What happens in the notes column stays in the notes column. …
A goal? An obsession is more like it.
That’s what playing in the NBA All-Star Game had become for Carmelo Anthony.
“It was in the back of my mind, lingering,” Anthony said. “I was asking myself what I wasn’t doing out there or what I didn’t do. Am I doing too much or too little? But once I got the news, it was a relief to me.”
Not to mention the entire Denver organization. Now that the burden of not making the all-star team is off his shoulders, Anthony can focus on the task at hand: Helping the Nuggets go on a run so they can avoid Phoenix or Dallas in the first round of the playoffs.
“I get a chance to go out there and just focus and have fun,” Anthony said. “I feel like I’ve got some pep in my step out there.” …
Melo will take a league-leading 30.7 scoring average into today’s game. Can he be even better after the all-star break? Probably not. Then again, here are Anthony’s pre- and post-break numbers for his first three NBA seasons: 19.4-24.3 in 2003-04; 19.8-22.2 in 2004-05, and 26.0-27.6 in 2005-06. …
Was Anthony planning to attend Michael Jordan’s 44th birthday bash Saturday in Las Vegas? “I’ve got to go,” he said. As in, it’s a Nike thing. …
George Karl on the state of the Nuggets at the break: “We do have talented players. We have talented bigs, and we’re pretty incredible to watch. The pieces are nice, but putting them together is a commitment by everybody to forget about themselves and just commit to playing basketball and being a team.” …
As hazardous to their health as it might be, here’s hoping the Nuggets cross paths with the Suns in the playoffs. Talk about an exciting brand of basketball. Those guys are more fun than a tax refund. …
According to Internet recruiting sites, CU is in the hunt for Landry Jones, a 6-foot-5 quarterback whose 45 touchdown passes won him the New Mexico 4A player of the year award. CU, Oregon and Wisconsin have offered a scholarship, and Miami, Tennessee and UCLA are in the running. …
From the life-isn’t-always-fair department: According to Rivals.com, Texas already has 12 verbal commitments for 2008. …
The Buffs didn’t snag a single player from Texas on signing day, a drastic departure from the days of Gary Barnett, who once signed 18 in a two-year span. That figures to change with the anticipated hiring of offensive line coach Jeff Grimes. He’s a native Texan who played at UTEP and recruited the state for BYU. …
A note of thanks to Joe Sakic for bailing out a slow news week. If Super Joe hadn’t lit the lamp for his 600th career goal, this note would have been about Bill Cosby’s mutt prancing around Madison Square Garden. …
How strange is it going to be watching the NHL playoffs without the Avs being involved? Oh, that’s right, nobody around here watches the NHL playoffs unless the Avs are involved. …
Just wondering: Do the Avs stay in a hotel in Calgary or have they decided to buy homes there? …
I’m not saying Jamal Lewis will be the Broncos’ starting tailback next season. Then again, I’m not saying he won’t be, either. What we do know is this: The Ravens are expected to cut him and, at 245 pounds, he could fit the bill as a workhorse tailback in Mike Shanahan’s offense. …
Straight from the coaching carousel: Ex-Nebraska QB Scott Frost has joined the Northern Iowa staff as a defensive assistant. …
Strangest stat of the year at the NBA all-star break? Try this one on for size: The Rockets are 16-11 with Yao Ming, 17-8 without him. …
Great news from the Grapefruit League. The Tigers got through their first day of pitchers’ fielding practice without injuring anyone in the stands. …
Sounds good, not gonna happen: An NBA team relocating to Las Vegas. …
Which Rockies newcomer should you be keeping an eye on? That would be Rodrigo Lopez. He was 9-18 last season with the Orioles – 1-8 vs. the Red Sox, Yankees and Blue Jays, 8-10 vs. everyone else. Last time I checked there were no lineups in the National League West to match those three.
Jim Armstrong can be reached at 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com.
