Denver Nuggets' Carmelo Anthony's Image Takes the Biggest Hit

You know, just when I was starting to really like Denver Nuggets star forward, Carmelo Anthony - and he was beginning to repair hisless than glowing image, the guy goes and pulls one of the lamest acts that any man, not just an athlete, can pull.

That's right, I have to call it like I see it and I say Anthony, is an unadulterated punk, for lack of a better word (or should I say one that can't go into print). Not only did Anthony sucker-punch the New York Knicks, Mardy Collins and possibly escalate an already incendiary situation, but when Collins' teammmate, Knicks forward Jared Jeffries took several steps forward to defend his stunned and fallen teammate, Anthony began back-tracking faster he's ever done while attempting to play the almost non-existent defense he displays on a nightly basis.

I don't know about other people, but where I'm from, Anthony would have had to put his hands up or suffer the consequences of his cowardly actions - namely catching a beat-down as well as being recognized as the neighborhood punk.

Now, don't get me wrong, I am by no means advocating violence, but what I am saying is that Anthony certanly isn't in the same class as either LeBron James or Dwayne Wade when it comes to off-court behavior and on-court leadership.

As a matter of fact, I think even at this early stage of his acreer, Anthony is in danger of being labeled either as "just a scorer" or a hot head that can't control his emotions.

Either way, things are undeniably not looking real good for the former NCAA championship winning All-American from the University of Syracuse.

The one thing that makes me still have hope for Anthony as a real team leader and not just a selfish scorer, is what he said in a staement immediately following the debacle at Madison Square Garden.

Here is Anthony's statement in full:

"Last night's altercation with the Knicks escalated further than it should have. I take full responsibility for my actions in the matter. In the heat of the moment I let my emotions get the best of me. I apologize to the fans, the Denver Nuggets, the NBA, my mother, and my family for the embarrassment I have caused them. I ask you all for your forgiveness.

I also want to make a personal apology to Mardy Collins and his family. My actions were inexcusable, and I am sorry for making this an even more embarrassing situation.

What makes this all the more painful is that this was one of the most important weeks of my life. I just realized one of my biggest dreams when we opened the Youth Center in Baltimore that bares (sic) my name. To see the community excited and hundreds of kids smiling was an incredible feeling. Now the thought of thousands of kids seeing this incident on TV pains me. This is not the example I want to set.

It's my hope that we work to move forward from this event, and never let something like this happen again."

-Carmelo Anthony

Now, being in the writing business, I know full well exactly how easy it is for Anthony to have someone write an elaborate statement and have him read it as his own, but I think Anthony sincerely wants to move forward and continue the best season of his young career, which, by the way, is in full bloom.

What does bother me is the fact that Anthony doesn't really have any senior players around him or a sensible head coach that can show him right from wrong, unless you think veteran head cases, Kenyon Martin and George Karl are suitable role models.

One thing I don't want to do however - and I hope my brethren in the masses of media outlets across the globe don't do as well - is villify Anthony on every questionable opportunity that may arise in the future.

Let me be real for a moment. I've seen nearly all of the greatest players ever get into some kind of confrontation at some point or another in their respective careers, and they all went on to have long productive careers without being unfairly labeled. However, that was then and this is now and in this new age of instant information, opinions are being formed almost instantly on a variety of topics and celebrities world-wide.

Hopefully Anthony can move forward and forget about this incident - and we all can too. Trust me, the kid is going to have a tough enough time as it is rebuilding his shattered image - and in the end, that may be payment enough for one moment of lunacy.

Then again - I'm sorry - maybe it's the Philadelphia in me, but I'd still like to see how Anthony would respond if he got hit like he hit Collins.