In these days of Jeremy Lin, it’s not a good idea for anyone to be selfish, or to be seen as so.
Carmelo Anthony, who will be on the court with Lin and the New York Knicks when he returns from a groin injury, is answering questions over whether he will share the ball.
And Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals is facing the charge that he is basking in his “rock star” status.
Interviewed on ESPN’s “SportsCenter,” Anthony replied to suggestions that he is a selfish player.
“That’s like a slap in the face,” Anthony told Stephen A. Smith. “None of my teammates I’ve ever played with would say that I was a selfish player. Nobody.”
The topic is so hot that Anthony’s coach at Syracuse, Jim Boeheim, weighed in.
“To assert that Carmelo Anthony can’t play with somebody is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard, and I have heard a few,” Boeheim said.
No matter what Boeheim or anyone else says, no one will know until Anthony gets on the floor, whether it be Friday night against New Orleans or at some later date.
“I know I’m not a selfish player,” Anthony said. “People around me know I’m not a selfish player. I do everything I can to make people around me understand I’m not a selfish player.”
In Washington, Ovechkin is in a slump, and at least one former teammate thinks it’s because he’s thinking about things not related to his job on the ice.
“For Alex, it’s a work ethic [issue],” said former Caps goalie Olaf Kolzig. “He just has to get back to being the way he was in his younger days and maybe not get wrapped up too much in the rock star status that comes with being Alex Ovechkin.”
Both Anthony and Ovechkin have time to show what they can do for their teams. In the meantime, they are new examples of how Lin has changed the landscape.
*** *** *** ***
TotalGamePlan offers Winner’s Workshops for schools, sports teams and businesses. The emphasis is on motivation, skill-building and teamwork. To bring a Winner’s Workshop to your group, just email coachtully@totalgameplan.com or call (973) 800-5836. To order a copy of “Ten Things Great Coaches Know,” click here.
It’s amazing how in such a short period of time (ie, Lin’s star showing on the Knicks) has brought pro basketball back into the conversation. It’s true, isn’t it, that sports fans were ready for the unselfishness that Lin displays in his game — because it really is a beautiful game when played as a team, not as a ragtag assortment of selfish stars.