Long before he’d ever take a shot at Madison Square Garden, a 15-year-old Carmelo Anthony headed to Midnight Madness at the famous Madison Dome in East Baltimore with something to prove. Everyone who was anyone showed up at the witching hour to watch the best players in the city, and Carmelo was prepared to sink or swim.
Little did he know that night was the start of something bigger than he could have possibly imagined.
“You got Sam Cassell, all these guys out there,” Anthony said in front of a mural-sized map of Baltimore at Terminal 23 in New York City on Monday night. “I was like, ‘I’m playing! I need that!’
“I was 15, I held my own, and the rest was history. I think the experience of going over to Madison Dome that day really changed my life.”
[RELATED: Nike introduces the Jordan Melo M11]
All these years later, Anthony is arguably the most significant athlete in the media capital of the world, which has led to both fanfare and intense scrutiny.
But for at least one night, it wasn’t about where he’s going, but rather where he’s been. To celebrate the launch of his new Air Jordan signature sneaker, the M11, Carmelo walked a group of invited media on a detailed tour of his personal history, with exhibits set up representing each of the cities that helped shape him on and off the court.
According to Anthony, the walk-through was missing just one thing:
“I was going to give out those headphones,” he joked, “like at the Louvre.”
Clearly in his element, Carmelo vividly described growing up at the Murphy Homes projects in West Baltimore: Holding his own at Cloverdale courts at 10 years old, watching HBO film episodes of The Wire while walking to school and — in a bit of foreshadowing — copping Air Jordans on Saturday mornings at Mondawmin Mall.
Life in Baltimore was daunting, and Carmelo witnessed a lot of things he declined to revisit. But the experience toughened him into an indomitable player, and it only made him hungrier to succeed. Anthony’s talents brought him to Oak Hill Academy for his senior year, during which they went 32-1. He continued his whirlwind ascent at Syracuse, where he famously led the Orange to a National Title as a freshman, before entering the NBA Draft and going third to Denver.
Click for more, including Melo’s conversation with Michael Jordan after he signed with Jordan Brand…
Throughout his young career, the Jumpman had been a constant presence: Oak Hill is sponsored by Jordan, Carmelo scored a game-high 27 points in the first Jordan Classic and he frequently favored Air Jordan IX’s at Cuse. So when the Jordan Brand offered a spot on their team before the Draft, Melo jumped at the opportunity.
“To sign with the Jordan Brand at 19 years old, that was an honor, that was a blessing,” Anthony said. “To have Michael Jordan call me, like, ‘We’re giving you a signature shoe, so don’t let me down’ … I had to deal with that conversation with him. But obviously, I’m on my 11th one right now, so I didn’t let him down.”
Carmelo had a big hand in picking the colorways for the M11, including the “Jordan Family,” which features a classic black/red/white scheme to pay tribute to the brand’s heritage. A striking black/gold colorway — Melo’s favorite — has yet to be named, allowing fans to make suggestions via social media.
The other two colorways are both inspired by Carmelo’s affinity for New York City. The “Red Hook Sunset” is a nod to the Brooklyn neighborhood where he spent the first seven years of his life, and the “Concrete Island” evokes the Big Apple with design elements inspired by Wildstyle and Beat Street graffiti artists.
Like virtually all signature sneakers, the M11 has plenty of personal touches inspired by its namesake. Look closely at the sole, and you’ll find the number 410 — Baltimore’s area code — etched into a groove. The idea for the scaled heel plate came from Mystique of the X-Men, specifically the metamorphosis she undergoes when it’s time for action.
Speaking of which, who knew Carmelo was such a fan of comic books?
“There’s a lot you don’t know,” he said with a chuckle. “I’m mysterious.”
There’s no mystery, however, regarding his affinity for the Flight Plate cushioning system. After a wear test on Monday, I can attest that the M11 is appropriately lightweight and responsive, though my performance in pickup games left a lot to be desired. (That’s definitely way more about me than the sneaker.)
Click for more from ‘Melo at the M11 launch…
Carmelo’s time in New York hasn’t always been easy; the spotlight is brighter, the expectations are higher, the level of patience lower. But amid a trying year, Anthony reiterated that he has no intention of backing down from the challenge. This is where he wants to be, and he’s confident he has what it takes to make it work.
“There’s energy here all the time — whether it’s good, whether it’s bad, whether you want it or not,” Anthony said. “And if you don’t embrace it and you fight against it, you’re ruined, you’re over with.
“I knew I wanted to not just be here, but make a mark here — just stand for something and believe in something. To put New York back where it’s supposed to be, and kind of put it on my back. Whether it’s good things or bad things, there’s no other place like New York.”
In certain ways, things seem to be falling into place. Anthony recently opened an office in Red Hook for his burgeoning venture capital company, kind of a full-circle thing. Though the Knicks have struggled mightily this season and Anthony has had to deal with soreness in his left knee, the presence of Phil Jackson and loads of cap room offer a glimpse of a brighter future. Carmelo was ecstatic to give back to Baltimore with the Carmelo Anthony Youth Development Center, an after-school alternative to the streets.
And as he attempts to bridge the gap from his past to his future, Carmelo will forever have his collaboration with the greatest player ever as an enduring part of his legacy.
“I kind of took the platform that MJ has laid for athletes today, and used him as my motivation and inspiration,” Anthony said. “Basketball will be over for me in the next 10 years, so what do I have to look back to, and then beyond? So I’m building that foundation of what I want to do, what I want to be.
“When I’m done, I don’t want that to be the last shoe I design. I want that legacy to keep on going.”
What’s your favorite pair of Melo kicks?
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