Baltimore Love Thing

by Abe Schwadron Considering his monster contract and stack of endorsement deals, you’d think Carmelo Anthony could afford decent air conditioning for the gym at his self-titled hometown youth center. Instead, the crowd of players, fans, media and scouts that mobbed the Melo Center on Sunday for the Baltimore Showcase endured a muggy sweatfest, with outside temperatures touching triple digits. Then again, the 96 participants in the open run would have been feeling the heat no matter what the environment, since they knew standing out against the competition could be the key to a contract. They came from DC, Philly, Alabama, and much further in hopes of just that: a pro deal. And “pro” means the NBDL (former NBA Slam Dunk champ turned D-League coach Dee Brown was in attendance), ABA, WBA, EBA or any other BA with scouts  in attendance. Reality is, even the cream of the crop from Sunday’s tryout won’t be “taking their talents” to any NBA city this season. In fact, many may be headed ov...