Sometimes I feel like the media just want to jump on a topic and be critical just because they can.  I don’t think that is the way to go very often and what is happening today is definitely one of those cases.

 

For those of you who haven’t heard the so-called breaking news, New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony has said that he will opt out of his deal at the end of the year because he really wants to be a free agent at least one time in his career.

 

 

Do I fault a guy for wanting to test the water and feel what it’s like to be wined and dined; absolutely not!  That is totally within the rights of the contract that he signed and I for one say good for you.

 

I also applaud Carmelo for getting it out there so it isn’t a distraction as we go throughout the season.  I don’t think there is any way that it will have a negative effect on his performance this season.  In fact, I think he will be more focused on playing well because there is always more at stake during a contract year.

 

There are way too many media members openly bashing Anthony for making his decision known during the pre-season and I don’t get it at all.  Do you just need something to talk about?

 

Everyone destroyed LeBron James for how He handled his departure from Cleveland because he didn’t tell anyone.  Everyone in Salt Lake bashed Urban Meyer for leaving Utah after he said he was a Utah man.  Is that what you want Melo to do?  There is no doubt that the media would get on him if he did either of those things.  Apparently there is no way out of this situation without getting beat up by the fine reporters and talking heads out there.

 

I truly believe that Anthony did the best thing here.  He isn’t stringing Knicks fans along all year wondering what will happen like Carlos Boozer did with the Utah Jazz and now he doesn’t have to field questions about it every single day.  He will have more to focus on the task at hand. That is trying to win a championship.

 

Let us remember also that just because he is opting out and testing the market doesn’t mean that he won’t end up in a Knicks uniform next year.  He just wants to feel the love and excitement that comes along with being a big time free agent.

 

I know I would love to have that opportunity to test the market with my career and have people chasing after me for my skills and most people would feel the same so why take shots at Carmelo for doing it?