Classic Rant #449 (February 22, 2011): It's Over

Finally ...

Carmelo Anthony is a New York Knick ... or so reports say he is, at least.

According to what I have heard, the Knicks and Denver Nuggets pulled off a trade--with the Minnesota Timberwolves as the third party--so that Anthony can play with his hometown Knicks. He won't come cheap, and no, Denver really didn't want to placate Antony's desires, but under the circumstances, what could they do?

The trade goes like this: in addition to Anthony, the Knicks get Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams, Anthony Carter, Renaldo Balkman (who they've already had a few years back and got rid of) and Corey Brewer, who comes from Minnesota.

To get these players, the Knicks gave up fan favorites Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Timofey Mozgov, their 2014 first-round pick and a pair of second-round picks they received from the Golden State Warriors in the David Lee deal.

The Timberwolves--the team that seems to always get short shrift when they make a deal (see Kevin Garnett) get bench player Anthony Randolph and useless (except for his expiring contract) Eddy Curry from the Knicks.

This talk of a deal has been going on for seemingly forever, way outliving the Lebron James sweepstakes for sheer boredom.

As a Knicks fan, I am happy to have Anthony, but a) I don't think he is the savior, and b) they gave up an awful lot for basically one player and a couple of add ons.

And a further rumor has it that one or two of the former Knicks may end up with the upstart New Jersey (soon to be Brooklyn) Nets, who will send Denver a couple of number one draft choices for the players.

That will make the Knicks look a little embarrassed, at the very least.

I don't know about you, but I struggle to make ends meet with my paycheck, and when I hear about a disgruntled player who wants out of his current situation, I wonder what they would do if they worked a regular job like me--would they cry that they wanted out, too--and more to the point, would anyone listen to them?

But as high-priced athletes, people listen--and they listen as if they are hearing the word of God.

I love sports, too, but let's put things into perspective.

Thousands of teachers are losing their jobs, unemployment is still high, and heck, I am paying nearly (and nearing) $4 a gallon on gas.

If a guy makes several million dollars a year, do I live in the same stratosphere as he does?

Or more importantly, does he live in the same stratosphere as I do?

Yes to both questions.

I don't care how much money these guys make, but they still put on their pants like I do.

It's just that their pants are gold-plated, while mine are made of tin.

"The money's in, we're made of tin, we're here to give you more ... ."

That came from the Monkees' classic rock film "Head," but it could apply here too.

Let's see how much more Anthony gives to the Knicks, and how much patience Knicks fans will have with their new addition to the roster, who is making in one game what many of us make in about three or four years of work.