Is Carmello a Selfish Player?

     Mike Franseca had a good interview with him today on MSG. Actually Mike also had a very good interview with both MSG and Viacom officials. He called them both on it and pointed out that the public doesn't care about their fight just that they get it together so the public can watch the games. After all the Rangers have the best record in hockey and Knicks are no gripped by Lin-madness.

     Mike asked Melo how he's doing and whether he will be back soon. Anthony says he should be back in a week. He also asked hiim the tough question about the knock on him that he's selfish. Obviously Carmello admits he's human and doesn't like it but he insisted that's not him.

     A question on Mike and Mike this morning was whether if Melo was in that Raptor game Lin would have taken that last night. When Franseca-there are a lot of Mikes in the story!-put this question to Melo he admitted, "I'm not even gonna like I want to take the last shot."

     I guess that's the concern. Can Lin and Melo play together. Melo says of course, that's not even a question. Do I think Melo is selfish? In a way this even touches a little bit on the jibe that Mayweather started before in claiming that if Lin were not black there wouldn't be so much hype-he's wrong. Lin, whatever his race is on the fastest start in NBA history since the merger. He scored more points in the first 4 games than anyone, Jordan, Shaq, Kobe, whoever.

    But it had for many years been a question of whether or not black players either are more likely to be accused of "selfishness."

    For my part the trouble is that I don't think selfish is an unmitigated evil anyway. I think it is something of a virtue in any competitive endeavor. You need some level of ego to be driven at all. You want a player that is egoist or even  "selfish" in some ways but on the other hand is all about the team and winning. The question about Melo is would he rather take and miss the last shot or have Lin take it and win. Maybe the jury is still out on it though I'd prefer to give him the benefit of the doubt.

    If he and Lin and Stoudemire and Chandler are on the same page-with a fine bench, Landry, etc. behind them-you have to think this team can be pretty special. We'll see. But I think Melo's a good man and believe the best of him. For now anyway.