Carmelo’s Grand Finale
The Best part. It’s over. The worst part. By far. Losing Chauncey Billups, the heart and soul of the Nuggets. I never really thought much of Melo. Sure he brought points. He brought the Nuggets nationwide coverage, including a lot of highlights on Sportscenter, which these days, seems like the only thing players really care about. But he had no leadership qualities. Winning seemed like an afterthought. He played little if any defense. To me, he kind of embodies everything that is wrong with today’s NBA. Self-centered, spoiled, brat. Chauncey, on the other hand, all class. Pure class. He will be missed. The Nuggets will be sorry that he was part of the deal just in fan backlash and empty seats alone.
I had another cartoon ready last night when the story broke, one I had already sent to United Features, my syndicate. I’ve included it here, because Louis asked me to. The image I subbed it with sums up my feelings, and I think, a lot of peoples feelings about the trade. It’s one of the few times I woke up with the idea completely drawn in my mind. All I had to do was to put it down in ink. So here it is. Let me know your feelings on the trade. I want to know how you feel. Just keep it PG rated OK.
Dear Drew,
First of all thank you for posting your alternate cartoon. I find it fascinating to see how your mind works. It reminds me of a cartoon you drew years ago but didn’t put in the Rocky (though you did put it into your first book) when the Cubs choked against the Padres. In that cartoon you had the Cubs jumping in the air while from Heaven Harry Carey was going “HOLY COW!!!!!”. Also good drawing of me as the pile of ashes (making the joke only because I’m feeling very ill today).
Now onto today’s drawing. I will miss Carmelo’s ability but will be happy to no longer hear about where or if he’s going somewhere. Losing Billups though hurts a lot more to me. Maybe because he’s a local (from C.U.) to me that was like losing a Jerry West or an Oscar Robinson. Classy men who could have been the #1 star of the team but wanted to make the team #1 and not them.
One more thought (again going for a joke here. Hope it works) Do you think the women being given the dynamite roses was the wife of the guy who turned to ashes in the first cartoon?
If the joke isn’t funny blame my sickness. I’m trying to be funny but it’s hard when the body is miserable.
All the best,
Louis
Did you read my comment from facebook Drew? I am just pure disgusted! How can the city, owner, players, David Stern let this transpire. Its like Lebron all over again, even though he(carmello) lied to the media about trade talks its still the same feeling. Hatred, disgust, and many other unsavory words. This is a dark day for the city indeed. After all George Carl went through in a struggle for his life to get back to the Nuggets, and Chauncy’s plea to stay in Denver. Its a huge slap to the face. The worst part is that no one from the Nuggets stood up to Carmello including Billups. It was like it was just fine for them to live in the state of anarchy. I am not fine with this and what he(carmello) did was pure malice, and wrong!
Now you need a positive cartoon to emphasize your point about Chauncy Billups …..a point with which I agree wholeheartedly. Without him in the trade there may not have been enough basketballs in New York. But he is a distributor and will be an asset to that team.
Drew,
Thanks for summing it up perfectly! Maybe consider doing one about Chauncey since he is the real heartbreak in this deal. Melo won’t be missed but not having the Hometown Hero around truly breaks my heart!
Louis,
Feel better soon!
Matty G,
As unfortunate as it is, the NBA is a business. A business that doesn’t really care about “small”market teams like the Nuggets. Melo will most likely thrive with the Knicks because the league wants him to. New York=$$$$$$$$.
Dave,
I will be doing a Chauncey cartoon in the next day or two. I felt like I needed to get the anger and frustration out of my system with this cartoon.
James,
The Chauncey part is the real heartbreak. I’ll be touching on that in the next day or two.
Drew–
I’ll keep my comments today short & sweet: Good riddance to Carmelo!
Count me in as one of those fans who never really appreciated Melo’s awesome talents. As a fan, I’m sorry Chauncey was involved in the trade. However, I don’t feel sorry for him. He’s making a ton of money and going to be playing on one of the biggest “stages” in the NBA. And, he might even make it to the Eastern Conference Finals.
I feel sorry for us, the Denver Nuggets fans. I feel most sorry for the Season Ticket Holders. They don’t get to trade their tickets for less money. They’ve pre-paid for entertainment that isn’t going to happen.
I don’t have season tickets, anymore. Got rid of them when Dikembe left. I’m still a huge Nuggets’ fan. But, if the product isn’t any good, I won’t be leaving the TV on just to hear Scott Hastings babble on about the refs.
Just another sad day for Nuggets’ fans.
Drew, you got my feelings exactly about the state of the NBA. I don’t care that Melo is gone, but am truly going to miss Chauncy.
Maybe you could do something about the the mountain time zone being the “forgotten” time zone. We don’t have any major media markets, so no one wants to stay here. OR if they do, they don’t get the respect of players in bigger markets. Some casualties of the “forgotten” time zone are Matt Holiday and the MVP and Randy Gradishar and the Hall of Fame.
Thanks,
Kathy
can’t spell melo without ME. yet another sport loses one more potential fan. well, okay, the nba lost me several years ago.
gmfo-
can’t add anything to whats been said. as my son put it “what a great trade and neither team gets any better”.
from what i have read about mr. billups he is a denver guy who grew up in denver and loved the area with all his heart. Its a crime that he got caught up in the backwash of meow-ello’s wake of destruction. all for la-la and her getting back home, he has destroyed two more teams, and ruined chauncey’s life, other than that, NO PROBLEM.
The NBA is dying because of these kind of actions. the NBA will end with a wimper and not a shout as people just quit caring. Generic basketball red jerseys and blue jerseys, just like during the “all star?” game, what a joke, coming to arena near you. Heck the globetrotters and the washington generals are at least entertaining.
strive for excellence, nothing but your best.
Gene
Felicia,
Short, sweet and simple. Well said.
Sherrie,
Spot on summary. It’s a bit like paying 10 bucks at the box office to see Gone with the Wind only to go into the theater to see a blank screen for 4 hours. Ticket holders are the ones who lose. Always
Kathy,
It’s true, the Mountain time Zone is totally forgotten and left out. Whatever happened to Denver as a great sports town where everyone wanted to be? It’s all big markets and $$$$$.
stanbob,
I’m with ya pal!
Gene,
Oh I’d much rather watch the Globetrotters any day of the week than the poor excuse for basketball the NBA plays. We are watching the demolition of sports as we knew them. What’s left is for corporate write offs and movie stars. Kind of like who the Super Bowl tickets went to.
I’m not sure the NBA is all about small markets: San Antonio was the Team of the 2000’s, while Oklahoma City, Portland and Orlando are all legit contenders.
NBA is not my cup of tea. Especially since the players seem to have gotten to be such brats. I still think allowing LeBron and company to have dictated where they went was the beginning of the end for professional basketball. Call me cynical and a doomsayer.
Wonderful way to put it Drew. It’s bittersweet for me. sweet to see finally Carmelo who was a great scorer but a horrible defender gone. I hope the saying be careful what you wish for you might just get it goes for him. As for the bitter as we all know its Billups. He was a class act for Denver and the rocky mountain region. This team now is not relevant anymore for maybe a long time again. As for our Broncos they did a hell of a job getting back Champ Bailey. Maybe Drew if you need a pick me up on the sports seen, Have a toon of Bailey. As always GO BRONCOS!!!
i think the anger should NOT be pointed at Melo, the Nuggets management is to blame for this debacle signing Nene and Kenyon Martin to contracts that were too long and too big have kept the Nuggs from being an elite team. Theyre just too small! The Nuggets GM were never serious about winning a championship. I remember the nuggets before Melo, it was not pretty. at least with Melo we made the playoffs every year which is lot better than the seasons in which double digit wins were in question. Aside from getting Chauncey back the Nuggets never made a move to improve the team. I think Melo knew the Nuggs werent serious about winning.
At least Melo played hard and didnt talk smack about Denver.
Having said all that I wont be watching the Knicks, Nuggets or any other NBA games anymore, the league is a complete joke between the Donaghy scandal and the fact that in the last 25 years only 7 teams have won the finals ( 18 in the MLB) can we really trust that there is fairplay in this sham league?
The Rockies and Rapids cant come soon enough!
Also Melo dropped the dreads a long while back the cartoon looks dated
Drew,
I look forward to your farewell cartoon for Chauncey. unfortunately Chauncey was unable to pass on his leadership skills to Melo or maybe Melo was just too arrogant to listen.
Reading some of the stories about the talks over the weekend, it seems that Isiah Thomas is trying to worm his way back to the Knicks. I wonder how he will blow up the Knicks this time? Melo and Isiah deserve each other.
Drew,
I agree with you completely. Carmelo has been all about himself in this whole ordeal, and that is reflected both on and off the court. I say good riddance to him, but I will really miss Chauncey. The sad part is Carmelo doesn’t even feel bad he dragged Billups into this mess.
Paul,
You’re right on about the Nuggets management and, more specifically, ownership. But it’s a business and Melo left the current regime little choice. At least they got something in exchange. Bottom line is teams like Denver just don’t have the deep pockets or the properly run front office to compete with the Knicks or the Lakers or the Miami’s of the world.
As for the dreads, I know they are gone, but c’mon, can’t I draw them one final time.
WM and Reid F,
I’m planning to draw a Chauncey cartoon in the next few days. Hang in there with me.
Sherri,
Couldn’t agree with you more. The NBA doesn’t do it for me either. Hurry up March Madness!
Badger,
See tomorrows cartoon!
Broncomaniac,
Thrilled that the Broncs made the move to resign Champ Bailey. Now they have to get aggressive in the draft and think DEFENSE. The Crush will return!
Drew,
yeah at least they did get something in exchange its just a shame the hometown kid had to go with him. And i suppose you have a point with the dreads considering he probably wont be showing up in any of your toons anymore:)
signing George Karl to a long term deal would probably do a lot to help get me back in their good graces
oops, typo…meant to say I wasn’t sure the NBA was all against small market teams, given the success of San Antonio, Orlando, OKC and Portland.