MELO'S MOVEMENT

Carmelo Anthony watches the action from the 3-on-3 basketball tournament Saturday afternoon at Cloverdale Park in Baltimore. The tournament was one of several events for Anthony's H.O.O.D. Movement weekend in Baltimore. The Denver Nugget standout and 2008 U.S. Olmypic men's basketball team member has held the event the last four years in his hometown.

by Derek Toney

dtoney@digitalsports.com

While sitting courtside at Kirk Lee Celebrity All-Star game last month at Towson University, Carmelo Anthony was asked what the biggest he’s learned since joining the National Basketball Association.

“Life comes at you fast,” said Anthony.  A lot of has changed for the former Towson Catholic High standout who went from a relative unknown as a high school sophomore to one of the nation’s best by his senior season to a NCAA championship as a freshman to one of the brightest stars in the NBA for the Denver Nuggets.

But one thing that hasn’t changed is Anthony's commitment to the Baltimore community. Last weekend, Anthony returned to Charm City last weekend for his annual H.O.O.D (Holding Our Own Destiny) Movement event.

“It’s always good to give back. This is where I played, this is where I grew up,” said Anthony, who moved to Baltimore with his family from New York when he eight years old. “I can never forget where I came from."

The festivities began Friday with a VIP dinner, followed Saturday with a 3-on-3 basketball tournament and “Family Day” at the Cloverdale Park Courts near Druid Hill Park. The weekend concluded Sunday with a brunch at the Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards where an exhibit chronicling Anthony’s achievements was unveiled.

In 2006, the Carmelo Anthony Youth Development Center opened its doors in east Baltimore. The center’s main focus has been the social and academic development of disadvantaged youth. Anthony contributed $1.5 million to the project.

“Growing up I didn’t have anybody to do this for me,” said Anthony. “It was myself, it was guys on the corner who I had to look up to. I didn’t have no NBA star, no football star, no rapper or actor to do this type of stuff.”

Being a role model has greater meaning to Anthony, whose son Kiyan is 16 months old. An active member in the Denver community, Anthony is hoping to expand his “Movement” to the Midwest city in the near future.

The 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing next month is in Anthony’s immediate future, playing for the U.S. Basketball team. Anthony, who was a member of the bronze medal-winning 2004 squad, is relishing the chance at redemption.

“We got to go over there and get that gold medal,” said Anthony, “so I can come back and walk up and down Pennsylvania Avenue with it on my neck.”

Anthony doesn’t need an Olympic gold medal to show his value to Baltimore’s youth.

“He’s from where they’re from,” said Kevin “Sarge” Anderson, Cloverdale/BBA commissioner. “When they come around and look at this they say, ‘wow, if he can do it, I can do it.’”