Carmelo Anthony says he’s waking up these days with chills — not the kind associated with a sense of dread from what troubles may be lurking under his bed or around the corner, but rather from joy at the hundreds of eager faces waiting to see him each morning.
“It touches my heart, knowing I can put a smile on these kids’ faces,” the Nuggets forward said Tuesday from his annual basketball camp in Lakewood.
And, after months of turmoil and drama, both on and off the court, Anthony says he’s feeling pretty happy, too. Anthony, saying it was “time for a change,” announced he has signed with a new marketing firm, New York-based The Agency.
Anthony said the company will give him more personal attention and allow him to become more creative in his endeavors. The firm’s clients include New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush, another player who has come in for his share of criticism lately.
“Yeah, but his path and my path are two entirely different paths,” Anthony said.
Anthony’s road includes a stop at the ESPYs this weekend. Shortly thereafter he will join the U.S. Olympic team in Las Vegas, where it will continue preparations for the Beijing Games.
At the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Anthony feuded with coach Larry Brown as the U.S. team struggled to even gain a bronze medal.
Anthony said this time, things will be different.
“In ’04, it was like we were thrown to the wolves out there,” he said. “We were put on the team at the last minute and we were expected to win a gold medal after being together for about a week and a half, playing against teams that had been together for three or four years. That was kind of hard. Now I’m pretty sure my feet are wet, LeBron’s (James) feet are wet, Dwyane’s (Wade) feet are wet. We’re just ready to go over and play and redeem ourselves.”
Anthony Cotton: 303-954-1292 or acotton@denverpost.com
