
10:23 PM
Steven writes:
Once again I must state that fact that I'm very happy to be a Jazz fan, the most controversy we've had in the past year is when AK-47's wife allowed him one external relation a year. That fun fact aside, I am also a Nuggets fan, and I must admit that I was dissapointed in the behavior of Melo. I think he has handled the decision well, and I believe the suspensions were fair. That fight was a sorry way for the Nugs to get onto the ESPN highlight reel, I truly hope that Isiah Thomas keeps it up, he can't keep getting away with this garbage. Seriously, the Knicks were so much better off with Coach Brown. Right now the Nuggets are an immature team, as evidenced by the misplaced passions of their leader, they're fun to watch when they're clicking though, I can't wait to see Melo back with Iverson in the lineup.
December 20, 2006
9:14 AM
Ivory Greathouse writes:
Once again the dog has applied his toothless bite it's ironic that the word thug is being tossed around by a bunch mindless racists. Why can't you sad, esteemless,verbal
THUGS, take time enjoying all the goodness in people of all colors? But that would take away your quality time; practicing hate. Drew I say it again you're a racist dog,that should be writing for one of your favorite hate groups. By the way does any one you know the true meaning or origin of thug,my guess probably not.
December 20, 2006
4:21 PM
Dwayne writes:
Hey Tom, you want to explain to me how it is even possible for any draft of any kind to have TWO.....2.....#1 picks. Is the lottery gonna be that kind to give the winning team....TWO #1 picks....how does that work exactly.....yeah yeah, you meant first round I know....but they won't be much...one was Dallas' which won't be a lottery pick, and neither will the Nuggets position.
December 22, 2006
7:49 AM
Ivory Greathouse writes:
In response to Uncivilized Anti -Christ Arnie. If you lift your hood and light up another cross you could possibly see the real world. As for your comment abour Allen Iverson being a turd, I think all sensible people know who's really full of crap.