Carmelo Anthony: Bodymore, Murderland
With the Nuggets holding a slim lead in the NBA's Northwest Division, their All-Star forward holds court on his favorite TV show, "The 48 Laws of Power" and the joys of being on QVC.
DAVE HOLLANDER: How do feel about this being the last season for "The Wire" on HBO?
CARMELO ANTHONY: I'm gonna miss it. I know this last season is gonna be crazy. It's probably going to be one of the best ones.
DH: Why do you love this show so much?
CA: To me, it's because I grew up in the area; right where they shot season one at. They shot that right around the corner form my house. I can relate to all that stuff. When you see it, it brings back memories. When the show first came on, you know, they were hitting a lot of spots for the Baltimoreans out there.
DH: Is there any show you've seen that even come close to being as real as that show?
CA: No, not at all. I mean, you get a lot a shows like that, but when it comes to being accurate like that show is, it ranks up there with the best.
DH: On March 7, 2007, your wife, and MTV VJ, LaLa Vasquez gave birth to a son, Kiyan Carmelo Anthony. How has fatherhood changed you?
CA: It made me open my eyes to a lot more things. It gave me more responsibility. Taught me how to think twice before I do anything because I'm not just thinking for myself now.
DH: Has it made you a better basketball player?
CA: Yeah, it made me focus in a lot more. You know? Because knowing what I want, and now that I have somebody that I gotta feed, you know, I gotta take care of my dinner.
DH: You wrote a $3 million check to Syracuse University. That's the most any athlete ever gave back to his school. Why did you do it?
CA: Because I wanted to. It was something in my heart that I really wanted to be a part of. And plus, I'll be one of the few athletes that has his name on a building that's going to be here for a hundred-something years. You know what I'm saying? So that's a legacy right there. Can't too many people say they have that.
DH: Grant Hill is giving money to Barack Obama. Who are you backing in the Presidential campaign?
CA: I like Barack. I like Barack a lot. I don't know how involved I'm going to get, but I'm watching it very closely. I'm keeping my eyes open and my fingers crossed; things like that. This one right here is real interesting right now. There's a lot of stuff that going on that's real, real interesting right now.
DH: Playing in Beijing this summer could be real interesting too. China is a major importer of Sudan's oil. Does what's going on in Darfur make you think twice about playing in the Olympics?
CA: Not really. Cuz I'm pretty sure they're doing the stuff that they can to have it all under control.
DH: Okay. Let's get to the Nuggets. You've lost in the first round of the playoffs four years in a row. What will you do differently this year?
CA: I think we've just been catching bad breaks. We meet up with the wrong team at the right time. But I think we really have a chance this year. We've gotten better as a team. We've been together for a minute now. When you've got the same players on the same team like that, it makes everything better.
DH: Is there a more talented team in the NBA?
CA: I don't think so. We just have to put everybody on the same page, the chemistry and all that stuff.
DH: Earlier in the season, Stephen A. Smith picked the Nuggets to win the West. How often do you call Stephen A. Smith for basketball advice?
CA: I don't call Stephen A. Smith for advice. I just listen to him. He's a good guy. He's always been a good guy to me. He's always been real straightforward when it came to me. That's his opinion. Obviously he sees something in our team that we see and that a lot of people don't see.
DH: Playing in Denver, has altitude sickness ever affected you?
CA: Oh yeah, it bothers me. It still bothers me, and this is my fifth season. It takes your legs away from you it a little bit. Your lungs too. It's hard to breath, man.
DH: You and LeBron James have become good friends. When will you be guest starring in his commercials?
CA: I think he pretty much has that covered.
DH: Maybe he hasn't seen your work selling merchandise on QVC. How was that?
CA: It was great. I never thought in a million years I'd be on QVC trying to sell some products. I think I'd go back at it. If that's going to help my business I'll definitely go back at it.
Newly signed Boston Celtics basketball free agent Patrick O'Bryant speaks during a news conference in Waltham, Mass. Thursday, July 17, 2008. O'Bryant, a 7'0", 249-pound center, has appeared in 40 career games for the Golden State Warriors and was the ninth overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
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Newly signed free agent Patrick O'Bryant is outfitted with a Boston Celtics basketball hat and jersey during a news conference in Waltham, Mass. Thursday, July 17, 2008. O'Bryant, a 7'0", 249-pound center, has appeared in 40 career games for the Golden State Warriors and was the ninth overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
AP
Newly signed basketball free agent Patrick O'Bryant, right, smiles with Boston Celtics executive director of basketball operations and general manager Danny Ainge as he displays his new numbered team jersey during a news conference in Waltham, Mass. Thursday, July 17, 2008. O'Bryant, a 7'0", 249-pound center, has appeared in 40 career games for the Golden State Warriors and was the ninth overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
AP
HANGZHOU, CHINA - JULY 17: (CHINA OUT) Yao Ming of China looks on during a match between China and Serbia at the 2008 Stankovic Continental Champions Cup on July 17, 2008 in Hangzhou of Zhejiang Province, China. Ming plays also for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the U.S. (Photo by China Photos/Getty Images)
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HANGZHOU, CHINA - JULY 17: (CHINA OUT) Yao Ming of China vies for a ball during a match between China and Serbia at the 2008 Stankovic Continental Champions Cup on July 17, 2008 in Hangzhou of Zhejiang Province, China. Ming plays also for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the U.S. (Photo by China Photos/Getty Images)
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HANGZHOU, CHINA - JULY 17: (CHINA OUT) Yao Ming of China prepares for a match between China and Serbia at the 2008 Stankovic Continental Champions Cup on July 17, 2008 in Hangzhou of Zhejiang Province, China. Ming plays also for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the U.S. (Photo by China Photos/Getty Images)
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HANGZHOU, CHINA - JULY 17: (CHINA OUT) Petar Despotovic (L) and Miroslav Raduljica (R) of Russia block Yao Ming of China during a match between China and Serbia at the 2008 Stankovic Continental Champions Cup on July 17, 2008 in Hangzhou of Zhejiang Province, China. Ming plays also for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the U.S. (Photo by China Photos/Getty Images)
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HANGZHOU, CHINA - JULY 17: (CHINA OUT) Yao Ming of China prepares for a match between China and Serbia at the 2008 Stankovic Continental Champions Cup on July 17, 2008 in Hangzhou of Zhejiang Province, China. Ming plays also for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the U.S. (Photo by China Photos/Getty Images)
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HANGZHOU, CHINA - JULY 17: (CHINA OUT) Yao Ming (R) and Wang Zhizhi of China prepare for a match between China and Serbia at the 2008 Stankovic Continental Champions Cup on July 17, 2008 in Hangzhou of Zhejiang Province, China. Ming plays also for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the U.S. (Photo by China Photos/Getty Images)
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HANGZHOU, CHINA - JULY 17: (CHINA OUT) Yao Ming of China pauses during a match between China and Serbia at the 2008 Stankovic Continental Champions Cup on July 17, 2008 in Hangzhou of Zhejiang Province, China. Ming plays also for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the U.S. (Photo by China Photos/Getty Images)
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DH: On your website Carmelo Anthony dog tags go for $12.99 a pop. What's your take?
CA: All that stuff is for charity. But the dog tags are one of the big sellers!
DH: I also hear that you are follower of "The 48 Laws of Power."
CA: That's the best book of all time. It teaches lessons, different life lessons, that you can take with you on the court, in different aspects of life and going down different roads in life. It just helps you on a lot of levels.
DH: Which of the rules do you incorporate on the court?
CA: I try to do all of them. I try to fake out my opponent. It teaches you how to find the way to in the right situation.
DH: Does it really work?
CA: Sometimes. It will teach you how to focus in different situations, teach you how to cope within different problems.
DH: If you had to choose one rule for the 2007-08 Nuggets what would it be?
CA: The one that talks about staying focused, being on the same page, never get down on yourself regardless of the situation. We should read that one before every practice and every game.
Dave Hollander is the author of 52 WEEKS: Interviews with Champions! Info
at: www.davehollander.com
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