SupremeCommander wrote:I agree with this. It really pisses me off that outsiders can't see that Melo looks like he may possibly be the second coming of Bernard King. Everyone form Bills Simmons to Spike Lee thinks this. I was in the Dirty Jerz last weekend and the dude on Hot 97 was praising the Knicks, then said he'd stop talking about the Knicks, because he didn't want to hear the hate from callers. This is the best team the Knicks have had since 1993-94. Carmelo Anthony is the best Knick we've had since Patrick Ewing. JR Smith is the best sixth man we've had since John Starks or Latrell Spreewell (if youw ant to count his brief stint there). Tyson Chandler, at his best anyway, is the best defender we've had since Ewing and maybe possibly Clyde because Chandler can guard multiple positions including PG. Our coach is the best coach we've had since JVG.
So on top of all this ****, I have to listen to things that don't even make sense here - like Melo wasn't worth Felton, Gallo, The Mayor, and Timofey Mozgov when we got Felton, Novak, Shumpert, and Chris Copeland to replace them. It's insane that guys won't even give the Knicks, Mike Woodson, or Melo props even on the 'Ultimate' Knicks messageboard on the internet
Actually this kind of response is what fuels debate. There are so few "haters" but they are a vocal group. I have been constant since day one that:
"Its about the play on the court and the knicks need just take care of its own business"
Take what you want from the games.
Regarding Melo, lets examine Lebrone for a second and his image. He needed to tranform from the easy going guy having fun but coming up short to a focused killer who got the job done. Despite being the best player on the planet for the better part of 5 years, he had to exceed his previous image. Kobe gets all kinds of passes becuase he has MVP's and rings.
Melo is in the Barkley-ewing-Stockton-Malone kind of image and while a mulitple allstar and trajectory to be in the HOF based on his statistics, the cred as a "winner" has to be earned in excess of his participation of "one and dones" and the a trip to the ECF!
Knicks have to make ECF's and give Miami a good run for Melo to ELEVATE his image. His legacy in Denver is what it is and its pretty justified: Great player who was selfish at times and gave his coach fits. Denver's success without him does not help and I understand why "homers" don't like that.
King's career was really not that accomplished. HE was a prolific scorer who played on a lot of bad teams and in ny had two massive seasons. Im not speaking ill of Bernard, just looking at the career. If he played in this era after a big coming out party in Syracuse and had the good fortune to have the endorsement deals melo has I would imagine the expectations would have been higher. King had some legal problems and was a polarizing ******* with some substance issues before he put it together in NY. It was a great story. His comeback with the Wizards is what sealed his HOF cred.
King was arrested for stealing a color TV at 2 in the morning in Knoxville Tn, a year AFTER HE LEFT TO BE IN THE NBA!
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1346&dat=19770711&id=NWFNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vPoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5101,3249074
With the Nets:
14Jul77 Bernard King, NJN - Arrested for possession of marijuana, prowling and resisting arrest [given a 60-day suspended sentence and fined $100 1Aug77]
18Dec78 Bernard King, NJN - Arrested for possession of cocaine, driving while intoxicated and driving without a license
With Utah:2Jan80 Bernard King, UTH - Arrested for possession of cocaine, sodomy, and forced sexual abuse [received two a-year suspended sentences and a $2,000 fine after pleading guilty to a reduced charge of attempted forcible sexual abuse 5Jun80]
He had another domestic abuse charge in 1994 which led to him being fired from the Nets in a front office capacity.
I think Bernard was treated incredible by the media and fans and loved by NY despite all this. So why does melo get so much "hate"?
I think its the Hype. King never had the hype and endorsements.
Just win and the further the knicks can go the better Melo will be viewed.