Carmelo Anthony Doesn't Forget His Roots
posted 2008-09-25

By Molly Lauryssens


It’s easy to forget the impact star athletes can have. We are bombarded with their every transgression, million dollar contracts and endorsement deals. The thing is, children are not yet jaded by such things and possess that robust enthusiasm that only a child can have. If we look through children’s eyes, it’s easy to remember.

Recently, Baltimore native Carmelo Anthony returned home flaunting his new bling: Olympic Gold from his participation with the U.S. Basketball Team. The Denver Nuggets star and “Redeem Team” member stood in a packed gymnasium of children on a Friday afternoon boasting nothing but pride. “I’m so glad to represent Baltimore City,” Anthony boasted at an event that took place at the Carmelo Anthony Youth Development Center in the Maryland city.

Judging from the deafening response that the children provided him (so loud that Anthony had to cover his ears), bringing home the gold was a blast for the kids. Carmelo gave teachers and staff gold medals, shook hands, posed for pictures and hugged many. He received several standing ovations and admitted the gold medal-winning effort in Beijing, China “was a lot of hard work.”



Anthony as a Baltimore high school star (right)




“Melo”, as he is referred to, is quite comfortable around children. When one of them approached, the NBA superstar asked the child his name and followed it up with a friendly, casual, “How you doing?” What came next was between the two. As the boy walked away, he was visibly impressed and overwhelmed to the point of tears. It happened in the matter of a minute or two.

Marquise Owens of Baltimore was that 11-year old child. As a student at Inner Harbor East Academy for Young Scholars, Marquise was ecstatic. It was as if he had just won a gold medal all to himself. Marquise said he is a “huge” Anthony fan and was stoked about meeting up with his role model.

“It was like...,” Marquise said as his bottom lip began quivering, trying to describe the experience of meeting and talking briefly with Anthony. “I always wanted to be a basketball player. It’s my dream!” he said. “I try to get (good) grades and do good in school because, I want to do like Melo. I love this!”

Anthony treasures the influence he has on youngsters and when asked what it was like to have provoked such a reaction from Marquise in particular, he said: “First of all, it gives me goose bumps. It gives me chills to know that I’m an inspiration to a little kid or several kids.”

Growing up on the streets of Baltimore, Anthony, 24, admits he “had the guys on the corner to look up to.” Though he was born in New York, Anthony’s family moved to Baltimore when he was eight years old. So even though Melo now makes his home in Denver, he doesn’t forget the influence that Baltimore played in molding his life. It’s why he chooses to keep coming back and keep giving back.

Before the Olympics, Anthony came to Baltimore the weekend of July 12-13. He hosted his fourth annual 3-on-3 hoops tournament as a part of his Holding Our Own Destiny (H.O.O.D.) movement for children ages 7-17. The event attracted over a thousand people, with a Family Day highlighting the celebration and proceeds going to the Carmelo Anthony Foundation, which helps underserved children and families.

The tournament, held at Cloverdale Park, was on a court Anthony himself played on as a child. So what’s it like hosting an event on the blacktop you know so well?

“Every kid I came across had a smile on their face which made me smile,” he said. “I was happy that they were happy. I had kids come up to me and thank me and say, ‘We need this more often.’”

The city of Baltimore, in turn, honored Anthony right back. Mayor Sheila Dixon proclaimed July 13 Carmelo Anthony Day in the city. Not only that, but Anthony became the only basketball player to have his own exhibit at the Sports Legends Museum in town. Melo was overwhelmed while unveiling it. “I never would have thought in a million years that I would be put into a museum!,” he said.

All of which leads to another message Anthony likes to espouse: Anything is possible.

Not a bad one to impart on our kids today, eh?